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Nebraska's Most Likely Final Record After Nine Games

The Huskers are still ahead of the pace from 2024. What do the analytics say about how the rest of the season will go?
Kaleb Henry|
Nebraska tight end Heinrich Haarberg lines up at quarterback and attempts to draw USC offsides.
Nebraska tight end Heinrich Haarberg lines up at quarterback and attempts to draw USC offsides. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

In this story:

Nebraska CornhuskersUCLA BruinsPenn State Nittany LionsIowa Hawkeyes

Despite a loss last week, Nebraska football remains ahead of pace compared to the 2025 season.

Last year, the Huskers started 3-0 before a close setback. After back-to-back wins, NU then got embarrassed on the road to begin a four-game losing streak. Through nine games, the Big Red were sitting at 5-4.

This season played out the same way through seven games, but after being embarrassed on the road, the Big Red bounced back to get back in the win column and notch bowl eligibility before November for the first time since 2016. Of course, that was followed up by the missed opportunity against No. 23 USC on Saturday.

Nebraska quarterbacks Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef during the USC game.
Nebraska quarterbacks Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef during the USC game. | Cory Edmondson, KFGE

Now sitting at 6-3, how will the rest of this year go, especially with a change at quarterback?

According to Kelly Ford and the KFord Ratings, Nebraska has a solid chance to further eclipse last year's output. Here are the game-by-game percentages of winning for Nebraska's remaining schedule.

Nebraska goes back on the road this week for a night game at UCLA. The Bruins are 3-5 with losses to Utah, UNLV, New Mexico, Northwestern, and Indiana, and wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland. KFord gives Nebraska a 79% chance of winning the game, the same as a week ago.

Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule
Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule watches play during the second quarter against the Southern California Trojans at Memorial Stadium. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

After a week off, the Huskers head east to face Penn State on Nov. 22. The Nittany Lions are 3-5, with wins over Nevada, FIU, and Villanova, and losses to Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa, and Ohio State. KFord gives Nebraska a 32% chance of winning the game, up 1%.

The regular-season finale is at home with Iowa on Black Friday. The Hawkeyes are 6-2, with wins over Albany, UMass, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Minnesota, and losses to Iowa State and Indiana. KFord gives Nebraska a 43% chance of winning the game, the same as last week.

If you take every game with a better than 50% chance as a Nebraska win, then the Big Red are in line to go 7-5. KFord gives Nebraska a 51% chance to win at least eight games, which is 13% lower than before the USC loss. The ratings also give the Big Red an 11% (down 12%) chance to win at least nine games.

Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

  • Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
  • Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
  • Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
  • Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
  • Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
  • Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
  • Oct. 17 Minnesota 24, Nebraska 6
  • Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern 11 a.m. FS1
  • Nov. 1 USC 21, Nebraska 17
  • Nov. 8 at UCLA 8 p.m. FOX
  • Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
  • Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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