According to this GUY This is Nebby’s best team and same with Rhule

squeezebox_1

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2018
782
1,222
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That bar is fairly low, and it very well could be, but that schedule is going to absolutely wreck them. There is a more than solid chance they drop 4 straight, kicking off with Indiana. I don't see them pulling off the Illinois win. They then get Ohio State after Rutgers.
 
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85Bears

All-American
Aug 31, 2019
5,354
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Qb they picked up will be an improvement. Wisconsin picked up a really athletic qb Colton Joseph, reminds me of Mateer
 

Hawkmanic23

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2026
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Joseph can really run. Wisky will probably be quite a bit improved. Colandrea is pretty good too , better than what they’ve had in a while
Many running QBs, particularly at the college level, don’t make it through the season without some type of injury. There’s a reason why you generally don’t see running QB’s in the NFL.
 
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85Bears

All-American
Aug 31, 2019
5,354
5,456
108
Many running QBs, particularly at the college level, don’t make it through the season without some type of injury. There’s a reason why you generally don’t see running QB’s in the NFL.
Joseph is a dual threat guy. Watch his ODU highlights. Reminds me of Mateer but not as physically strong
 

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
3,409
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Last season supposed to see the “year 3 jump” under rhule. That didn’t happen with a very friendly schedule. Guy has been living off one great season in Baylor like 7 years ago. Over rated coach. I expect a 6-6 season at best in Lincoln.

They made and won a bowl game. That was honestly a big improvement in Lincoln.
 
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RuggieC

Senior
Mar 30, 2014
467
966
93
Joseph can really run. Wisky will probably be quite a bit improved. Colandrea is pretty good too , better than what they’ve had in a while
They should be better but their record won't show it. Leading up to our game I think they drop 3 or 4 games.
 
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nu2u

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2006
10,502
2,923
113
ON PAPER
- OL improved with veteran starters will help QB but depth is highly suspect
- DL is weakest unit according to analysts; new DC a miracle worker?

It all starts in the trenches.

On offense, the Huskers will likely move the ball effectively if a RB similar to Emmitt Johnson emerges. QB Colandria is definitely a run threat which is a major upgrade over Raiola. IMO the biggest danger is injuries. Losing OL starter(s) will hurt. Losing Colandrea could set NE offense back significantly, you don’t want Queen Lateefa facing B10 defenses…. and as mentioned, can a QB who rushes 10+ times per game make it through an entire season? Note: TE Lindenmeyer is an excellent pass catcher, All-Big Ten talent

On defense, the biggest question is whether they can stop the run and get decent pass pressure. New DC probably losing sleep already. If this unit proves weak, it will get relentlessly exploited on the ground - that is a recipe for 7-6, 6-7 type season.
 
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Tsawvell55

Senior
Jul 2, 2025
437
643
93
Nebraska, where men are men and sheep are nervous. I heard these asswipes we’re looking to get out of the Big Ten, I hope that’s true and the Big Ten brings in a team that will not embarrass the conference like these whiny *** bug eaters have.
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
774
1,977
83
ON PAPER
- OL improved with veteran starters will help QB but depth is highly suspect
- DL is weakest unit according to analysts; new DC a miracle worker?

It all starts in the trenches.

On offense, the Huskers will likely move the ball effectively if a RB similar to Emmitt Johnson emerges. QB Colandria is definitely a run threat which is a major upgrade over Raiola. IMO the biggest danger is injuries. Losing OL starter(s) will hurt. Losing Colandrea could set NE offense back significantly, you don’t want Queen Lateefa facing B10 defenses…. and as mentioned, can a QB who rushes 10+ times per game make it through an entire season? Note: TE Lindenmeyer is an excellent pass catcher, All-Big Ten talent

