Here’s what national magazines say about Nebraska football

Phil Steele and Lindy’s both predict NU will improve in 2024. Steele predicts the Huskers will finish seventh in the new-look, 18-team Big Ten; Lindy’s pegs them for eighth in the conference a year after going 5-7.

“I’m kinda unnaturally excited about Nebraska this year, to be honest,” an anonymous NFL scout told Lindy’s. “A real sleeper. They’re set up to be more pass-oriented, and they have the makeup to be one of the stingiest defenses in the nation.”

Neither magazine was as bullish on NU entering Year 1 of the Matt Rhule era. Both predicted the Huskers would finish fifth in the Big Ten West, which no longer exists as the Big Ten scrapped divisions with its recent expansion.

This season, Lindy’s tabs Nebraska as the No. 38 team in the country. Entering the 2023 season, it had NU at No. 52.

In Steele, the Huskers are No. 33, also up from 52. Steele also slots Nebraska into No. 2 on its most improved teams list — citing Rhule’s history of improving in his second season — and predicts NU will qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2016.

Beyond the obvious reasons for improvement — the addition of Dylan Raiola and veteran receivers, a defense bringing back many of the same pieces as last year — both publications point to Nebraska’s light schedule as a reason to expect improvement.

The Huskers begin the season with four home games and won’t see a team that made a bowl game in 2023 until it plays at Rutgers in Week 5. Even after getting into the thick of conference play, they avoid Michigan, Oregon and Penn State. Lindy’s ranks Nebraska’s slate as the second easiest in the Big Ten.

The consensus is that Nebraska’s defense will once again be its strength. Lindy’s and Steele both had defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher on the All-Big Ten second team. Fellow D-lineman Ty Robinson made the third team in Lindy’s and the fourth team in Steele, along with linebacker Jimari Butler. Safety Isaac Gifford made Steele’s third team.

Three offensive players made all-conference teams, all of them linemen. Bryce Benhart is on the third team for both. Micah Mazzccua is on Steele’s second team, and Ben Scott is on the third team in Steele.

Consequently, Steele projects Nebraska to finish the year in the top 10 in scoring defense at 20.3 points allowed per game, which would actually be slightly worse than its 2023 figure of 18.3 points per game. The same computer projection thinks the Huskers will score 26.8 points per game ranking 11th in the Big Ten.

Hutmacher, Robinson, Butler, Gifford, Benhart and Scott all played for Nebraska in 2023. If the magazines are correct and NU improves, all will likely play a major role. Lindy’s ranks the Huskers’ incoming recruiting class as the 18th best in the country.

Steele lists Raiola as the second best freshman quarterback in the nation, behind only Julian Sayin of Ohio State. Grant Brix and Preston Taumua both appear on the list of best freshman offensive linemen, and Dae’vonn Hall is No. 57 among receivers.

Nebraska is in position to improve on a loopy 2023 campaign. It’s brought back key contributors. Newcomers are in position to make an impact early on. Magazines indicate the national perception of NU is that it’s ready to turn a corner.

“It’s too early to say this is a make-or-break year for Matt Rhule in Lincoln,” the anonymous scout told Lindy’s, “but it will feel like a big missed opportunity if the Huskers don’t make a leap this season.”