The 2024 Nebraska football season is just a few weeks away. It all starts with UTEP on August 31. The non-conference schedule isn’t overly challenging but features a huge rivalry game against Colorado.
Nebraska hasn’t named a starting quarterback yet but all signs point to Dylan Raiola, who has continued to improve this fall after a stellar spring.
The Huskers return starters on all three levels of a defense that ranked 13th in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed last season. Nebraska football struggled to protect the football but with Raiola, a former five-star recruit, playing quarterback, the Huskers should improve in that area. If that’s true, that alone should lead to a multi-win improvement over the five wins from 2023.
With that in mind, we look ahead to the 2024 Nebraska football schedule and offer up game-by-game predictions.
Nebraska vs. UTEP (Aug. 31)
Scott Walden is taking over as the head coach for UTEP, coming over from Austin Peay. Walden brought 11 transfers with him so the Miners have a lot of roster turnover.
The Miners will be young at quarterback (Nebraska too) but there are questions all over for a team that won just three games last season.
This is the first non-Big Ten opener since the 2019 season for Nebraska football and it should be a nice tune-up for the Colorado game.
Raiola throws for over 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Prediction: Nebraska 38, Utep 10
Nebraska vs. Colorado (Sept. 7)
I literally can’t wait for this game. The fact that it’s being played at night should make for an electric atmosphere similar to what we saw for the Miami game years ago and the Michigan game back in 2021.
After getting whipped in Boulder last year, Nebraska football fans have this game circled on their calendars. It’s important for the team too though. This is the only 50-50 game in the non-conference and if Nebraska loses another game like this, it will be a huge blow to their confidence.
On the other hand, a team that’s been plagued by close losses could get a huge boost of confidence by beating Colorado. Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders might be the two best players in this game, but the Huskers have Raiola, a better defense, and a better offensive line.
It won’t be easy, but the Huskers finally win a close game.
Prediction: Nebraska 31, Colorado 27
Nebraska vs Northern Iowa (Sept. 14)
Northern Iowa is a solid FCS program and you always worry about a letdown one week after a big game. But this team is too veteran-laden to overlook anyone.
This will be a hard-hitting football game, but Northern Iowa won’t be able to cover Nebraska’s wide receivers. Nebraska’s defensive line will cause problems and will wear down a weaker opponent for 60 minutes.
Prediction: Nebraska 34, Northern Iowa 13
Nebraska vs Illinois (Sept. 20)
For the second year in a row, Nebraska football and Illinois will play on a Friday night. The Illini have Luke Altmeyer back at quarterback and frankly, the defense wasn’t the same last season without Ryan Walters calling the plays.
Illinois has won two of the past three against Nebraska though and it’s the Big Ten opener. Nebraska needs to be tough to beat at home again and they took a step in that direction last season, they just couldn’t finish.
This year, with Raiola, teams will have to be really good to win in Lincoln and I see Illinois having a tough time getting the six wins needed for a bowl game.
Prediction: Nebraska 31, Illinois 20
Nebraska at Purdue (Sept. 28)
Recently, I circled the Purdue game as a trap game for the Huskers. It’s the first road game of the season and even though Purdue has low expectations going into this season Walters is a really good defensive mind, especially when it comes to pass coverage.
He might be able to confuse Dylan Raiola once or twice and sometimes, that’s all it takes. Hudson Card is a solid quarterback too and this game has me on upset alert.
Yet, this is a different team in the second year under Matt Rhule and the Huskers survive a battle, late.
Prediction: Nebraska 23, Purdue 20
Nebraska vs. Rutgers (Oct. 5)
This Rutgers game is right there with the Colorado game as the most difficult among the first seven games on the schedule. Rutgers made a bowl game last season and also boasts one of the best running backs in college football in Kyle Monangai.
The Scarlet Knights also added former Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis who has won in Lincoln before. Greg Schiano always had Rutgers playing well on defense and special teams and this is the kind of game Nebraska can lose due to turnovers (Rutgers forced 1.4 per game last season).
All things being equal though, Nebraska has the edge at quarterback and the defense will be able to bottle up Monangai. Nebraska football survives a street fight.
Prediction: Nebraska 20, Rutgers 17
Nebraska at Indiana (Oct. 19)
After a bye week, the Huskers have another scary road game against Indiana. The Hoosiers are being picked near the bottom of the Big Ten, or at the bottom.
But the Hoosiers hired one of the best, up-and-coming college football coaches in Curt Cignetti. He also landed former Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke. He’s been of the best quarterbacks in the MAC over the past few seasons and the Hoosiers had an underrated haul in the transfer portal.
Nebraska might be looking ahead to Ohio State, plus Indiana is better than people think, plus winning on the road in the Big Ten is difficult.
That being said, I still think the Huskers find a way to win. Dylan Raiola enigeers a little comeback and Nebraska heads to Columbus 7-0.
Prediction: Nebraska 28, Indiana 24
Nebraska at Ohio State (Oct. 26)
The hype will really start to kick in for Nebraska football heading into the Ohio State game. This prediction has the Huskers at 7-0 but national analysts have predicted it too.
Nebraska’s toughest games are at home and if they don’t shoot themselves in the foot, 7-0 isn’t unrealistic. However, Ohio State is one of the best 3-4 teams in the country.
Dylan Raiola and the defense will keep it interesting, but the offensive line won’t hold up and Ohio State will make enough explosive plays to win by double digits.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Nebraska 13
Nebraska vs UCLA (Nov. 2)
Husker fans are sleeping way too much on UCLA. Ethan Garbers is a solid quarterback, the running game should be sound, and the receivers are more than capable.
UCLA’s defense will likely take a step back. DeShaun Foster might not have had the best intro at Big Ten Media Days but the Bruins are excited to play for him and I think they’ll have a winning season.
It won’t include a win in Lincoln though.
Prediction: Nebraska 30, UCLA 20
Nebraska at USC (Nov. 9)
After hosting UCLA, a team that has to go on a long road trip, the Huskers will have to travel to the West Coast to take on USC. Nebraska football hasn’t played at USC in nearly 20 years.
Miller Moss won the starting job for the Trojans during their bowl game and you have to think that the defense will be improved. Talent isn’t an issue for USC and they are one of the few teams on the schedule that has more dudes than Nebraska this season.
Prediction: USC 28, Nebraska 20
Nebraska vs Wisconsin (Nov. 23)
Wisconsin has won 11 of the 12 matchups between these programs since Nebraska football joined the Big Ten. The Huskers have dropped the past 10 games and they completely blew an opportunity to get bowl-eligible last season in Madison.
Tyler Van Dyke is a talented quarterback but he’s had trouble reaching his full potential. I give the edge to Nebraska at quarterback. I think the Huskers have the better defense and more offensive weapons.
Plus, I don’t see these seniors losing their final home game. They might not make the playoff, but this 2024 Nebraska football team finishes unbeaten at home, at least according to this prediction.
Prediction: Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 21
Nebraska at Iowa (Nov. 29)
A win in the Black Friday game could have the Huskers in the mix for a playoff spot, assuming the regular season follows these game-by-game predictions.
I’d love to see Matt Rhule get his first win against Iowa, but the Hawkeyes have more All-Big Ten preseason selections than the Huskers.
Their quarterback room is ugly, but isn’t it always? Nebraska will get close but fall short in Iowa City, leaving them at 9-3 for the 2024 season and one win short of the playoff as red-zone woes doom Nebraska.
Prediction: Iowa 19, Nebraska 16
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