For the first time since 2016, the Huskers have started the season off 2-0 following their 28-10 victory over Colorado. Also, for the first time since 2019, Nebraska is ranked in the top 25. The No. 24 Huskers have ten games remaining on their schedule.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola has thrown for 423 yards and three touchdowns, while the run game has tallied 372 yards and five touchdowns. The defense, meanwhile, has only allowed 17 points through the first two games, giving Nebraska an opportunity to take a big step in the right direction.
Head coach Matt Rhule is excited about the potential of Nebraska playing in big games again.
“I think there is so much on the film from this past game that we have to get corrected and get better at and that speaks for itself. You come here to have high expectations. You come here to play in big games. You come here to play in front of that crowd. All the reasons that you come here so we expect to be ranked. Whatever it is, 23rd or 24th that’s not where we want to end up. Go each week and we will see what happens.”
Here are the rankings for Nebraska’s ten remaining opponents.
10. Northern Iowa Panthers, Sep. 14
Starting at the bottom of the list is Nebraska’s upcoming foe, Northern Iowa. The FCS team enters the matchup with a 2-0 record following a nailbiter against St. Thomas.
The Panthers won 17-10 over the Tommies after trailing 10-7 heading into the fourth, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with less than three minutes left.
Northern Iowa’s main offensive game plan is pure ground-pound running. Through two games, the team has rushed for 614 yards while passing for just 215 yards.
But when facing the roadblock that is Nebraska’s defense, it’s likely to be forced to toss it up, which could favor the Huskers.
But if Northern Illinois showed anything against Notre Dame, it’s that no team should be slept on.
9. UCLA Bruins, Nov. 2
UCLA was one of two teams on Nebraska’s schedule that didn’t play this week. Because of that, the Bruins stay in the penultimate spot for the weakest opponent. Their first opponent, Hawaii, also didn’t play this week, which only adds to UCLA’s security in this spot.
The Bruins won off a last-minute field goal to defeat Hawaii in week one. Quarterback Ethan Garbers threw 19-of-38 for 272 yards in the Bruins’ win, along with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The Bruins defense meanwhile held the Rainbow Warriors to 52 rushing yards with 227 passing yards, and one touchdown. The defense also snatched two interceptions and one fumble.
But there’s still a lot of question as to how UCLA will compare to the rest of the Big Ten and with a lot riding against it, there’s nowhere to go but up.
8. Purdue Boilermakers, Sep. 28
Right next to the Bruins on this list is Purdue, the other team on Nebraska’s schedule with a bye in week two. Its week one win was over Indiana State, a team that lost to Eastern Illinois 27-20. The Panthers were blown out by Illinois 45-0.
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.
But like UCLA, there’s still the mystery of what it can do heading into Big Ten action in a few weeks. Though it holds homefield advantage over the Huskers, Nebraska holds an advantage in every other category for now.
7. Indiana Hoosiers, Oct. 19
Following a 31-7 win over FIU in week one, Indiana came out and delivered a colossal 77-3 victory over Western Illinois in week two. The Leathernecks lost big to Northern Illinois, who just pulled off the miraculous upset against Notre Dame.
But Indiana’s response following the semi-lackluster win over FIU shouldn’t go unnoticed. The Hoosiers kept their foot on the gas the entire game against Western Illinois, never showing any signs of slowing down.
Kurtis Rourke threw 15-of-17 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game meanwhile rushed for 325 yards and seven touchdowns. The defense also pitched in heavily, snatching two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery. All the while Indiana held Western Illinois to 12 rushing yards and 109 passing yards.
Though it’s still a very new team with head coach Curt Cignetti, this complete game performance by the Hoosiers already surpassed Nebraska in terms of both sides playing four quarters.
6. Wisconsin Badgers, Nov. 23
Dropping down on the list is Wisconsin after escaping a non-Power 4 opponent. The Badgers won the game 27-13 after their lead shrunk to 17-13 with over five minutes to go in the third.
FCS foe South Dakota stayed in the hunt against Wisconsin, despite falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. The battle grew until the Badgers scored on a fourth-and-goal on the one to push their lead to the eventual 27-13 final.
However, the Coyotes shot themselves in the foot throughout the drive, coughing up a horse collar, face mask, targeting and a delay of game penalty.
