Nebraska’s latest heartbreaks look even costlier now that the first College Football Playoff rankings are out.
The Huskers have every reason to be steamed after letting their last three games slip away, and Tuesday’s initial CFP Top 25 only sharpened that frustration. Nebraska sits outside the rankings, but a few of the teams that beat the Huskers are already in the mix - a blunt reminder of how close this team was to being in the conversation.
Oregon, which improved to 5-3 and beat Nebraska with a fourth-quarter, 18-play rally, landed at No. 23.
Indiana checked in at No. 4 after beating the Huskers with two long touchdown receptions following Nebraska’s 17-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. That’s the kind of swing that stings even more when the rankings come out.
The rest of the poll drives the point home. Iowa is No. 19 at 6-2, USC is No. 20 at 7-2, Ohio State is No. 12 at 6-2 and UCLA is No. 8 at 8-0. Several 5-3 teams also made the field, including Florida at No. 25 and South Carolina at No. 21, alongside Oregon.
That’s why Nebraska’s missed chances feel so expensive. Had the Huskers held on against Oregon or Indiana, they’d almost certainly be in the Top 25.
If they’d survived both, they’d likely be inside the Top 12. Even a win over Washington would have changed the picture dramatically, turning Nebraska into a 6-2 team with a real case to be knocking on the door.
There is still a path forward, though it’s a narrow one. If Nebraska wins out, a 9-3 finish would at least give it a shot at a College Football Playoff berth, especially with two Top 25 wins baked into that run. That’s not an easy climb, but it’s there.
For now, the immediate task is much simpler. Nebraska still needs to get itself bowl eligible, and it has been sitting on five wins for more than a month.
Friday night against Illinois is the next chance to prove this team can stop the bleeding. If the Huskers can’t handle that one, the looming matchups with Ohio State and Iowa won’t offer much comfort.
The first CFP rankings don’t just leave Nebraska out. They underline how much those fourth-quarter collapses in three straight games have already changed the season. Matt Rhule has a problem on his hands, and it needs fixing fast.
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Nebraska Football Has A Brutal Problem Fans Are Tired Of Watching
Matt Rhule spent his latest media availability talking through the Illinois matchup and looking back at the Washington loss, a familiar routine for Nebraska fans who have watched this season follow the same painful script. The Cornhuskers have been in position to win every game this year, carrying leads into the fourth quarter each time, only to watch those chances slip away before the finish.
For a fan base already weary of close calls, the frustration is less about effort than execution, and Rhule made clear he intends to keep pushing through the criticism and the losses. There is still plenty of football left to sort out, but Nebraskas immediate challenge is obvious: turn late-game control into an actual result before another promising night turns into another missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Owns Nebraskas Costly Mistakes Before Illinois
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Looking ahead, Colandrea said he expects to be back at Nebraska in 2027, a sign he sees himself as part of the programs longer-term picture even as the Huskers try to clean up the short-term problems. He also noted the effect of the game environment and stressed the need for Nebraska to play more as a unit, a message that should carry plenty of weight as the team turns the page toward Illinois. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Blowout Showed Something Huskers Fans Will Love
Nebraskas lopsided win over Le Moyne was the kind of November tune-up that can still tell you something real about a team. The Huskers grabbed control early and never let it slip, and the box score backed up what the eye test suggested: better shooting, more rebounds and more ball movement than the visitors could match. Pryce Sandfort led Nebraska with 20 points, giving the offense a steady focal point on a night when the Huskers looked organized from the start.
What should matter most to Nebraska fans, though, is how many pieces were involved in the result. The Huskers leaned on a deep rotation, and Connor Essegians return added another scoring option in limited minutes as he finished with 13 points. With Trevor Roe matching Sandfort for Le Moyne with 20, the game still had a few individual bright spots on the other side, but Nebraskas depth and balance were the bigger takeaway, especially as the season starts to ask more from the roster. [Read more 🡒]