The 2024 season is entering week two of action, and Nebraska is 1-0 for the first time since 2019. Now, with one game under everyone’s belt, it’s time to lay out the remaining games on the schedule for the Huskers.
Nebraska is off to a strong start with its 40-7 win over UTEP. They scored 40 points for the first time since 2022 and maintained their strong defense from last season.
The remaining 11 teams standing in the Huskers’ way all bring some form of challenge to the table, but some challenges weigh heavier than others. And why fans may like to look ahead, head coach Matt Rhule has said there are no measuring stick games for the program.
“I don’t think that way… I think everyday is a measuring stick for us and our program. Like everyday we are trying to see where we are… We are as day by day as we have ever been as a program.”
Here are the rankings by difficulty for Nebraska’s 11 remaining games.
11. Northern Iowa Panthers
Sitting at the bottom of the rankings is Nebraska’s only FCS opponent, Northern Iowa. The Panthers opened the season up with a 35-7 win over Valparaiso.
Northern Iowa isn’t an FCS team to be taken lightly, especially after its 365-rushing-yard outing against the Beacons. However, it will be coming off a clash with FCS foe St. Thomas when it arrives in Lincoln, a jarring shift.
Though FCS teams could pose a potential threat to FBS schools, Northern Iowa has their work cut out for them if they want to pull off an upset against Nebraska.
Big Ten opponent UCLA enters the year shell-shocked from the offseason. The team is projected to finish in the bottom third of the conference after losing part of its roster and head coach Chip Kelly, who’s now the OC at Ohio State.
All of this showed for the Bruins in their first game of the season against Hawaii. First-time head coach DeShaun Foster produced a win for UCLA, but it was a stressful one, to say the least.
The Bruins kicked a go-ahead field goal in the final minute to take down the Mountain West team. The team rushed for 71 yards, while Ethan Garbers threw for 19-of-38 for 272 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
Its defense held Hawaii to 52 yards on the ground and its quarterback to 25-of-42 for 227 yards and one touchdown. The defense also recovered two interceptions and one fumble.
But it’s still a big mountain to overcome for the Bruins after losing so much in the offseason. Though it’ll look to battle this season, it’s hard to see them find a way out of the bottom third of the Big Ten standings.
Get more UCLA news, analysis, and opinions on UCLA Wire
9. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is another team with a new head coach this season. The Hoosiers welcomed James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti to Bloomington. Cignetti also brought over a lot of his team from Harrisonburg and is hoping to bring some of their success with him.
But like many coaches before him, a change in conference difficulty comes with a challenge. The Hoosiers defeated FIU 31-7 in their first outing but scored 21 points in the first half, showing signs of a struggling offense.
Along with the 180 total passing yards, Indiana also suffered nine penalties and three fumbles. But it did finish with 234 rushing yards. It also held FIU to 129 passing yards and 53 rushing, showing off Cignetti’s strong defense.
But the potential mistakes could tip the scales, something Nebraska knows all too well. Plus, with Rhule in his second year at Nebraska against Cignetti, the Huskers hold a better chance of winning this one.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois will travel to Nebraska for a Friday night clash later this season.
Illinois finished third in the Big Ten in total offense last year but only put together a 5-7 record. Following its 45-0 win over Eastern Illinois, it’s clear the Fighting Illini are looking to take a big step this year.
But how big of a step depends on its offense and defense heading in the right direction. Quarterback Luke Altmyer started nine games and threw for 1,883 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. In the win over the Panthers, he went 19-of-24 for 213 yards and four touchdowns.
Kaden Feagin ran for 108 yards and a touchdown off 16 carries, which could translate to a hybrid offense for Illinois. The Fighting Illini defense also stood their ground, pitching a shutout.
It’s tough to say what the outcome between Illinois and Nebraska will be just yet. But the Fighting Illini won’t come into Lincoln looking to roll over.
Nebraska’s first road game of the season sends them to West Lafayette, where a Purdue team, despite losing players to the portal, is still looking to put up a fight.
The Boilermakers ripped through Indiana State on both sides of the ball, holding the Sycamores to 50 passing yards off 10 throws and a little over a hundred yards rushing off 43 carries. Purdue meanwhile collected 583 total yards on offense, 335 in the air, and 248 on the ground.
The Boilermakers will also have to face Notre Dame and Oregon State before hosting the Huskers, which, combined with it being Nebraska’s first road game of 2024, adds to the challenge.
6. Colorado Buffaloes
The Buffaloes started the 2023 season strong, going 4-2 before losing their final six games. Now, the Deion Sanders regime enters its sophomore season, and Nebraska again is an early obstacle.
