Nate M: Da-boom-da-da-mmm-dum-na-ee-ma
Da-boom-da-da-mmm-dum-na-ee-ma
Da-boom-da-da-mmm-dum-na-ee-ma
Da-boom-da-da-mmm-dum-na-ay, go
Jon J: WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
We are less than two days from entering Matt Rule’s magic third season. We’ve heard about this magic third season for three years now. We’ve heard that Matt rules teams take a big jump in the third year and this is the third year So I do expect a damn big jump in Nebraska football quality and win total.
And if it doesn’t happen, I’m taking a pitchfork
and a torch to Lincoln and, I don’t know, burning something.
Offensively, who leads Nebraska in rushing and receiving at the end of the season?
Todd: Emmet Johnson leads the team in rushing and Jacory Barney leads in yards receiving. Johnson will have to stay healthy, and if so, this could be a big season for him. Barney may not have the most catches, but he will accumulate the most yards.
Patrick: As long as Emmet Jonson stays healthy, I think he will for sure.The offensive line seems about as stout and deep enough this year to allow him to have plenty of holes to run through. I’m going to go with Dane Key for receiving yards. My guess is that he will go up against enough secondaries this year that will allow him to do so. His size and athleticism should bode very well in Holgerson’s offense.
Nate M: This may be coming from left field but I think Emmett Johnson will lead Nebraska in rushing. Dane Key will lead Nebraska in receiving.
Jill: Just to introduce a new name, I’m going with Nyziah Hunter as the leading receiver. I’d like to also find a new name at running back but it sure looks like Emmett Johnson will lead the ground attack.
Mike: No reason to not think Emmett Johnson will lead NU in rushing this season. Same with Dane Key. Both are established starters (well, Key was at Kentucky), so no reason to look elsewhere.
Defensively, who leads Nebraska in tackles for loss (including sacks) and interceptions?
Todd: Dasan McCullough will lead in tackles for loss and sacks. There are a lot of new faces up front and at linebacker to have a good sense of who the difference makers are going to be, but this kid has the measurables. How about Andrew Marshall leading the team in INTs. I think it is basically a pick-em.
Patrick: Yep, Dasan seems as likely a player to lead the team for tackles for loss and sacks. I know the Missouri folks were a little disappointed in him but I think he still has the best chance on the line. The ceiling is high for him and Nebraska should be able to get a lot out of his play. In regards to interceptions, that’s tough. I think there are two or three that could lead this category but I’m going to throw Ceyair Wright out there. The transfer from USC seems to be poised for a good season this year.
Nate M: Tackles for loss? Lets go with Vincent Shavers. Interceptions, I’ll go with Malcolm Hartzog Jr.
Jill: In tackles for loss and sacks, I like all the names the guys threw out above. I’ll throw in Cam Lenhardt as a darkhorse for that race. Interceptions…let’s go with the 1 jersey – Ceyair Wright.
Mike: I’m going to go off the board and say Mizzou transfer defensive end Williams Nwaneri will lead the Blackshirts for tackles for loss. And while Ceyair Wright is an easy choice, I’ll go with Malcolm Hartzog to lead in interceptions.
What’s Nebraska’s record at the end of the season?
Todd: They will finish the regular season 8-4. I’ll be happy with that and a New Year’s bowl game.
Patrick: I am also going to go with 8-4. Wins against Cincinnati, Akron, Houston Christian, Michigan State, Maryland, and Northwestern I think for sure. The games I think could be a tossup right now are Minnesota, USC, UCLA, and Iowa. UCLA is only on here because I think Nico Lamaleava brings a dynamic to that team that might give the Husker defense fits. As of now, I think Nebraska pulls two wins off of those four games. In regards to the other two losses, I don’t think Nebraska has enough talent to pull off the win against Michigan even though it is in Lincoln and it’s tough to win against Penn State. Especially since the game is in Happy Valley this year.
Nate M: If somebody said that I will lose my house and family if I get it wrong (but I’m forced to guess) then I’m going 8-4. However, I have cautious optimism that Nebraska could get one or two more. Get that Michigan game and you never know where they’ll be when they go to Penn State.
