Nebraska's Most Likely Final Record After Seven Games

For the second straight year, Nebraska football is 5-2 through seven games.

Last year, the Huskers notched wins over a Power Four program, a Group of Five team, and an FCS foe before dropping the Big Ten Conference opener and bouncing back in the next two contests just to get embarrassed on the road.

That same pattern has played out this year, with a 30-27 loss to Michigan followed by bounce-back wins against Michigan State and Maryland before Friday's debacle in Minneapolis.

Matt Rhule has the Huskers searching for answers after reaching five wins. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

In 2024, the Huskers improved to 5-1 before dropping the next four, eventually settling for a 6-6 record. That was good enough to earn a Pinstripe Bowl invite, which Nebraska took advantage of to notch a winning record for the first time since 2016's 9-4 finish.

So how will the rest of this year go?

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

The Huskers are back home this week to welcome in Northwestern. The Wildcats are 5-2, with wins over Western Illinois, UCLA, UL Monroe, Penn State, and Purdue, and losses to Tulane and Oregon. KFord gives Nebraska a 77% chance of winning the game, down 3% from last week.

Nebraska will seek bowl eligibility this Saturday against a Northwestern team that is playing much better than the preseason expectations. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Another home contest the next weekend is against USC. The Trojans are 5-2 with wins over Missouri State, Georgia Southern, Purdue, Michigan State, and Michigan, and losses at Illinois and Notre Dame. KFord gives Nebraska a 32% chance of winning the game, down 7%.

Back on the road, Nebraska travels to UCLA on Nov. 8. The Bruins are 3-4 with losses to Utah, UNLV, New Mexico, and Northwestern, and back-to-back-to-back wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland. KFord gives Nebraska a 78% chance of winning the game, up 1%.

After a week off, the Huskers head east to face Penn State on Nov. 22. The Nittany Lions are 3-4, with wins over Nevada, FIU, and Villanova, and losses to Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern, and Iowa. KFord gives Nebraska a 32% chance of winning the game, down 4%.

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The regular-season finale is at home with Iowa on Black Friday. The Hawkeyes are 5-2, with wins over Albany, UMass, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Penn State, and losses to Iowa State and Indiana. KFord gives Nebraska a 51% chance of winning the game, down 2%.

If you take every game with a better than 50% chance as a Nebraska win, then the Big Red are in line to go 8-4. KFord gives Nebraska a 21% chance to win at least nine games, which is 32% lower than before the Minnesota loss. The ratings also give the Big Red a 3% (down from 20%) chance to win at least 10 games.

NEBRASKA pic.twitter.com/lr37GSmQnK
— Kelley Ford (@KFordRatings) October 21, 2025

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 vs. USC 6:30 p.m. NBC
Nov. 8 at UCLA TBA
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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