Colorado’s offense, primarily its passing game, remains as dangerous, and the rebuilt offensive line gave Shedeur Sanders enough time to throw for 445 yards and four touchdowns.
Jimmy Horn Jr. and Travis Hunter also remain huge factors, combining for 330 yards and four touchdowns. But the rest of Colorado’s speedy receiving core shouldn’t go unnoticed either.
However, their defense struggled and allowed North Dakota State to keep the game close, which could be a good sign for Raiola and the Nebraska offense.
It’ll come down to which offense breaks which defense, and neither side is looking to allow that to happen.
Get more Colorado news, analysis, and opinions on Colorado Buffaloes Wire
5. Rutgers Scarlet Knight
Rutgers is emerging from the east as a dark horse for the Big Ten. Though the Scarlet Knights won’t likely reach the conference championship, they have a chance to have a high finish in the standings.
Nebraska is also Rutgers’s second Big Ten matchup of the season after it plays Washington at the end of September. The Scarlet Knights are steadily improving under Greg Schiano and will look to control the pace of the game week in and week out.
Senior running back Kyle Monangai is the main factor offensively. After rushing for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns last season, he rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown off 19 carries in Rutgers’ win over Howard.
The Scarlet Knights also bring in former Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who’s clashed with the Huskers twice before. Kaliakmanis threw 15-of-24 for 147 yards and three touchdowns against Howard.
Rutgers also has one of the best defenses in the country. Last season, it finished 16th in the nation in total defense.
Though the Scarlet Knights come to Nebraska, it won’t be surprising if the game turns into a battle in the trenches.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
Last season, the Badgers won seven games for the second consecutive season but struggled to get seven wins. Following its 28-14 win over Western Michigan, it seems Wisconsin is still struggling.
The Badgers didn’t crack 200 yards in passing or rushing, but they held Western Michigan to 141 passing yards and 120 rushing yards. Second-year head coach Luke Fickell will look to fix this over the course of the season.
The Huskers welcome Wisconsin to Lincoln in a game that could determine both team’s postseason futures. But the Badgers, regardless of their record, won’t let the Huskers go for the win without a fight, which is why they remain high on the list.
Unless Wisconsin collapses over the next month, it’ll remain a key opponent for Nebraska to look out for.
Get more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions on Badgers Wire
Iowa’s display against Illinois State showed it still has that defense, but its offense is still trying to get going.
The Hawkeyes scored 40 points against the Redbirds, but only six of those points occurred in the first half. Iowa wore down Illinois State all game offensively and defensively, allowing the Hawkeyes to score points late in the game.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester is in his first season at Iowa and is looking to turn the Hawkeye offense around. Iowa will also look to senior quarterback Cade McNamara to lead it. McNamara tore his ACL last season against Michigan State and beat out Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan for the starting job.
It’s hard to say where Iowa and Nebraska will be record-wise when they face each other in Iowa City for the final regular season game. But it’s safe to say that it’ll be a battle regardless.
Get more Iowa news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
No. 23 USC is the newcomer looking to make a name for itself in its first year in the Big Ten. So far, the Trojans have done just that, defeating LSU 27-20 in week one. Junior Miller Moss threw 27-of-36 for 378 yards and a touchdown, showing USC’s offense is still on point.
But the Trojans did surrender 304 passing yards and 117 rushing yards to the Tigers. Last season, USC finished 116th in total defense. To help alleviate these pains, USC hired D’Anton Lynn from UCLA. If Lynn can turn this defense into a formidable unit, USC will be one of the conference’s best.
For Nebraska, the game is already challenging, but heading to the Los Angeles Coliseum adds to the difficulty.
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Not surprisingly, at the top of the list is the No. 2 team in the nation. Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day are looking to get over the hump and win it all, finally. Day is 1-3 in the College Football Playoff as the Buckeyes’ head coach and has not been to the national championship since 2021, when they lost to Alabama 52-24.
Ohio State has one of the country’s most talented and experienced rosters. Last season, the Buckeyes’ defense allowed only 9.7 points per game, excluding the 30 points they surrendered to Michigan.
Ohio State also hired former UCLA and Oregon coach Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator and added a few dynamic playmakers. The most notable is former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard in the transfer portal. Howard replaces Kyle McCord, who left for Syracuse.
The Buckeyes are off to a dominating start, blowing out Akron 52-6. When Nebraska arrives in Columbus, Ohio State will have faced Iowa and Oregon, which, compared to the Huskers, will likely be a gauntlet.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Ranking Nebraska’s remaining opponents for the 2024 season
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