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We've reached the penultimate day before the 137th season in Nebraska football history.

Year four of the Matt Rhule era kicks off on Saturday against Ohio. Here are several predictions from the Huskers Illustrated staff about the season, the Big Ten Conference, and the College Football Playoff.

Nebraska's Record

Predictions varied from 5-7 to 8-4. Nobody is going out on a limb and jumping Nebraska up to nine or 10 wins. Similarly, nobody is blowing the wheels off the operation with a four (or fewer) win season.

Rhule has posted back-to-back 7-6 campaigns. Those came after a 5-7 debut in 2023. With Vegas also putting the win total at 6.5, year four looks to be in the same area.

Nebraska's First Loss

The consensus is that Nebraska will start 4-0, beating Ohio, North Dakota, and Michigan State. From there, a split opens up.

Some of the predictions point to a loss against Maryland. The rest jump to defending national champion Indiana.

If Nebraska is going to outpace expectations, then it is imperative that the team enters the Indiana game at 5-0. A loss to the Hoosiers wouldn't be nearly as deflating as one to the Terrapins.

Nebraska's Rushing Yards Leader

What is Nebraska going to do for a run game this fall? That's the major question, and one that put a split into this and the next question.

If a running back does lead the team in rushing, the favorite is true freshman Jamal Rule. If not, which is what the majority are saying, then it will be quarterback Anthony Colandrea.

The last quarterback to lead the team in rushing was not Adrian Martinez, who did so in 2020 and 2021. In fact, it was Heinrich Haarberg in Rhule's first season. He carried the rock for 477 yards, the fewest by Nebraska's leading rusher since Frank Solich had 444 in 1964.

Nebraska's Rushing Touchdowns Leader

The split of running backs went further here, with Rule and Isaiah Mozee both getting mentions. Colandrea, though, was the runaway leader.

Again, it was Haarberg as the last quarterback to lead the team in rushing touchdowns. He had five in 2023, which was the fewest to lead the team since Frank Patrick had three in 1967.

Nebraska's Receiving Yards Leader

Nyaiah Hunter led the Huskers in receiving yards last year, and he's the favorite to do so again. But it wasn't a clean sweep.

Other answers included Jacory Barney Jr. and new addition Kwazi Gilmer. 

Nebraska's Receiving Touchdowns Leader

Plenty of Hunter here again, but he tied with Gilmer for the most selections. Barney and Hunter had five receiving touchdowns each last season. At UCLA, Gilmer reeled in four.

A wildcard to take the receiving touchdowns title? Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer. He has two career touchdowns, with both coming last season. Thomas Fidone was the last Husker tight end to lead the team in receiving touchdowns when he had four in 2023.

Anthony Colandrea’s TD/INT Ratio

Only three quarterbacks have thrown for single-digit touchdowns in a full season in the 21st century: Eric Crouch 7 (2001), Jammal Lord 6 (2003), and Haarbrerg 7 (2023). That isn't the expectation with UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea.

Every prediction had at least 20 touchdowns, going all the way up to 28. Tanner Lee was the last Husker to post more than 20 passing touchdowns in a season, with his 23 in 2017. Zac Taylor's 26 in 2006 are the school record.

On the interception front, the expectation is to see double-digit giveaways here. Every prediction was between 10 and 14. Dylan Raiola threw 11 interceptions as a freshman in 2024, and was at just six before leading the ninth game of 2025 with an injury. TJ Lateef threw just one pick, brining the team's total on the year to seven.

Nebraska's Offensive MVP

If you like a quarterback to play well and lead the team to wins, the majority went with Colandrea. Other options included Hunter and Rule. This one might ultimately depend on how the offense runs, who is the most productive at crucial moments, and if Colandrea isn't excessively turnover happy.

Nebraska's Defensive MVP

This one saw the most variance of any of the topics so far.

Linebacker Vincent Shavers received the most mentions. He has steadily improved each year in Lincoln, but sits on the depth chart with an OR next to his name.

Other picks include linebacker Owen Chambliss, defensive lineman Cam Lenhardt, and cornerback Andrew Marshall.

The Husker Offensive Player We’ll Be Talking About More

Wide receiver Quinn Clark was the most predicted one at this spot. The son of the late Ken Clark, a running back at Nebraska from 1985 to 1989, Quinn played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2025, catching five passes for 132 yards and one touchdown. Could he be in for an increased role, even with the depth of talent at wideout?

Other predictions include Rule, Barney, and do-everything Janiran Bonner, who missed nearly all of last season after getting injured against Cincinnati in the opener.

The Husker Defensive Player We’ll Be Talking About More

Not a single player was picked more than once. That could mean there are plenty of guys to choose from that will break out. Or, it could mean that we're still unsure of what the defense will have for guys to step into larger roles.

The predictions include cornerback Jeremiah Charles, safety Dwayne McDougle III, defensive end Williams Nwaneri, defensive end Kade Pietrzak, and defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington.

Nebraska Assistant Coach Most Likely Not To Return

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was the clear favorite here. That isn't to say that Rhule will want him gone for poor performance. Most of the selections leaned toward him taking another job or finding a way back into a head coach position.

The only other pick was Marcus Satterfield, the first OC for Rhule in Lincoln before he was replaced but retained as the the tight ends coach.

Big Ten Coach Most Likely Not To Return Next Season

There is one answer here, and one answer only: Luke Fickell. Wisconsin is speed running the Nebraska playbook from a rise to power to an all-out decline. The Huskers are looking to get everything going in the right direction under Rhule, but the Badgers are likely looking at another coaching change this season.

Big Ten Championship Game

All but one prediction included Oregon in the Big Ten Championship. Other than the Ducks, only Indiana and Ohio State are expected to find their way to Indianapolis.

The most picked winner was Oregon, who would have won their second league title in three years in the Big Ten.

Overrated Big Ten Team

That one predictor note taking Oregon to the Big Ten Championship? He has the Ducks here. Other options include Penn State (Iowa State East?), Indiana, Michigan, and USC.

Underrated Big Ten Team

Welcome to the overrated and underrated team of the year in USC. They were picked here as well, but still not by as many as Washington. The other predictions had Iowa and UCLA.

Heisman Winner

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is the front runner for the Heisman Trophy. Other quarterbacks making the list include Miami's Darian Mensah and Ohio State's Julian Sayin. Another Buckeye got a mention, in wideout Jeremiah Smith.

Most Surprising CFP Team

What makes a surprising College Football Playoff team? That is a little different for everyone, but the top answer was simply someone from the Big 12 beyond Texas Tech. Oklahoma State and BYU both had predictions, with the Cougars getting the most.

Other predictions included first-year FBS program North Dakota State out of the Mountain West or one of Army or Navy to make it out of the American.

National Title Game

Oregon wasn't just a favorite for the Big Ten. The Ducks are favored to make it all the way to the national title game, with most predictors taking them to win their first CFP championship.

Notre Dame had the next-most picks to make the championship game. Others getting mentions include Georgia and Ohio State.

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