My Early 2026 Husker Football W-L Prediction

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Ohio-W Solid MAC program could be competitive going into the second half.

BGSU-W Weakest program on our schedule.

UND-W Solid FCS program another game that will be a measuring stick for line improvement.

@ MSU-L Don’t like this game at all. Fitzgerald even in year one is dangerous. A classic B1G rock fight that we typically lose.

MD-W I believe the Huskers move the ball at will but the Defenses’ weakness will become apparent in our second conference game.

IU-L Obviously.

@ ORE-L Another obvious loss.

WASH-L Better talent and Coach.

@ ILL-L Another coach with tons of B1G experience. Rhule will be soundly out coached.

@ RUTG-W A rock fight I believe we win.

OSU-L Another obvious mismatch.

@ IOWA-L Again another game where we are out coached and whipped at the LOS.

Final Record: 5-7

 

[HUSKERFAN66]

7-5 to 8-4.

 

[Walleye 1]

4-8

 

[WHCSC]

Close

 

[Man Woman & Child]

Ohio-W Solid MAC program could be competitive going into the second half.

BGSU-W Weakest program on our schedule.

UND-W Solid FCS program another game that will be a measuring stick for line improvement.

@ MSU-L Don’t like this game at all. Fitzgerald even in year one is dangerous. A classic B1G rock fight that we typically lose.

MD-W I believe the Huskers move the ball at will but the Defenses’ weakness will become apparent in our second conference game.

IU-L Obviously.

@ ORE-L Another obvious loss.

WASH-L Better talent and Coach.

@ ILL-L Another coach with tons of B1G experience. Rhule will be soundly out coached.

@ RUTG-W A rock fight I believe we win.

OSU-L Another obvious mismatch.

@ IOWA-L Again another game we are out coached and whipped at the LOS.

Final Record: 5-7

Not sure I agree with those exact game outcomes, but the final record looks about right.

 

[orclover11]

Ohio-W Solid MAC program could be competitive going into the second half.

BGSU-W Weakest program on our schedule.

UND-W Solid FCS program another game that will be a measuring stick for line improvement.

@ MSU-L Don’t like this game at all. Fitzgerald even in year one is dangerous. A classic B1G rock fight that we typically lose.

MD-W I believe the Huskers move the ball at will but the Defenses’ weakness will become apparent in our second conference game.

IU-L Obviously.

@ ORE-L Another obvious loss.

WASH-L Better talent and Coach.

@ ILL-L Another coach with tons of B1G experience. Rhule will be soundly out coached.

@ RUTG-W A rock fight I believe we win.

OSU-L Another obvious mismatch.

@ IOWA-L Again another game we are out coached and whipped at the LOS.

Final Record: 5-7

Easy year to predict, got really lucky having two qbs who can start games which should keep the wheels on. 5 wins seems a lock, 4 would be a disaster but 6 seems unlikely. The worst part could be being 5-0, ranked in the top 25 or even top 15, and then get destroyed on national t.v by Indiana. We've seen it so many times before...soft early season schedule, overhype, and then embarrassment. And for some reason Cignetti likes to talk about how much he kicked our *** the last time we played in a overhype game.

 

[meo1960]

Ohio-W Solid MAC program could be competitive going into the second half.

BGSU-W Weakest program on our schedule.

UND-W Solid FCS program another game that will be a measuring stick for line improvement.

@ MSU-L Don’t like this game at all. Fitzgerald even in year one is dangerous. A classic B1G rock fight that we typically lose.

MD-W I believe the Huskers move the ball at will but the Defenses’ weakness will become apparent in our second conference game.

IU-L Obviously.

@ ORE-L Another obvious loss.

WASH-L Better talent and Coach.

@ ILL-L Another coach with tons of B1G experience. Rhule will be soundly out coached.

@ RUTG-W A rock fight I believe we win.

OSU-L Another obvious mismatch.

@ IOWA-L Again another game we are out coached and whipped at the LOS.

Final Record: 5-7

Agree. 5-7

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Easy year to predict, got really lucky having two qbs who can start games which should keep the wheels on. 5 wins seems a lock, 4 would be a disaster but 6 seems unlikely. The worst part could be being 5-0, ranked in the top 25 or even top 15, and then get destroyed on national t.v by Indiana. We've seen it so many times before...soft early season schedule, overhype, and then embarrassment. And for some reason Cignetti likes to talk about how much he kicked our *** the last time we played in a overhype game.

I think that’s because Cignetti is a little senile and forgets that its 2026 and not 1976.

