Nebraska is entering the midseason finale 5-0 for the first time since 2016 and is one of only three undefeated teams in the Big Ten. But now the real challenges begin for the Huskers, with four ranked teams and three scrappy foes ahead.
With that said, only two of the seven remaining teams on Nebraska's schedule won this past week. Granted, one of those non-winning teams was on a bye. But the other four suffered a loss ranging from hard-fought to brutal. Despite that, the rankings shift only slightly this week.
Here are the rankings of Nebraska's seven remaining opponents of the 2026 season.
No. 7: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
With Maryland behind Nebraska, Rutgers now sits at the bottom of the rankings after falling big to Indiana 47-15. The Scarlet Knights got picked apart by
the Hoosiers, allowing nearly 600 yards of offense and not scoring until they trailed 37-0 in the third.
Though Indiana is known for blowing teams out of the water, this loss still hurt Rutgers in many ways. For starters, Dylan Lonergan went down in the second quarter, finishing the night 5-of-10 for 67 yards. AJ Surace came in and put up better numbers, going 6-of-10 for 128 yards and a touchdown, but most of it came in the second half.
The Scarlet Knights didn't fare much better in the run game against the Hoosiers. The team totaled 59 yards on 35 carries. Even after subtracting the players who finished with negative rushing yards, Rutgers still managed only 78 yards on 23 carries. Though the offense faced one of the nation's best teams, it still felt like a massive blow.
Though Lonergan is likely back before Nebraska comes to town, the Scarlet Knights still face quarterback struggles. Whether it's Lonergan's injuries or Surace's inconsistency, Rutgers can only go so long with multiple quarterbacks taking snaps.
Now, a lot can happen in a month. Rutgers can rebound from this before welcoming Nebraska. But matchups with Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan and Wisconsin don’t provide much room for error.
No. 6: Illinois Fighting Illini
After Ohio State dismantled them on the road, Illinois returned home and handed Purdue its first Big Ten win since 2023. That is a concerning sign for the Fighting Illini, especially after firing their defensive coordinator last week. But with Illinois also held to a season-low 17 points on offense, the concerns don't stay on defense.
Katin Houser threw 21-of-37 for 225 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Though the Fighting Illini earned 120 rushing yards on 27 carries, Purdue still managed multiple stops. Illinois also missed a field goal, turned the ball over on downs, and gave up a fourth-quarter interception.
Such mistakes proved costly for the Fighting Illini, who continue a rough streak. In its three straight losses to FBS teams, Illinois has been outscored 97-63. Though the offense has had its moments, the defense remains at issue.
Purdue's Ryan Browne threw 18-of-27 for 255 yards and a touchdown last week, and the Boilermakers even put together drives that lasted up to eight minutes. Though the Fighting Illini held Purdue to 90 rushing yards on 33 carries, falling to a team that was outscored 139-84 in its three FBS losses is not ideal.
The next four weeks could be Illinois' make-or-break stretch. Michigan State could be a bounce-back game for Illinois, but even then, that could become a headache of a matchup. Then the Fighting Illini get their much-needed bye week as Oregon and Maryland wait for them on the other side. If Illinois can overcome these past two losses and welcome Nebraska with a 4-4 record, or 5-3 if they pull off an upset, it can move back up to No. 5.
No. 5: Washington Huskies
Though Washington suffered its second straight loss this past weekend, the team put up a fight against then-No. 18 USC. The Huskies blew a 21-10 lead to the Trojans, but USC's spectacular third-quarter plays helped.
A big catch in the endzone and then a scoop-and-score handed the lead back to USC. Then another big catch in the fourth set up a field goal that pushed the Trojans' lead to 25-21. Washington almost pulled it in the end, getting down to the redzone with less than a minute to go. But the Huskies came up short.
Washington had a solid night. Demond Williams Jr. threw for 198 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-26. Brian Bonner Jr. rushed for 89 yards on 19 carries. On defense, the Huskies held USC to just 19 points, excluding the touchdown.
But Washington also gave up yardage. Jayden Maiava threw for 245 passing yards on 21 completions. King Miller also rushed for 81 yards on 18 carries. Waymond Jordan even rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries. The Trojans' defense also sacked Williams five times, limiting him to just 26 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Though all of this arguably should keep Washington at No. 6, Illinois' current status gives the Huskies the edge. Washington's weapons and outing against USC show this team can frustrate some opponents. The Huskies have Iowa on deck and Purdue in the hole before a bye week. If they can coordinate a complete game against either team, or both, Nebraska needs to be careful come Halloween.