On defense, the biggest question is whether they can stop the run and get decent pass pressure. New DC probably losing sleep already. If this unit proves weak, it will get relentlessly exploited on the ground - that is a recipe for 7-6, 6-7 type season.
15 years in and nebby still hasn’t figured out line play is vital in big 10. Sometimes how new guys gel together is a mixed bag. They finally started fielding some good defenses then DC left for FSU 2 years ago. I maybe in minority but I don’t think they upgraded at QB. Baby mahomes is a giant dbag but has all the tools and sadly when he eventually plays at Oregon think he will flourish under a competent staff. New qb put up good numbers at UNLV but nothing to write home about at UVA his 2 years there. I don’t expect him to put the same numbers this year. As for rb losing emmet Johnson is a huge void to fill. He was their offense last year as we saw in our game. First team all conf. No way they have a guy as talented but need to replace his production by committee or least a semblance of.

but you bring up a good point of injuries. Being last game of year who knows who could be lost or banged up coming into the game. Look at last 3 years with qbs. Deacon playing for us, next year our 4th stringer Stratton starting and last year lateef (I do like the queen lateefa nickname) for them.
 

Hawkmanic23

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2026
1,966
1,472
113
ON PAPER
- OL improved with veteran starters will help QB but depth is highly suspect
- DL is weakest unit according to analysts; new DC a miracle worker?

It all starts in the trenches.

On offense, the Huskers will likely move the ball effectively if a RB similar to Emmitt Johnson emerges. QB Colandria is definitely a run threat which is a major upgrade over Raiola. IMO the biggest danger is injuries. Losing OL starter(s) will hurt. Losing Colandrea could set NE offense back significantly, you don’t want Queen Lateefa facing B10 defenses…. and as mentioned, can a QB who rushes 10+ times per game make it through an entire season? Note: TE Lindenmeyer is an excellent pass catcher, All-Big Ten talent

On defense, the biggest question is whether they can stop the run and get decent pass pressure. New DC probably losing sleep already. If this unit proves weak, it will get relentlessly exploited on the ground - that is a recipe for 7-6, 6-7 type season.
Nebraska doesn’t appear to have a running back on their roster who is nearly as good as Emmett Johnson was last year.
 

nu2u

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2006
10,502
2,923
113
Another way to look at this is to consider Matt Rhule’s coaching record against AP Top25 opponents.

Matt Rhule is 2-25 vs. Top25 as HC of - in succession - Temple (2-7) Baylor (0-11) and Nebraska (0-7, so far). That’s a .074 win percentage. His last win against a ranked team occurred in 2016 as HC at Temple (vs. Navy).

Now consider that Nebraska’s 2026 schedule includes five (5) Big Ten preseason AP Top25 teams (Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington, Iowa)

In addition, of the 4 pre-season unranked Big Ten opponents, 3 are away games (@Michigan State, @Illinois, @Rutgers). They do play wildcard Maryland at Lincoln.

While patterns are not reliably predictive of future results, perhaps we can reliably conclude that the odds of disrupting the pattern are not in favor of Matt Rhule in 2026.
 

RuggieC

Senior
Mar 30, 2014
467
966
93
ON PAPER
- OL improved with veteran starters will help QB but depth is highly suspect
- DL is weakest unit according to analysts; new DC a miracle worker?

It all starts in the trenches.

On offense, the Huskers will likely move the ball effectively if a RB similar to Emmitt Johnson emerges. QB Colandria is definitely a run threat which is a major upgrade over Raiola. IMO the biggest danger is injuries. Losing OL starter(s) will hurt. Losing Colandrea could set NE offense back significantly, you don’t want Queen Lateefa facing B10 defenses…. and as mentioned, can a QB who rushes 10+ times per game make it through an entire season? Note: TE Lindenmeyer is an excellent pass catcher, All-Big Ten talent

On defense, the biggest question is whether they can stop the run and get decent pass pressure. New DC probably losing sleep already. If this unit proves weak, it will get relentlessly exploited on the ground - that is a recipe for 7-6, 6-7 type season.
Even with relatively good health I see them w 5 losses minimum. To your point if they lose a few guys or the defense does not hold it it’s a 7 loss team.
 

rchawk

All-American
Oct 27, 2001
74,730
9,471
113
Even with relatively good health I see them w 5 losses minimum. To your point if they lose a few guys or the defense does not hold it it’s a 7 loss team.
They have a new OL coach who is not the uncle of their 5* QB.

Rhule has had a high staff turnover in just three years. If they want to fire the new OL coach they can do it sooner than a week after the QB decides to transfer.
 
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