Big Red’s Road Ahead: Schedule Prediction Part 5
By: Trevor Tarr
With spring ball out of the way and four short months until we see the Husker’s kick off their 2025 campaign against Cincinnati in Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), it’s left me reminiscing better times ahead as both a member of the fanbase and as a person who lives, breathes, and eats Nebraska football. Today, I thought I’d break up the position previews by diving into the 2025 Nebraska football schedule and give you my prediction for how the season will fare in year three of the Matt Rhule era. While this ultimately will be opinionated, I will back up my predictions, game-by-game, with relatable statistics, returning production, and all we've learned from spring ball and roster turnover to this point.
From high-stakes non-conference matchups to pivotal Big Ten showdowns, each game on the slate presents a unique challenge for a team- and coaching staff- with something to prove next season. So, whether you're cautiously optimistic, or already counting wins, let’s walk through the 2025 season together — one Saturday at a time — and explore what might be in store for Big Red this fall.
GAME ELEVEN:
NEBRASKA AT PENN STATE|
BEAVER STADIUM |
11.22.25
RECORD: 9-1
Following a helmet game against USC in Lincoln and a trip of a lifetime to Pasadena to face UCLA, Nebraska hits the road once again in Week 13 to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. A Playoff team from last season, Penn State, led by 12th-year head coach James Franklin, enters 2025 with national championship aspirations.
After falling just a field goal short of the title game in 2024, the Nittany Lions are determined to prove they belong among the country’s elite. They’ll likely enter this matchup ranked in the Top 5, while Nebraska, with only one loss to this point, arrives as a legitimate contender rather than the underdog many projected in the preseason.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule will be returning to his alma mater with added motivation. The former Penn State linebacker famously upset the Nittany Lions in 2015 while coaching Temple, and he’ll be looking to do the same with a surging Husker squad. While Nebraska will enter as the likely underdog again, this time they’re hoping to play spoiler to Penn State’s Big Ten title and Playoff hopes.
Statistically, Penn State was elite on both sides of the ball in 2024. Offensively, they averaged 34.4 points per game, nearly 11 more than Nebraska. While former five-star quarterback Drew Allar leads the offense, it’s the dynamic backfield duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen that truly sets this unit apart. The Nittany Lions rushed for over 200 yards per game last season and dominated time of possession thanks to their ground game. Although Nebraska slightly outpaced Penn State in passing yards, the overall versatility and efficiency of the Penn State offense is something Nebraska fans can only hope to emulate.
Defensively, Penn State was just as impressive. They allowed only 16.3 points per game and gave up a stingy 4.5 yards per play, nearly a full yard better than Nebraska. Their pass defense was especially strong, holding opponents to just 173.6 passing yards per game, good for seventh in the nation. It’s this kind of balance and consistency on both sides of the ball that makes Penn State a legitimate title threat.
To this point in the season, Nebraska has been able to win both the games they were expected to and some they weren't. They've shown marked improvement in Year 3 under Matt Rhule, proving that winning at a high-level in the Big Ten is achievable, though it is never guaranteed.
That said, this matchup feels like a tall task. A second straight road game, against a Top 5 opponent, and likely in a College Gameday-like environment, sets up a tough scenario for the Huskers. While Nebraska is far more competitive than in years past and won’t be embarrassed in State College, Penn State's depth and talent should ultimately be the difference.
Rhule and Nebraska may fall short of spoiling his alma mater's championship push, but the game should serve as a statement of progress for the Huskers. Competing with the conference elite is something they haven’t done consistently in a decade, and doing so in 2025 is a sign that the program is on the rise.
With the loss, Nebraska drops to 9-2 but remains firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation. One massive hurdle remains: a rivalry showdown at home against Iowa. Can the Huskers bounce back, secure their 10th win, and finish the regular season strong? Continue reading to find out.
