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ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Nebraska’s 2026 schedule
By Ethan Stone
Published:
It’s a crucial year for Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule.
The Huskers have little to show across Rhule’s first 3 seasons in Lincoln. Nebraska has posted back-to-back 7-6 seasons, which leaves Nebraska fans wanting more from new QB Anthony Colandrea, who transferred in from UNLV following 2 seasons at Virginia.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has the Huskers favored in 8 of its 12 matchups this season, though Nebraska’s Nov. 6 matchup at Illinois is essentially a tossup at 50.8% in favor of the Huskers. Here’s how ESPN’s FPI projects the Cornhuskers’ schedule to play out:
- Sept 5: Ohio Bobcats | 91.7% chance to win
- Sept 12: Bowling Green Falcons | 95.7% chance to win
- Sept 19: North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 94.2% chance to win
- Sept 25: at Michigan State Spartans | 67.9% chance to win
- Oct 3: Maryland Terrapins | 79.1% chance to win
- Oct 10: Indiana Hoosiers | 19.0% chance to win
- Oct 17: at Oregon Ducks | 8.0% chance to win
- Oct 31: Washington Huskies | 56.8% chance to win
- Nov 6: at Illinois Fighting Illini | 50.8% chance to win
- Nov 14: Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 74.1% chance to win
- Nov 21: Ohio State Buckeyes | 10.6% chance to win
- Nov 28: at Iowa Hawkeyes | 38.4% chance to win
Nebraska is set to open it season on Sept. 5 against Ohio. The game is set to kick off at Noon and will air on FS1.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.