 

[Cruel Halo]

4-8

Rhule sucks.

 

[cornhead1.]

The Huskers fianlly get it going on the OL and with mobile QB they beat everyone, but Indiana, Oregon and tOSU. Couple toss up games Iowa, Wash and Illinois will make/break the season. 9-3 best case, 6-6 worst.

 

[suffocation_]

I predict the performance everyone will hang their hat on will be an unnaturally close game against one of the conference titans that we catch sleeping

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

I predict the performance everyone will hang their hat on will be an unnaturally close game against one of the conference titans that we catch sleeping

I don’t know if a game like that is on the schedule this year. If we had Oregon at home with a 11:00AM kickoff I’d say that would be the game. OSU and Indiana I believe take care of business against us on the road.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

Easy year to predict, got really lucky having two qbs who can start games which should keep the wheels on. 5 wins seems a lock, 4 would be a disaster but 6 seems unlikely. The worst part could be being 5-0, ranked in the top 25 or even top 15, and then get destroyed on national t.v by Indiana. We've seen it so many times before...soft early season schedule, overhype, and then embarrassment. And for some reason Cignetti likes to talk about how much he kicked our *** the last time we played in a overhype game.

This is pretty accurate. I really could see this happening.

Gameday at NU...Indiana beating NU 49-10.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

I’m gonna say 6-6, adding MSU as a W. Fitzgerald is a good coach but that MSU turnaround is a big project and I don’t see year 1 going well. It’ll be 4 years since he’s last coached and he was 4-20 his last 2 years of coaching.

 

[Scoop123]

Do we get bonus points for cool halftime motivation videos that are "leaked?"

5 wins.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

I predict the performance everyone will hang their hat on will be an unnaturally close game against one of the conference titans that we catch sleeping

I don’t know if a game like that is on the schedule this year. If we had Oregon at home with a 11:00AM kickoff I’d say that would be the game. OSU and Indiana I believe take care of business against us on the road.

Ohio St 2024 says hi. @BugsAreQualityProtein you must have missed all the celebrating of that "quality loss" around here.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

I’m gonna say 6-6, adding MSU as a W. Fitzgerald is a good coach but that MSU turnaround is a big project and I don’t see year 1 going well. It’ll be 4 years since he’s last coached and he was 4-20 his last 2 years of coaching.

But don't forget the annual "lost one we should have won" game in your prediction. I'm guessing MSU is that game for @BugsAreQualityProtein. So, if we get MSU, we need to lose one somewhere else that fits into that category (probably Maryland or Rutgers). Hence, 5-7 looking pretty accurate. Guessing it looks something like this with the bold being 2-1

Ohio - W
BGSU - W
UND - W
@ MSU
MD
IU - L
@ ORE - L
WASH - L
@ ILL - L
@ RUTG
OSU - L
@ IOWA - L

 

[SuperBigFan69]

The real question...what is the magic number of wins/losses that gets us a coaching search and some hope that we are not just another lame *** team that is excited to make a lame *** bowl game...

I would much rather be part of a coaching search as opposed to pretending to be excited about 7 wins.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

But don't forget the annual "lost one we should have won" game in your prediction. I'm guessing MSU is that game for @BugsAreQualityProtein. So, if we get MSU, we need to lose one somewhere else that fits into that category (probably Maryland or Rutgers). Hence, 5-7 looking pretty accurate. Guessing it looks something like this with the bold being 2-1

Ohio - W
BGSU - W
UND - W
@ MSU
MD
IU - L
@ ORE - L
WASH - L
@ ILL - L
@ RUTG
OSU - L
@ IOWA - L

Its very possible. I'm gonna say that "loss we should have won" game is going to be like Illinois or Iowa. Where we're leading most the game and then we blow it in the last couple minutes or in OT. Or its like 2021 and we lose by 1-3 points to OSU/Oregon/Indiana and we flock to the boards saying "we should have won that game".

 

[NikkiSixx]

Ohio - W
BGSU - W
UND - W
@ MSU - W
MD - W
IU - L
@ ORE - L
WASH - W
@ ILL - L
@ RUTG - W
OSU - W
@ IOWA - W

9-3

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

The real question...what is the magic number of wins/losses that gets us a coaching search and some hope that we are not just another lame *** team that is excited to make a lame *** bowl game...

