Nebraska’s latest bowl projection comes with a little more promise than the panic around the program might suggest.
USA Today Sports has the Huskers headed to the Music City Bowl for a rematch with No. 16 Tennessee, a pairing that would put Nebraska against a ranked SEC team and, if the rest of the season breaks the right way, likely signal more than just bowl eligibility. It would mean the Huskers have moved past the 6-win line by a comfortable margin.
There’s history attached to it, too. This would be another run-in with the Volunteers, the same program Nebraska met when Peyton Manning was at the controls and Tom Osborne was winning another national title.
It would also be a repeat of the 2016 Music City Bowl, the last bowl game Nebraska played in before head coach Matt Rhule’s second season in 2024. The Huskers lost that one, and the aftermath helped send the program into a rough stretch.
A return trip this year would carry a much different meaning if it helps turn things back in the right direction.
The first hurdle is still on the regular-season schedule. Nebraska has to get to six wins before anything else matters, and there are chances to do that this weekend against Washington, Illinois and Rutgers.
Those same games also give the Huskers a shot at reaching eight wins for the first time since 2016 before finishing the regular season against No. 2 Ohio State and Iowa.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is sitting at 6-2 and has already spent plenty of time in the spotlight this fall. The Vols are 1-1 against ranked opponents, with a loss to then-No.
1 Texas and a blowout win over then-No. 6 Alabama.
Then came the stumble. Tennessee followed the Alabama win with a 27-24 loss to South Carolina, a result that knocked it from No. 11 to No.
- The Volunteers now draw No.
9 Kentucky this week, with No. 15 LSU still ahead on the schedule, along with Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
From Nebraska’s side, that makes a Music City Bowl appearance look like more than a consolation prize. From Tennessee’s side, it could still be a path to an 8-4 finish at worst. If Nebraska handles the games it’s expected to win, it could reach bowl season at 8-4 as well - and with a shot at nine wins for the first time since 2016.
In Other News...
Nebraska Still Has One Late-Game Problem A Former Champion Didn't Ignore
Clester Johnson has seen enough Nebraska football to know when a team is leaving something on the table, and in a recent podcast interview the former wingback and national champion returned to a familiar theme: finishing. Johnson talked about the importance of closing out games and the accountability that comes with it, while also looking back on how Tom Osbornes staffs handled those moments when the pressure tightened and the details mattered most.
Johnson also framed the challenge in a more modern light, noting that todays Nebraska has to navigate a different college football reality with retention and recruiting adding another layer of difficulty. He pointed to quarterback Anthony Colandreas ability, but said the offense still needs more balance around him, a reminder that the late-game issues are rarely about one player alone and usually come back to whether the whole operation can hold up when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Found Another Brutal Way To Waste A Winnable Game
For most of the afternoon, Nebraska and Washington played the kind of tight, low-scoring game that leaves every possession feeling heavier than the last. The Cornhuskers had chances to keep control of it, but quarterback Anthony Colandreas interceptions and a missed field goal from Kyle Cunanan kept turning manageable moments into wasted ones.
Washington finally broke it open late with a touchdown, then slammed the door with a pick-six off Colandrea to seal a 17-10 win. For Nebraska, it was another frustrating reminder that in a game there to be won, the biggest damage often came from self-inflicted mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Could Get A Huge Boost Before Its Blackout Showdown
Nebraska is getting healthier at just the right time, with defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel expected back for the Washington game after missing recent action because of injury. Running back Isaiah Mozee is also likely to be available, giving the Cornhuskers a little more depth as they prepare for a marquee blackout matchup that should draw plenty of attention.
The injury report still leaves some holes, though, with offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula and safety Jamir Conn ruled out. Washington is dealing with its own uncertainty as quarterback Demond Williams has gone from doubtful to probable, even if the Huskies have not yet announced a starter, so Nebraska may still have to wait until kickoff to see exactly what kind of challenge it is facing. [Read more 🡒]