The CornNation 2025 Football Prediction Roundtable

FOOTBALL!

We love football around these parts… or at least we claimed to before getting lost in a forest of mediocrity. And with the start of a new season, let’s put down our markers and put down our predictions for the 2025 season.

Offensively, who leads Nebraska in rushing and receiving at the end of the season?

Jarek: In rushing yards, I’m slightly torn between two candidates at the moment. Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson are those two, and I think ultimately Rahmir wins out. The only reason is I believe he does a better job of taking care of the football. Receiving yards will be Janiran Bonner. I feel like he will be the dark horse in this receiver room, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the possession guy who Raiola looks to all season.

Todd: Emmett Johnson rushing and Jaylen Lloyd will lead in receiving yards.

Mike: I hate holding it against him, but Gabe Ervin’s injury history makes it tough to pick him here. I’m going with Emmett Johnson as the leading rusher as well, as I think he showed himself to be a versatile back. As for receiver, I’m going to go with Texas transfer Isaiah Neyor who had 878 yards in 2022 for the Bovines on just 44 catches. (20 yard average per catch? A true freshman quarterback has to love that weapon.)

Nate M: Heinrich Haarberg. Just kidding. I think Jamhal Banks will lead the team in receptions and Isaiah Neyor will lead the team in yards. Thomas Fidone might be second in both of those categories. As far as rushing, I don’t think we should sleep on Dante Dowdell. I know he’s currently the 4th string but I think he is still in the dog house currently.

Jon: Emmet Johnson will lead in rushing because he’s the best all-around back. Banks will lead in receiving yardage, but Thomas Fidone will lead in touchdown receptions.

Andy: If I’m looking at it from a gambling standpoint, I have to eliminate Gabe and Rahmir due to the injury history being what it is. With last year as a guide for what can happen, I’m going with Dante Dowdell – the talent is there, it will click for him and for the 2nd straight year a 4th stringer will rise to the top. As for receiving, conservatively I’m between Banks and Neyor – and because of injuries again, give me Jahmal Banks.

Defensively, who leads Nebraska in tackles for loss (including sacks) and interceptions?

Jarek: The TFL battle will come down to two people, Ty Robinson and Nash “Polar Bear” Hutmacher. The offenses will probably spend most of the time game planning blocking schemes for Nash, thus leaving Ty to do a lot of damage up front. Having said that, if you keep sacks separate, that goes to Nash. The interceptions will be Tommi Hill. I know he’s Nebraska’s best corner, but teams still haven’t been afraid to throw at him, which will be a big mistake throughout the year.

Todd: Jimari Butler will be the man this season up front. As much as I can’t believe I am typing his name in a positive light, Tommi Hill leads the team in interceptions.

Mike: I’m a big Jimari Butler fan, but I’m going to go with Mikai Gbayor as the leading TFL guy. Somebody has to fill the void Luke Reimer and Nick Heinrich left, and Gbayor just seems like the guy. As for interceptions, I think Isaac Gifford is going to have a huge year.

Nate M: Pour some Jimari Butler in my veins.

Jon: I’m going with Princewill Umanmielen as the TFL leader, Butler as the sack leader, and Marques Buford as the interception leader.

Andy: The TFL has a serious pool from which to pick. I’ve got to roll with the crowd and take Butler as he led last season and will play even more this year. I’ll go with Marques Buford Jr for picks – teams might try to throw his way a little too often much like with Tommi last season.

What’s Nebraska’s record at the end of the season? Do the Huskers finally play in a bowl game?

Jarek: I want to wear scarlet-and-cream-colored glasses and predict an 8-4 season. However, I see the Huskers going 7-5. Somewhere the Huskers will lay an egg (please God not against Colorado), but maybe find one on the back end of the schedule. I say the bowless streak comes to an end, but very unsure if they win it, so they will finish 7-6 with the bowl game included.

Todd: They will finish 6-6 in the regular season. I hope that it is better than that, but until they prove to be a better team than I think they are, they win six games.

Mike: When I look at the talent on this team and then the schedule, my heart says 9-3 or better. Problem is that Nebraska had pretty much out-talented the old Big Ten West division for the last dozen years, and hasn’t been to a bowl game since the Obama administration. Matt Rhule called it out during one of the first practices; for all of the athletes in this program, they just haven’t figured out what it takes to win Big Ten games. Yet. I think Rhule is doing it, but it’s probably not going to all fall in place this season. Just make a frickin’ bowl game at 7-5, and that’s huge progress.