IMO, Nebraska would have to win 3 games or less in order for Matt Rhule to lose his job AND there would have to be a significantly reduced turnout for games. If we win 3 games and its still packed house, he's safe. But Troy Dannen HAS to be fired if he fires Matt Rhule before 2027 season is finished. He added $22.5 mil to his buyout for arguably no good reason (he had 5 years remaining on contract!!). If you wanted to fire Rhule after 2026, you will be paying him $63.9 mil instead of $41.4 mil. Oh, you also have to buyout the rest of his staff. Then you have to pay for a whole new staff after that. For an athletic department that netted a $7 mil profit, it would be an insanely poor financial decision to fire Rhule a calendar year after extending him. Unless boosters/donors came forward saying they aren't contributing significantly to NIL unless there's a new coach, I just can't see Rhule being fired.

New report details finances of Nebraska Athletics' $200 million operation

Husker Athletics turned a $7 million profit, generating $215 million.

www.ketv.com

 

[InMotion]

I’m gonna say 6-6, adding MSU as a W. Fitzgerald is a good coach but that MSU turnaround is a big project and I don’t see year 1 going well. It’ll be 4 years since he’s last coached and he was 4-20 his last 2 years of coaching.

Matt has one of the worst records against coaches like Fitzgerald. Wearing his hat crooked might give him a chance.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Ohio St 2024 says hi. @BugsAreQualityProtein you must have missed all the celebrating of that "quality loss" around here.

The important part to that equation is that we had a defense that year.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Matt has one of the worst records against coaches like Fitzgerald. Wearing his hat crooked might give him a chance.

He has bad records against just about everything and everyone. Not usually a lot of positivity in a 66-62 record.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

IMO, Nebraska would have to win 3 games or less in order for Matt Rhule to lose his job AND there would have to be a significantly reduced turnout for games. If we win 3 games and its still packed house, he's safe. But Troy Dannen HAS to be fired if he fires Matt Rhule before 2027 season is finished. He added $22.5 mil to his buyout for arguably no good reason (he had 5 years remaining on contract!!). If you wanted to fire Rhule after 2026, you will be paying him $63.9 mil instead of $41.4 mil. Oh, you also have to buyout the rest of his staff. Then you have to pay for a whole new staff after that. For an athletic department that netted a $7 mil profit, it would be an insanely poor financial decision to fire Rhule a calendar year after extending him. Unless boosters/donors came forward saying they aren't contributing significantly to NIL unless there's a new coach, I just can't see Rhule being fired.

New report details finances of Nebraska Athletics' $200 million operation

Husker Athletics turned a $7 million profit, generating $215 million.

www.ketv.com

Not defending Dannen, but it seems for several years the ADs at UNL have been nothing but mouthpieces and figureheads. The issue seems to lie with school administrators such as Presidents and Chancellors, as well as panicked boosters who think throwing money at something will fix the problem.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

He has bad records against just about everything and everyone. Not usually a lot of positivity in a 66-62 record.

It still is shocking how some fans and most of the media thought that Matt was some kind of amazing hire.

 

[Redscarlet]

It still is shocking how some fans and most of the media thought that Matt was some kind of amazing hire.

Trev hired him as a program builder from what he has done at Temple and Baylor, but he was never there at both places long enough to determine that.

So far all he has done in Lincoln is having two winning seasons and two bowl games.

He still hasn’t beaten top 10 team yet.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

It still is shocking how some fans and most of the media thought that Matt was some kind of amazing hire.

They got sucked in to the 3-year rebuild tales. I did. But then when you do a deep dive on year 3 and Baylor, you realize it is not impressive as made out to be.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Trev hired him as a program builder from what he has done at Temple and Baylor, but he was never there at both places long enough to determine that.

So far all he has done in Lincoln is having two winning seasons and two bowl games.

He still hasn’t beaten top 10 team yet.

Hasn't even beaten a top 25 team. 0-9 vs ranked teams.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Trev hired him as a program builder from what he has done at Temple and Baylor, but he was never there at both places long enough to determine that.

So far all he has done in Lincoln is having two winning seasons and two bowl games.

He still hasn’t beaten top 10 team yet.

From what I heard for what it’s worth, it was Ted Carter who steered Trev in that direction. He wanted Leipold or to retain Mickey.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

Its very possible. I'm gonna say that "loss we should have won" game is going to be like Illinois or Iowa. Where we're leading most the game and then we blow it in the last couple minutes or in OT. Or its like 2021 and we lose by 1-3 points to OSU/Oregon/Indiana and we flock to the boards saying "we should have won that game".

I meant where we are favored but lose like Minn last year. I don't think we'll be favored vs Illinois or Iowa

 

[Big bo fan]

From what I heard for what it’s worth, it was Ted Carter who steered Trev in that direction. He wanted Leipold or to retain Mickey.

