Nebraska is done treating the nonconference schedule like a place to ease into the season.
That was the message from athletics director Troy Dannen on Sports Nightly, where he laid out a much more aggressive future for the Huskers - one built around Power Four opponents, fewer FCS games and a schedule aimed at what he believes college football is heading toward.
“I feel 24, we’re headed down that road as early as next year,” Dannen said. “I also believe, now that all leagues are playing nine conference games and the Big Ten is maybe the league that doesn’t have the requirement for a power conference game outside the league, I firmly believe we’ll have that requirement coming.”
For Nebraska, that means a clear shift in how it fills out the calendar. Dannen said the department will not add any more FCS opponents beyond 2030, and he added that the Huskers are working to line up more home-and-home series with power teams.
“We’re working on two home-and-homes with Power Four teams to be added to our schedule so that after we get through 2027, we’ll have a Power Four team every year out through the 2030s,” Dannen said
The Huskers already have a strong run of notable nonconference games on the books. Arizona comes to Lincoln in 2028 before Nebraska goes to Norman to face Oklahoma in 2029. Oklahoma then visits Lincoln in 2030, and Nebraska heads to Tucson in 2031.
The next home-and-home after that starts in 2034, when Oklahoma State comes to Lincoln before the Huskers travel to Stillwater in 2035. Nebraska also has Cincinnati on the home schedule in 2032, seven years after the Bearcats’ “home” game in the series was played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Right now, though, the 2026 slate doesn’t include a Power Four nonconference opponent. Nebraska swapped out its home-and-home with Tennessee for Bowling Green in 2026 and Miami (OH) in 2027.
Dannen said beefing up the schedule is no longer optional.
“We’re working on two home-and-homes with Power Four teams to be added to our schedule so that after we get through 2027, we’ll have a Power Four team every year out through the 2030s,” Dannen said
He also pointed to the way the playoff picture may evolve and how schedule strength could matter even more. Nebraska’s 2024 fall slate is already viewed by ESPN’s FPI as the 21st-most difficult in the country, and that number does not even include the Tennessee game that was originally on the schedule before being canceled a year and a half ago.
That push for tougher games also means Nebraska is finished adding FCS opponents beyond what is already scheduled. Northern Iowa is set for 2027, the same program Nebraska beat 31-3 in 2024. South Dakota State is on the docket for 2028 and 2030.
“I do think you will see more emphasis on strength of schedule,” said Dannen. “An FCS game really is a non-factor when it comes to how its weighed from a qualification standpoint.
I don’t think you’re going to be able to afford to have games like that on your schedule… I think we’re scheduled for 2029 or 2030 with FCS games. We are not scheduling beyond that point right now.”
Nebraska’s most recent Power Four home-and-home was with Colorado in 2023-24, a split series that ended 1-1. Before that, the Huskers played Oklahoma in a 2021-22 home-and-home, losing a close one in Norman and then falling by a wider margin in Lincoln.
Dannen said the plan is to keep leaning into regional matchups, especially ones Nebraska fans can actually travel to.
“We’re working on another SEC and another Power Four (opponent),” he said. “I don’t know if you’ll see an SEC-Big Ten per se.
I would love to play as many regional games as possible. Games that maybe our fan base can get to, if they want to.
That’s where the concentration is going to be focused.”
For Nebraska, the message is simple: the days of softening the front of the schedule are fading fast. The Huskers want bigger games, better measuring sticks and a nonconference slate that matches where the sport is headed.
In Other News...
Ndamukong Suh Just Brought Back Nebraskas Most Painful Source Of Pride
Ndamukong Suh has never been shy about the violent art of defense, and his latest trip down memory lane brought Nebraska fans right back to one of the most unforgettable nights of his college career. By naming the quarterbacks he most enjoyed hitting, Suh reminded everyone how overwhelming he was at the height of his powers, especially in a 2009 Big 12 championship game that still lingers in the schools memory for all the wrong reasons.
For Nebraska, that game remains a strange mix of frustration and pride. Suh was everywhere against Colt McCoy, piling up 12 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, a performance so dominant it became part of his legend even in a loss. Years later, his list only reinforces what Cornhuskers fans already know: Suhs best moments were the kind that could wreck an opponent and still leave Nebraska wishing the final outcome had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Offense Is Creating A New Debate Fans Didn't Expect
Nebraskas offense is taking shape in a way that feels a little different from the usual camp depth-chart conversation. Running backs coach E.J. Barthel made it clear the Huskers are planning to lean on more than one option at the position, with Mekhi Nelson, Jamal Rule and Isaiah Mozee all expected to play meaningful roles this season. At quarterback, Anthony Colandreas reported $2.5 million price tag only adds to the attention around the offense, while tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield said junior Carter Nelson is continuing to improve behind starter Luke Lindenmeyer.
For Nebraska, the interesting part is how many of those pieces are being discussed as part of a broader rotation rather than a simple starter-backup setup. That kind of depth can give the offense flexibility, especially with multiple backs in the mix and more than one tight end expected to contribute, including Eric Ingwerson and Luke Sorensen. The real question now is how all of those moving parts will fit together once the games start and the Huskers have to turn potential into production. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Is Pushing A Scheduling Shift Fans Have Wanted For Years
Nebraskas long-running gripe about September scheduling may finally be getting some traction. Athletic director Troy Dannen is working to line up future non-conference home-and-home series against Power 4 opponents, a move that would give the Cornhuskers the kind of early-season matchups fans have been asking for and bring a more familiar, regional feel back to the slate.
The target is to have Nebraska facing a Power 4 opponent every year through the 2030s, with possible foes including Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. Nothing has been announced yet, but the direction matters: for a program that still measures itself against old Big 12 neighbors and regional peers, the scheduling shift would reshape both the tone and the stakes of future non-conference play. [Read more 🡒]