Justifying Nebraska as a Top 25 team ahead of 2024 season

Nebraska will look to take a step in the right direction this upcoming season in year two under head coach Matt Rhule following a 5-7 finish in 2023. A goal that many believe the Cornhuskers will achieve in the new look Big Ten Conference.

On3’s Andy Staples is so confident in Nebraska’s improvement that he has them ranked as the No. 25 team in the nation for his preseason Top 25 Rankings. Lofty expectations that he justified alongside Jesse Simonton recently during Andy Staples On3.

“I realize Nebraska has not won very much lately,” Staples said. “They have not gone to a bowl game since after the 2016 season, they were 5-7 last year, why are they ranked? I know you’re asking that. Andy, why are they ranked? I’m telling you right now, if this offense just stays the hell out of the defense’s way, this team is going to be above average. I don’t know if I’m ready to say good, but I am definitely ready to say above average and a bowl game will be the least of your concerns.”

Both Staples and Simonton agree that any sign of improvement offensively and the ability to maintain their strength defensively could lead to big things for Big Red after they allowed and scored 18 points per game last season. Likely to have true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola starting under center with high expectations following an impressive high school career and strong showing during spring practice in Lincoln.

“So I had them fifth in my Big Ten rankings, so this lines up right there,” Simonton said. “I basically had them and Iowa as a coin flip so we are in lockstep with the Cornhuskers. Now, are we going to get fooled again? Is this the famous George Bush fool me once, fool me twice, but you can’t fool me (again)? I don’t know, are we too heavy leaning on a five-star freshman quarterback? Probably, but I really like what else they have on this roster.”

If Raiola can help the Cornhuskers take better care of the football in 2024 with an improved supporting cast, Nebraska has the potential to make a statement like Rhule’s teams have typically done in his second season at the helm. Looking to avoid turnover-riddled games like last season’s matchups versus Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland, and more that could have been wins with better ball security.

“I just think offensively, like you said, if they can’t throw up all over themselves when they led the nation in turnovers, Matt Rhule told me himself … If we didn’t turn the ball over a thousand times last year we might have won eight games, nine games in year one,” Simonton said. “What can we do if we just play functional offense in 2024? And I think Rhule and these guys believe that.”

“If the offense can be a net positive in any way, shape, or form this is a pretty good team,” Staples added. “So I’m excited to see what that looks like and we’ll find out really when they play Coach Prime in Week 2, that’ll be a fun one.”

The Cornhuskers open the season up with a non-conference Week 1 matchup against UTEP before hosting Colorado in a primetime matchup in Week 2 on September 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Serving as an early taste of what Nebraska could potentially be in what will be an intriguing season in Lincoln.