Nate M: I think they will play in a bowl. Please Lord. Please. With that said I am going to go with 8 wins though the ceiling is 10.

Jon: Regular season, 9-3. Losses to Ohio State, USC, and maybe Iowa. Oh screw that, they ain’t losing to Iowa. 10-2, then.

Andy: 8-4. I went down the schedule and thought 11-1, baby! Then I shut off the Huskersexual part of my brain and tacked on a loss to the imaginary 7-0 start people are babbling about (Rutgers?). No one’s picking us to beat the Bucknuts. Then I made the West Coast/Midwest finish 2-2.

I thought about driving it down to 7-5, but then remembered gambler recs that the 7.5 O/U for win totals is a solid bet. Sports nuts who make decisions based on money instead of a burning desire for the little animal on their polo to beat the little animal on the other guy’s polo should be heeded. 8-4, y’all. Bet with your head.

Predict the result of the Big Ten championship game.

(Which two teams play and who wins)

Jarek: The B1G Championship game will be contested by Ohio State and Oregon. I say the Buckeyes win in a close one 34-31. Both teams will make the playoffs.

Todd: Ohio State thumps Iowa 42-6. Iowa, you say? Yep. Look at their schedule.

Mike: Three safeties by the Iowa defense? Bold move there, Todd. I’m going to take Penn State versus the Ohio State/Oregon winner…and my money is on the Bucknuts taking out both the Ducks and Nitts to claim the B1G title. Oregon and Penn State both get to host a quarterfinal playoff game as the consolation prize.

Nate M: Keeping Nebraska out of it, the matchup I WANT to see is Penn State and Oregon. But I think buying a roster with $20 million is hard to beat in Ohio State so I’ll go with Ohio State winning it against one of those two teams.

Jon: Ohio State and Penn State. I don’t think anyone is beating Ohio State this season. At all. Penn State because… I’m not putting Iowa there, although Todd has a good point about their schedule. It’d be nice if Minnesota beats them early. Penn State’s schedule isn’t terrible.

Andy: Dan Lanning is the one west coast coach who understands the need for physicality, but I’m not set on Oregon just coming in and running roughshod. This is the same Oregon who lost twice to Washington who was then handled easily by Michigan. Michigan lost most of their staff, a ton of seniors and is going to be dealing with the giant pile of shit Harbaugh left them.

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but Penn State will get there. Ohio State 31 Joe’s Statue Perverts 22

Who are the other three Power-Four conference champions that get first round byes in the expanded College Football Playoff?

Jarek: ACC: This one is now tricky since FSU decided not to win in Ireland, but a Clemson rebirth could be on the cards. Give me Dabo and co. Until another team proves me wrong, Georgia has to be the shoe in for the SEC, and the Big 12 is more than likely Oklahoma State’s to lose.

Todd: Georgia, Utah, and Clemson.

Mike: Georgia from the SEC. Louisville from the ACC; I really like Jeff Brohm as a head coach. And just to make the heads of Hawkeye fans explode: Iowa State from the Big XII.

Nate M: We know it’s actually a power two right? And the other two are semi-power. WITH THAT SAID, Georgia, Virginia Tech and…..COLORADO! (There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti). No, I’m going to go with Arizona.

Jon: Georgia, FSU, Kansas State. I’ll go with Clemson after watching FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei play against Georgia Tech. Completed, what, 80% of his passes at one point for negative yardage?

Andy: Georgia, Utah…and let’s say Clemson – who will be destroyed by whoever emerges from the bottom 8 leading Dabo to retire still bitching about NIL and the transfer portal.

The 2024 National Champion Will Be:

Jarek: Georgia…again. The only other two hopes will be Ohio State or Alabama.

Todd: Ohio State wins it all.

Nate M: Oregon.

Jon: Ohio State. Look at the weapons. Look at the depth chart. This team is built to lose two of everything and still kick everyone’s ass.

Mike: An Ohio state football team. The combination of a Chip Kelly offense and a loaded defense is just too much.

Andy: Probably a team that none of us mentioned even making the four byes. Hmmmm.

Ole Miss bay-beeeee – hop aboard, ever-one!! The Lane Train is leaving the station!!!