No. 4: Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa lost its first game of the season this past week, getting picked apart by Ohio State, 31-14. The second play of the game set the tone, with Hank Brown getting strip-sacked. Brown had his moments despite the rough start, but he struggled overall, going 12-of-27 for 132 yards and a pick before leaving the game with an injury.
The game was out of reach by the time Brown left, though, with the Buckeyes up 24-6 late in the third. Jeremy Hecklinski led a solid touchdown drive after taking over for Brown, finishing 5-of-5 for 67 yards. The aerial game was the only bright spot on offense for the Hawkeyes, with the run game totaling just 39 yards on 21 carries.
Ohio State, meanwhile, totaled just under 500 yards of offense, including over 300 in the air. Iowa couldn’t stop Jeremiah Smith, who finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns. But the Hawkeyes sacked Julian Sayin four times and got a few stops.
This was Iowa’s toughest opponent so far this season, and it likely will remain that way. Washington, Minnesota and even Northwestern could present some challenges for the Hawkeyes. But if Iowa can show some fight against a team like Ohio State, Black Friday will be another tough clash.
No. 3: Oregon Ducks
The only Husker opponent that was on a bye this week, Oregon is likely starting Raiola for the second straight game. If he starts, the former Husker faces No. 21 UCLA, a team he beat in 2024 and missed out on last season. Now, the Ducks get to show what they're capable of fresh off a bye.
The Bruins are 4-0 following wins over Cal, San Diego State, Purdue and Maryland, scoring over 40 points in three of those four wins. But UCLA's defense has been inconsistent. The Bruins held San Diego State and Maryland to 10 points or fewer but allowed Cal 24 and Purdue 38.
Raiola, or Moore, and the Ducks can do some serious damage to UCLA's defense. But Oregon's defense will be tested again. The Ducks have allowed an average of 31 points per game against FBS teams. Even if the offense puts up numbers, close, high-scoring games could still lead to losses. Plus, if the offense struggles, the defense could become even worse.
For now, this team's potential is what makes them dangerous. The Huskers already got to go up to Eugene for the matchup. But if Raiola remains the starter and puts on a show against UCLA, Nebraska is in for a stiff reunion.
No. 2: Indiana Hoosiers
The only other undefeated Big Ten team, Indiana produced big plays in its win over Rutgers. On the ground or in the air, the Hoosiers at times looked ready to decimate the rest of their schedule. As mentioned earlier, Indiana totaled nearly 600 yards of offense and held Rutgers to under 300.
The Hoosiers even got four sacks. Josh Hoover also finished 20-of-27 for 251 yards and four touchdowns. Turbo Richard returned from injury and racked up 204 rushing yards on just 13 carries. Lee Beebe Jr. also did some serious damage in the run game, earning 122 yards on 18 carries. Meanwhile, Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker combined for 227 receiving yards on 15 catches.
Indiana's defense also produced four sacks and held Rutgers to under 100 rushing yards. The Hoosiers even forced two turnovers on downs in the second quarter alone, turning a 10-0 lead into 23-0. The Scarlet Knights had five other first-half drives, four of which ended in a punt. With Nebraska having rough starts the past few weeks, that could be the difference-maker this week.
Rutgers was the game Indiana needed before heading to Nebraska after its close battle with Northwestern. The Hoosiers looked more efficient against Rutgers than against Northwestern, or even Western Kentucky for that matter. This makes Indiana's matchup with Nebraska all the more dangerous. Though the Big Noon game likely won't repeat the 2024 slaughter, the Hoosiers can still deliver a tough loss if Nebraska lets them.
No. 1: Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is now 4-1 following the 31-14 beatdown over Iowa. Jeremiah Smith once again was playing like the Heisman frontrunner, finishing with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes' defense played soundly, holding the Hawkeyes to 238 total yards.
Julian Sayin also struck big, going 20-of-27 for 324 passing yards and three touchdowns. Though most of his success came from Smith, he still threw nine completions for 118 yards to the rest of Ohio State's offense. But Sayin was sacked four times.
That could create opportunities for upcoming defenses, especially if a team finds a way to limit Smith. Ohio State's run game did find some success, though. Ja'Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson combined for 142 rushing yards on 30 carries. That could help keep the Buckeyes' offense dangerous.
But Ohio State's ranked matchups continue. Though Maryland isn't ranked, it could present a challenge. After that, Indiana, USC and Oregon await the Buckeyes. Even Northwestern could pose a threat. However, Ohio State cannot risk another loss if it wants a chance to play for the Big Ten championship, so it will keep fighting.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Ranking Nebraska's seven remaining opponents for the 2026 season