Jill: Okay, the guys have talked me into 8-4 being a possibility. The one-score game demons still have me worried. If the Huskers can put those meltdowns behind them, they could be a ranked team by the end of the season. Getting back to the Pelini-era nine-win plateau would be really nice but I’m not ready to predict that yet.
Mike: I look at the roster and the schedule, and I see 9-3 (and arguably 10-2) in the cards. Then I look at the “N” on the helmet and remember that Nebraska has chronically underperformed for the last ten years. So my brain has to revert to the mean and go 7-5.
Jon J: We’re going 10-2.
Predict the result of the Big Ten championship game.
(Which two teams play and who wins)
Who are the other three Power-Four conference champions that get first round byes in the expanded College Football Playoff?
Todd: Ohio State vs. Penn State for the B1G championship.. The Buckeyes win. Until someone knocks off the Buckeyes, they’re going to be the team that I expect will win. Georgia from the SEC, Iowa State from the Big XII and Clemson from the ACC. I’m not totally sold on Georgia as I’ve listened to a lot of the experts out there touting Alabama. I refuse to pick Texass.
Patrick: Okay, the Big Ten Championship. I see it being Penn State vs. Oregon. Oregon’s schedule isn’t that bad as they miss Ohio State and Michigan this year on their schedule. I can see their game at Penn State in Happy Valley being their only Big Ten loss. Then again, who knows what the tie breakers will be if Ohio State or Michigan go unscathed before “The Game”….Yeah, I guess I’m going to stick with this. As for the winner, Penn State.
As for the other main conference champions, this could be fun. Right now. I see Clemson finally having a season like they did in the ‘10’s and winning the ACC. In regards to the SEC, let’s give that one to Texas. They’ve paid for it the most out of most teams. The Big XII could again be another fun league to watch with a lot of contenders in it. For them I will go with Kansas, because why not?
Nate M: Besides good ole Nebraska U I’ll be pulling for Penn State to get over the hump and they will do so against (throwing a dart in the air) Illinois. The other three conference champs…Clemson, Texas and UCF.
Jill: Penn State and Ohio State seems like a strong possibility and I’ll pick the Nittany Lions to take the title. As far as the other conferences…Texas in the SEC, Clemson for the ACC and the Big 12 will be wide open. I would have picked Kansas State before this past weekend. Now, I have no idea. The Cyclones?
Mike: Penn State vs. Ohio State for the B1G title game. The other camps? ACC: Clemson, Big XII: Utah, SEC: Alabama.
Jon: Penn State vs Nebraska for the Big Ten title game. Penn State wins the Big Ten. I lose some stupid bet, and the other four conference winners are: Clemson, Georgia, and…. in the Big 12, holy cow, Arizona State again?
The 2025 National Champion Will Be:
Todd: The NC will be ND, the Irish. Marcus Freeman has done a very good job and this will be their year. I won’t cheer for them, but with a new Pope from Chicago, it makes sense.
Patrick: Let’s have a bit of fun. I’m going to go with…Penn State Vs. Texas with Texas pulling it off for ESPN. Okay fine, that’s not fun…
Nate M: Penn State.
Jill: I’d like to pick the Jackrabbits, but with a first-year head coach and rookie quarterback, they will make the playoffs but probably not reach the heights of the past three seasons. I think the Bison could add to their dynasty, but don’t sleep on Montana State.
Mike: Last year exposed the flaw in the seeding formula, with the ACC and Big XII champions causing seeding issues for the top two teams. In fact, I suspect the route to a natty in 2026 goes in missing the conference title game, still getting a first round home game and then being tuned up for New Years’ Day.
So my choice is: (queue up that d@mned song) OKLAHOMA. #boomerSooner
Jon: I can’t bring myself to pick Texas. James Franklin winning both the Big Ten and the national title seems like way too many big wins for Franklin. Ohio State seems the obvious choice to me because I just think that they have so much talent and are so unstoppable and they know how to do this. What a boring pick.
