Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 College Football Preview
Posted August 1, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-4-2
“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
<Al Michaels>
Congratulations, Nebraska! You’ve opened the season at 5-1. What are you gonna do now? Some would say, “Go to Disneyland”, but you can’t be too careful in a place that takes all your money and is infested with child predators. So the Huskers said, “We’re going to a bowl game”. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Nebraska almost pulled another ‘Nebraska’ as they lost four games in a row to fall to 5-5. Thankfully, CORN smoked Wisconsin in the PENULTIMATE game of the regular season and clinched their first bowl bid since the Kennedy administration **** and they defeated Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl (W 20-15) to finish the year at 7-6, their first winning record since 2016 (9-4).
**** Fact check – Close enough.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The offense improved in year one of the Dylan Raiola era but it was still mediocre at best (23.5 PPG, #103; 359 YPG, #94). Raiola had success as a true freshman (2,819, 13-11 TD to INT) but his upside was limited by the lack of legitimate THROW GAME weapons. We’re not sure that the situation has been rectified as whilst the Huskers snagged underrated WR Dane Key (715, 15.2, 2 TD, Kentucky) and WR Nyziah Hunter (578, 14.4, 5 TD, Cal) thru the portal, it’s important to note that they also lost their top-two WRs and NFL-bound TE from LY’s squad. The RB group doesn’t blow us away but Emmett Johnson still has some upside (598, 5.1, TD) and it’s possible that true freshman Jamarion Parker could have a breakout season with his devastating big play ability. Our DEEP NEBRASKA INSIDERS believe that the offensive line will be much improved this season given that they boast over 130 career starts but they didn’t perform that well in 2024 (3.8 YPC, 28 sacks) and Raiola has the mobility of a SHIPWRECK.
DEFENSE
CORN was excellent on defense for the second straight season LY (19.5 PPG, #17; 318 YPG, #18) but the stop unit is undergoing significant changes in 2025. The DL is the biggest concern on this side of football as they lose all three (!) starters from an outstanding front including the devastating Ty Robinson (12.5 TFL, 7 QBH) who’s off to the NFL. There are several guys with upside including DE Cam Lenhardt and DL Riley Van Poppel but we don’t expect CORN to be nearly as tough vs the run this year. Sophomore LB Vincent Shavers and Georgia Southern transfer LB Marques Watson-Trent (Sun Belt Def POY, 100+ tackles LY) are nice pieces to build around in the middle of the defense, and the secondary should be much improved over LY (#102 pass efficiency D). The Huskers have a veteran safety combo in DeShon Singleton (#2 tackler) and Marques Buford, and CB Ceyair Wright is one of the most underrated players at his position in the Big Ten. This year’s defense is solid but we worry a bit about the reload up front and the loss of several key PENETRATORS.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – CORN has a pair of guaranteed blowout wins in non-conference action (Akron, Houston Christian) but the neutral site opener (Kansas City) vs Cincinnati might be a bit tricky. Nebraska got a very favorable Big Ten draw as they avoid Oregon and Ohio St, and they get to play Michigan at home in late September. Their toughest game of the year by far is the late November trip to face mighty Penn St. Also note that CORN gets to face a small handful of potential Big Ten BOTTOM FEEDERS (Northwestern, Maryland, UCLA, Michigan St).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at UCLA (Nov 8)
The Huskers are forced to head to the west coast after a yuuuge battle with USC, and to make things more tricky, the Bruins will be coming off a bye week whilst CORN will be playing for the 6th consecutive week.
Season Win Total
Market consensus August 1
Over 7.5 -150
Under 7.5 +125
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
We’re not in love with the roster but there’s a decent argument to be made that CORN starts out 6-2 or even 7-1.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Head coach Matt Rhule has had a tough time in Big Ten games so far during his tenure with CORN (6-12 SU, 6-10-2 ATS, 38%).
Nebraska has faced YOUR Miami Hurricanes in bowl games with a National Championship on the line five times and Miami emerged victorious on four occasions (1983, 1989, 1991, 2001).
The GREAT STATE of NEBRASKA is filled with some of the friendliest people on Earth and they need our help in resisting communism. Omaha is slowly creeping to the dark side as evidenced by the countless recent protests led by godless anti-human wackadoodles. #PrayForOmaha
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
CORN made a big step last year finally getting to a bowl game and now comes the tougher challenge of staying relevant in the Big Ten. They’ve got a rising star at quarterback in Dylan Raiola but we’re not sure he’s got enough legit playmakers to help him do serious damage. The defense doesn’t look as nasty as last year’s version but the schedule will lend a helping hand. The Huskers should be in good position heading into November giving the Lincoln faithful some hope, but then the schedule gets really tough. Nebraska could finish with anywhere between seven and nine wins but we don’t think they’ll be good enough to challenge for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.
HUSKER!…..POWER!