Trev wanted Rhule from the start . But when contract negotiations started the Carolina owner was being difficult to work with on the offset difference. So Trev didn’t think it would work and was leaning towards Leipold.Carter stepped in and guided Trev on how to make the contract work. Mickey is was never seriously considered for the head coach position.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

It still is shocking how some fans and most of the media thought that Matt was some kind of amazing hire.

raises hand - I'll admit I was one of them. I am now...how shall I say...slightly less enthusiastic.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

I meant where we are favored but lose like Minn last year. I don't think we'll be favored vs Illinois or Iowa

Oh I'm tracking now. Yeah that's likely to happen and I can concede that game could be MSU. Heck, I could see us not being favored in that game since its on the road. I'd be surprised at this moment if we were to be favored against Illinois or Iowa. Both are road games and Rhule is 4-9 in road conference games at Nebraska.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

IMO, Nebraska would have to win 3 games or less in order for Matt Rhule to lose his job AND there would have to be a significantly reduced turnout for games. If we win 3 games and its still packed house, he's safe. But Troy Dannen HAS to be fired if he fires Matt Rhule before 2027 season is finished. He added $22.5 mil to his buyout for arguably no good reason (he had 5 years remaining on contract!!). If you wanted to fire Rhule after 2026, you will be paying him $63.9 mil instead of $41.4 mil. Oh, you also have to buyout the rest of his staff. Then you have to pay for a whole new staff after that. For an athletic department that netted a $7 mil profit, it would be an insanely poor financial decision to fire Rhule a calendar year after extending him. Unless boosters/donors came forward saying they aren't contributing significantly to NIL unless there's a new coach, I just can't see Rhule being fired.

New report details finances of Nebraska Athletics' $200 million operation

Husker Athletics turned a $7 million profit, generating $215 million.

www.ketv.com

If the first part of your scenario happens and the second part doesn't, every fan in attendance by the end deserves to get the crap beat out of them in the parking lot after the game and should have to forfeit their season tickets.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

raises hand - I'll admit I was one of them. I am now...how shall I say...slightly less enthusiastic.

I think there is a difference though. Like, you were probably excited about the hire as opposed to thinking "**** yeah, this is the guy, look at his history"

Just like we all were, for the most part, with Frost.

 

[huskerj12]

The real question...what is the magic number of wins/losses that gets us a coaching search and some hope that we are not just another lame *** team that is excited to make a lame *** bowl game...

I would much rather be part of a coaching search as opposed to pretending to be excited about 7 wins.

Man I can't bring myself to the place where I'm rooting for a coaching search. I don't think I have it in me to continue caring about NU football the way I always have, if we faceplant yet again and try another reset.

So I'm rooting for Rhule to figure it out. I just can't stay interested if we go through the same stale "crash and burn/run the coach out of town/get excited about flight trackers/what if we get Urban/maybe THIS guy will finally get it right" cycle again haha. ESPECIALLY in the modern era where the roster already has so much turnover from year to year.

My realistic/hopeful prediction is another 7-5 season, which will obviously not be super inspiring but I think the team will "look" more like we want them to look. More physical, more excitement, more imaginative playcalling, less reliant on The Raiola Experience, etc., and we will feel more comfortable and hopeful about the future this time next year.

 

[Man Woman & Child]

I think there is a difference though. Like, you were probably excited about the hire as opposed to thinking "**** yeah, this is the guy, look at his history"

Just like we all were, for the most part, with Frost.

Nah, I'm embarrassed to say you're giving me way too much credit. I was really excited about the hire and thought he was the guy. Been dealing with the massive blow to my ego and severe trust issues ever since

 

[SuperBigFan69]

Nah, I'm embarrassed to say you're giving me way too much credit. I was really excited about the hire and thought he was the guy. Been dealing with the massive blow to my ego and severe trust issues ever since

Hahaha! Yeah, I get that!

 

[suffocation_]

But don't forget the annual "lost one we should have won" game in your prediction. I'm guessing MSU is that game for @BugsAreQualityProtein. So, if we get MSU, we need to lose one somewhere else that fits into that category (probably Maryland or Rutgers). Hence, 5-7 looking pretty accurate. Guessing it looks something like this with the bold being 2-1

Ohio - W
BGSU - W
UND - W
@ MSU
MD
IU - L
@ ORE - L
WASH - L
@ ILL - L
@ RUTG
OSU - L
@ IOWA - L

Very fortunate that only one of Rhule's two daddies (Ferentz & Fleck) gets visitation rights this year