Nebraska’s 2026 schedule is already drawing a sharp read from ESPN’s Football Power Index, and the picture it paints is pretty clear: the Cornhuskers should handle a big chunk of the slate, but the middle and late-season stretch is where things get dicey.
That matters for Matt Rhule, who enters a pivotal year with little to show from his first three seasons in Lincoln. Nebraska has settled into back-to-back 7-6 finishes, and the pressure for more is obvious as fans look to new quarterback Anthony Colandrea to raise the ceiling. Colandrea arrives from UNLV after two seasons at Virginia.
ESPN’s FPI gives Nebraska the edge in eight of its 12 games, with the narrowest call coming Nov. 6 at Illinois. That one is basically a coin flip, with the Huskers listed at 50.8%.
The early part of the schedule looks manageable on paper. Nebraska opens Sept. 5 against Ohio with a 91.7% chance to win, then follows that with Bowling Green on Sept. 12 at 95.7% and North Dakota on Sept. 19 at 94.2%. A Sept. 25 trip to Michigan State is still projected in Nebraska’s favor at 67.9%, and the Oct. 3 home game against Maryland comes in at 79.1%.
Then the run tightens fast. Indiana on Oct. 10 is a major swing point, with Nebraska given just a 19.0% chance.
The Oct. 17 trip to Oregon is even more daunting at 8.0%. After that, Washington visits on Oct. 31, and Nebraska is favored at 56.8%.
The final month keeps the stakes high. The Huskers go to Illinois on Nov. 6, host Rutgers on Nov. 14 with a 74.1% chance to win, face Ohio State on Nov. 21 with only a 10.6% chance, and close at Iowa on Nov. 28, where FPI gives Nebraska a 38.4% shot.
Nebraska opens the season Sept. 5 against Ohio. Kickoff is set for noon on FS1.
Kalshi’s Big Ten title market also has Nebraska far down the board, listing the Huskers at 1%, alongside Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. Ohio State leads that market at 31%, followed by Oregon at 26%, Indiana at 24%, Michigan at 6%, Penn State at 4%, UCLA at 2%, and Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan State all at 1%.
In Other News...
Nebraskas First 2026 Depth Chart Raised A Few Eyebrows Fast
Nebraskas first official depth chart for the 2026 season arrived before the matchup with Ohio, and it did more than just sort out the pecking order for the opener. It also gave a clearer look at where the staff thinks things stand on both sides of the ball, with the chart drawing attention for a few notable changes as the Huskers begin the new year.
The timing matters even more with the program still working the recruiting trail and the pro pipeline at the same time. Nebraska is set to host 2028 quarterback target Owen Herrick, a prospect the staff views as a top name on its board, while seven former Huskers have already landed on NFL practice squads around the league, a reminder that the roster churn never really stops in Lincoln. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas NFL Talent Gap Just Got Harder For Huskers Fans To Ignore
As NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players this week, the Nebraska pipeline to Sundays looked thinner than it has in years. Only eight former Huskers who finished their college careers in Lincoln are on active NFL rosters, the fewest in five years, a number that lands at a time when the program is already trying to show it can keep pace with the Big Tens elite talent factories.
The broader picture is even harder for Nebraska fans to miss. The Huskers have had only five players drafted over the past four years, and the program has not produced a first- or second-round pick since 2011, a stretch that stands out next to the draft output of Ohio State and Michigan. Nineteen former Huskers were among the players cut during roster reduction, though a few could still latch on with practice squads, leaving another reminder that Nebraskas next NFL success story is still waiting to fully emerge. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Added More Buzz To A Home Atmosphere Fans Treasure
Nebraskas home crowd routine has become part of the programs identity, and the latest sign of that came with Tuesdays announcement that the 2026 season-opener against Ohio is already sold out. The sellout stretches the Huskers streak to 411 consecutive games, a run that keeps Memorial Stadiums reputation intact as one of the sports most reliable draws, even with the game still well down the road.
Athletic director Troy Dannen and coach Matt Rhule have both pointed to ticket sales and the atmosphere around home dates as part of what makes Nebraska such a difficult place for visitors. The calendar also has a little extra flavor coming, with a themed game against Bowling Green built around America 250 and a drone show, plus a concert by Cole Swindell adding to the event feel that has become part of the Husker experience. [Read more 🡒]