It’s hard to say whether or not Wisconsin could’ve found the endzone without South Dakota’s mishaps. But it nevertheless shows that the Badgers slipped up a bit against the Coyotes.
This is an early sign that Wisconsin may struggle more this season than last year, a big advantage for Nebraska when it welcomes them to Lincoln in November.
Get more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions on Badgers Wire
5. Illinois Fighting Illini, Sep. 20
Illinois is moving up on the list following a 24-17 upset win over No. 19 Kansas. The Fighting Illini battled the Jayhawks throughout the night. Down 17-13 heading into the fourth, Illinois broke through Kansas’s defense, scoring 10 unanswered to earn the win.
This was largely due to IIllinois’s defense, which forced three interceptions and one fumble on the night. One of the interceptions also resulted in a pick-six for the Fighting Illini. With IIllinois’s defense on the rise, the team is one to look out for.
The offense is also steadily improving, with Luke Altmyer tallying 405 passing yards and the Illinois run-game rushing for 323 yards through two contests.
This will be Nebraska’s next big test as it enters Big Ten action on a Friday night in Lincoln for the 400th consecutive sellout game. All the more reason why Illinois will be looking to spoil the fun.
Rutgers replaces Wisconsin at No. 4. The Scarlet Knights delivered another swift victory in week two, blowing out Akron 49-17.
The Scarlet Knights, under Greg Schiano, have an opportunity to make a run this year in the Big Ten, even though their schedule currently only contains two ranked teams.
Kyle Monangai tallied 373 rushing yards through the first two games to accompany Rutgers’ 614 total on the ground. Athan Kaliakmanis’ past experience against Nebraska also gives him a slight advantage. Though he’s only thrown 377 total yards, he’ll know to be cautious against the Huskers’ Defense.
Though Rutgers’ defense has not forced many turnovers, it still acts as a gritty force to be reckoned with, which could make Nebraska’s offense difficult.
The Scarlet Knights are the dark horse team in the Big Ten, and Nebraska needs to be cautious about it.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes, Nov. 29
Though Iowa suffered a second-half collapse and fell to Iowa State, it’s tough to say where the Hawkeyes will be by the end of the season.
Iowa’s rushing offense and rushing defense remain its primary strengths based on its performance against the Cyclones. The Hawkeyes ran for 204 total yards while holding Iowa State to just 89 yards.
But Iowa’s passing game slipped up a bit on both sides. Cade McNamara threw 13-of-29 for 99 yards and two interceptions, while the Cyclones’ Rocco Becht finished 23-of-35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Though Iowa’s defense stood its ground, it slipped up a few times, the biggest being Iowa State’s one-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter.
If the Hawkeyes continue to struggle, resulting in more losses, it could give Nebraska an advantage. However, with the Huskers travelling to Iowa in their final regular-season game, there’s no guarantee what the Hawkeyes will bring.
Get more Iowa news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
2. USC Trojans, Nov. 16
The No. 11 Trojans continue to show themselves as a well-balanced team.
Miller Moss threw 21-of-30 for 229 yards and a touchdown in the win against Utah State, while the ground game tallied up 253 yards.
The defense meanwhile held Aggies to zero points in the 48-0 win. The Trojans held Utah State to 103 passing yards and 87 rushing yards, while also forcing one interception.
The Trojans have an opportunity to climb higher in the rankings in their matchup against No. 17 Michigan.
With how balanced USC currently is, it poses a great challenge for Nebraska. The Huskers’ trip to the Los Angeles Coliseum, which will likely be under the lights, will be one of their biggest tests of the season.
Get more USC news, analysis, and opinions on Trojans Wire
1. Ohio State Buckeyes, Oct. 26
The No. 3 Buckeyes remain at the top of the list. In week two, Ohio State once again steamrolled its early opponent, shutting out Western Michigan 56-0.
Will Howard leads the Buckeyes offensively, throwing for 520 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. The ground game, meanwhile, has tallied up 443 yards and eight touchdowns. Its defense, meanwhile, forced eight sacks and two interceptions, only allowing six points through two games.
Until otherwise, this team remains the toughest foe for Nebraska this season.
Get more Ohio State news, analysis, and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Ranking Nebraska’s remaining opponents for the 2024 season
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