The Nebraska Cornhuskers are at the midway mark of what could be a truly remarkable season, and fans are buzzing with a mix of excitement and lingering questions about what comes next. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this team on the cusp of greatness, or are they just lucky to be 5-1 with some serious hurdles ahead? Stick around as we dive into the first half of their 2025 campaign, and you might just rethink everything you thought you knew about Husker football.
This piece marks the first installment in our retrospective on Nebraska's opening slate. Stay tuned for Monday's follow-up: A roundup of the five most electrifying plays from 2025, complete with some standout honorable mentions that will have you rewatching game highlights all over again.
Picture this: Back in the balmy summer months, the atmosphere around Nebraska football was electric with optimism. Preseason buzz had everyone dreaming big. 'This could finally be our year,' Husker supporters whispered to each other. And for once, it wasn't just blind hope—they had tangible reasons to believe. The Big Ten was on notice: Nebraska was poised for a comeback to relevance.
Why the confidence? The roster brimmed with seasoned talent and promising newcomers. Head coach Matt Rhule's strategies had clicked the previous year, delivering a 7-6 record—the program's first winning season in seven long years—and clinching a bowl victory for the first time since 2015. Fans saw a blueprint for success.
At the critical quarterback spot, sophomore Dylan Raiola stepped up with another year of experience under his belt. He'd shown flashes of brilliance and composure in 2024, raising hopes that he'd iron out those occasional hiccups and lead a breakout 2025. Even the schedule seemed tailor-made for success: A gentle non-conference slate featuring two FCS opponents and a tough but winnable matchup against FBS Cincinnati. Notably absent were Big Ten powerhouses like Ohio State and Oregon, or the rising threat of Indiana. Michigan offered a home advantage, and the late-season clash with Penn State felt like it could either fade into irrelevance or define the campaign—something to tackle later, not fret over in the summer heat.
Recruiting efforts were gaining steam too. Nebraska might not have topped those online recruiting rankings, but Rhule was drawing in athletes who aligned with his vision for winning. Summer camp reports painted a rosy picture, emphasizing team cohesion and unity. It was like a well-oiled machine gearing up for dominance. With all this positivity and solid proof backing it, the Huskers simply needed to translate it onto the field by securing victories.
And they started strong. Their season opener against Cincinnati at a neutral site in Kansas City was anyone's guess—experts called it a toss-up weeks in advance. Nebraska squeaked by 20-17, thanks to a dramatic end-zone interception by Malcolm Hartzog Jr. Husker nation exhaled collectively: The campaign wasn't derailed after all! Onward to bigger challenges.
The next two contests were against less formidable foes, and it showed in the scores: A commanding 68-0 shutout of Akron and a 59-7 drubbing of FCS Houston Christian. Sitting at 3-0, the real Big Ten grind was about to kick in.
Then came Michigan on September 20, where the Huskers were slight underdogs at 2.5 points. Beating the Wolverines wasn't just about padding the record and staying unbeaten—it was about proving they could topple a Big Ten giant. Michigan, while not invincible every year, represents the gold standard for opponents. A victory would validate Nebraska's resurgence and inspire those lower-tier conference teams looking up to them.
Nebraska had every opportunity to pull off the upset on that picturesque Saturday. That they fell short reveals more about their own shortcomings than Michigan's might. In a familiar football tale, the Huskers needed just one or two key stops to turn the tide, potentially landing them in the high teens of the AP Top 25 as an undefeated squad. But here's the part most people miss: Allowing Michigan to chew up 8 minutes and 46 seconds on a 77-yard, 16-play drive for a pivotal field goal, flipping the score from 27-20 to 30-20, was the turning point. Three times, Nebraska faced third-down situations and couldn't convert. Offensively, a spectacular 52-yard Hail Mary from Raiola to Jacory Barney Jr. at halftime was a highlight, but it fell short. This loss feels like a moral victory that still stings—do you agree, or is this just sour grapes? It's controversial, sure, but it underscores how close they were to a statement win.
Bouncing back, Nebraska faced Michigan State and emerged victorious 38-27 in a sloppy, error-riddled affair. Think of it as a thrilling March Madness upset: Ugly wins count, and this one kept the momentum alive. Now at 5-1, the Huskers mirror their 2024 start (also 5-1) before a four-game skid. Yet, this year's squad boasts undeniable strengths—like the nation's top pass defense heading into Maryland and a potent passing attack led by running back Emmett Johnson—alongside glaring weaknesses, such as a leaky rushing defense. Their play has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and inconsistency, leaving fans wondering: What kind of team are the Huskers really shaping up to be? For beginners in college football, this inconsistency means Nebraska can dominate one game and struggle in the next, highlighting the importance of depth and adaptability in a tough conference like the Big Ten.
With six regular-season games remaining, optimists might have envisioned undefeated status by now. But a realistic preseason assessment suggested a 5-1 record was plausible without overhyping. And that's exactly where they stand: 5-1, a solid but not spectacular start.
The upcoming schedule is a tantalizing puzzle, as future Big Ten slates often are. Could Nebraska go undefeated from here? Or settle for 5-1, or even 4-2? There are matchups that could make or break the season. Optimistically, a gritty win over Minnesota looms as a potential slugfest. Next up, Northwestern, fresh off an upset victory at Penn State, presents a tricky test. UCLA, after a rocky 0-4 start, has rebounded with back-to-back wins and joins the fray. Nebraska travels to face them in November, adding travel fatigue to the mix.
But here's where it gets really intriguing—and potentially divisive: The Huskers still face USC, Penn State, and Iowa. USC demolished Michigan recently, looking unstoppable. Penn State, despite three straight losses and their star QB Drew Allar sidelined for the season, remains a formidable road challenge—it's still Penn State, after all. And don't forget Iowa. Imagine the bragging rights from toppling even one of these heavyweights, or better yet, multiple. For a program rebuilding like Nebraska, these could redefine their season and legacy. Yet, skeptics might argue that chasing these wins risks overextending a team still finding its footing. What's your take? Do the Huskers have what it takes to shock the world, or is playing it safe for bowl eligibility the smarter path?
In the first half, Nebraska has met the lofty preseason expectations, even if it wasn't always a thing of beauty. Grit and resilience carried them through, proving that sometimes, just showing up and winning matters more than perfection.
What do you think, fans? Is this Husker squad destined for a historic finish, or are we overlooking cracks that could widen? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you side with the optimists, or do you see storm clouds ahead? Let's discuss!
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