Looking at the schedule, it's entirely possible we're 7-0 heading into the Ohio State game.
In the non-con schedule, it really is just Colorado. I have to assume UTEP and UNI are virtually guaranteed wins, barring some act of God. But I think 2024 begins to further expose Deion's roster management strategy. Portaling in a fresh roster of players every year just seems like a poor long-term strategy to me. There's definitely a ceiling, as you can probably "buy" your way into a 7-9 win team via NIL or whatever coach-fame that Deion carries with him. But there's no depth. No cohesion. I think a lot of the reason it bristles with Husker fans is we're used to over a century of doing the hard work, watching freshmen ride the pine until they're juniors, and seeing that next crop of "Nebraska System" guys get their shot each fall. In short, the Deion way is very anti-Husker, so in many respects it's a perfect fit for Colorado.
We open B1G play with the squishy middle. Illinois is one of the better coached teams under Bielema, but if DR15 can manage the offense like he did in the spring game, I think we sail to a 7-0 start. The Blackshirts figure to be dominant again in 2024, and we know that in 2023 all of our 1-score losses were games in which the Huskers failed to score even 20 points. We don't need Raiola to be Superman, we need him to be an effective ball distributor and game manager. I don't think that's too much to ask of his skillset, honestly, even as a freshman.
Then... the back half of the schedule.
A late-October trip to Columbus is a likely defeat. 95% chance Ohio State wins big. We do get a BYE just before Indiana, and while I'd never expect Rhule to get caught sleeping on an upcoming opponent, you can bet he'll use the extra week of practice to heal and potentially install some anti-Buckeye measures in the playbook. Still, I think we can chalk this one up as a loss.
UCLA and USC. I have NO idea what to expect here. I wouldn't be surprised with 2 wins, 2 losses, or a 1-1 split. On paper the Bruins seem to be the weaker team and it's a home game, but I'm not calling Husker victories for either game.
Finally, Wisconsin and Iowa. All bets are off. Rivalry games. The Hawkeyes could go 0-11 and still finish with a win over Nebraska. And because it's Iowa, it would be an ugly 7-9 dumpster fire game with zero passing TDs and about a hundred punts and sacks.
Basically, I see that Ohio State game as the turning point. We have a chance to build early confidence and score some solid wins... and then the back half of 2024 turns into a chain fight. In fact, the only games I'm really even comfortable predicting are UTEP (win), UNI (win) and Ohio State (loss).
So what do you think? Do we start 7-0 and then fall apart 0-5 in the end?
In the non-con schedule, it really is just Colorado. I have to assume UTEP and UNI are virtually guaranteed wins, barring some act of God. But I think 2024 begins to further expose Deion's roster management strategy. Portaling in a fresh roster of players every year just seems like a poor long-term strategy to me. There's definitely a ceiling, as you can probably "buy" your way into a 7-9 win team via NIL or whatever coach-fame that Deion carries with him. But there's no depth. No cohesion. I think a lot of the reason it bristles with Husker fans is we're used to over a century of doing the hard work, watching freshmen ride the pine until they're juniors, and seeing that next crop of "Nebraska System" guys get their shot each fall. In short, the Deion way is very anti-Husker, so in many respects it's a perfect fit for Colorado.
We open B1G play with the squishy middle. Illinois is one of the better coached teams under Bielema, but if DR15 can manage the offense like he did in the spring game, I think we sail to a 7-0 start. The Blackshirts figure to be dominant again in 2024, and we know that in 2023 all of our 1-score losses were games in which the Huskers failed to score even 20 points. We don't need Raiola to be Superman, we need him to be an effective ball distributor and game manager. I don't think that's too much to ask of his skillset, honestly, even as a freshman.
Then... the back half of the schedule.
A late-October trip to Columbus is a likely defeat. 95% chance Ohio State wins big. We do get a BYE just before Indiana, and while I'd never expect Rhule to get caught sleeping on an upcoming opponent, you can bet he'll use the extra week of practice to heal and potentially install some anti-Buckeye measures in the playbook. Still, I think we can chalk this one up as a loss.
UCLA and USC. I have NO idea what to expect here. I wouldn't be surprised with 2 wins, 2 losses, or a 1-1 split. On paper the Bruins seem to be the weaker team and it's a home game, but I'm not calling Husker victories for either game.
Finally, Wisconsin and Iowa. All bets are off. Rivalry games. The Hawkeyes could go 0-11 and still finish with a win over Nebraska. And because it's Iowa, it would be an ugly 7-9 dumpster fire game with zero passing TDs and about a hundred punts and sacks.
Basically, I see that Ohio State game as the turning point. We have a chance to build early confidence and score some solid wins... and then the back half of 2024 turns into a chain fight. In fact, the only games I'm really even comfortable predicting are UTEP (win), UNI (win) and Ohio State (loss).
So what do you think? Do we start 7-0 and then fall apart 0-5 in the end?
| 2024 Schedule | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 08/31 | UTEP |
| 09/07 | Colorado |
| 09/14 | Northern Iowa |
| 09/21 | Illinois |
| 09/28 | @Purdue |
| 10/05 | Rutgers |
| BYE | BYE |
| 10/19 | @Indiana |
| 10/26 | @Ohio State |
| 11/02 | UCLA |
| 11/16 | @USC |
| 11/23 | Wisconsin |
| 11/29 | @Iowa |
