Andy Staples predicts Nebraska will begin 2024 season 7-0

On Monday morning’s On3 YouTube livestream, Andy Staples made some very bold predictions, including one about the 2024 Nebraska Cornhuskers, who he’s very high on entering this fall.

“Nebraska will be 7-0 entering the Ohio State game. 7-0!” Staples declared of Matt Rhule’s group, touting their pretty friendly schedule to begin the year.

“Look at that schedule: UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Illinois, at Purdue, Rutgers, at Indiana. I don’t discount Curt Cignetti making Indiana better. Rutgers is going to be the ultimate rock fight, Rutgers is going to have a really good defense, that game’s in Lincoln. Obviously, Colorado beat them last year.”

But still, that’s not a list of powerhouses and Nebraska can easily imagine themselves winning each of those games even if they don’t win them all. To do so, though, Staples says a few fixes need to be in order.

“Can Nebraska overcome what was a big problem with turnovers that hamstrung a very good defense? That was the issue for a lot of last season.”

Staples is mighty high on the Cornhusker defense in general, so long as the offense stops coughing the ball up at inopportune times.

“The reality is Tony White’s defense is going to be the star at Nebraska,” he continued. “They are going to be the ones relied upon to help win these games. I would imagine these games could be very low-scoring. I think that defense is going to be very good. I think that defense is going to make it much easier on the offense.”

That’s a good thing, since Nebraska is inserting a talented but inexperienced QB this season.

“So here’s the thing: it’s probably Dylan Raiola starting at quarterback. So, your five-star recruit, all the pressure in the world. Dylan Raiola has to be good, but he does not have to be Superman to make this work.”

Another reason for optimism, per Staples? Matt Rhule’s track record in his second season at a school.

“Look at Matt Rhule’s history. When he went to Temple, they improved by four wins from year one to year two. At Baylor, they improved by five wins from year one to year two. Now, Nebraska was in a better place when Rhule took over than either of those places.”

However, a good start is possible, even if the back end of the slate is much more treacherous.

“The 7-0 part… it could be 7-5 or 8-4 even if you start 7-0 because the schedule does get hairier after that. But I think this is definitely possible. And I know if you’re a Nebraska fan, you’re going ‘Stop this.'”

Whether or not they open undefeated through half the season, Andy Staples just believes 2024 is about getting over the hump to no longer be the power conference program with the longest bowl drought.

“If they can just get bowl-eligible. Nebraska needs to take that next step, and they were right there at the doorstep last year, couldn’t win that sixth game. Imagine if they could have that out of the way as the first half of the season ends. It’s definitely possible.”