Purdue Opponent Preview: Nebraska

Purdue enters Year Two of the Ryan Walters era looking for growth following a 4-8 debut campaign. The Boilermakers will again face one of the nation’s most demanding schedules, a daunting proposition as they hope to return to postseason play.

Throughout the summer, GoldandBlack.com will preview each of Purdue’s 2024 opponents. Today, we take a look at the Nebraska Cornhuskers with the help of Robin Washut from HuskerOnline.com.

The overview:

Like Purdue, Nebraska also hopes to take a step forward with a second-year coach this fall. Matt Rhule’s debut season resulted in a 5-7 record with several close losses, many coming due to struggles on offense. If Nebraska can maintain its strength on defense while improving on the offensive side of the ball, it should return to a bowl game for the first time since 2016.

Name to know: offense

Dylan Raiola is the obvious answer, as no one will define Nebraska’s success more in 2024. However, one of his projected top targets could be the most talented offensive player on NU’s roster.

Tight end Thomas Fidone came to Nebraska as a heralded recruit with lofty expectations. However, injuries have kept his Husker career from hardly getting off the ground over his first three years in Lincoln.

A torn ACL as a freshman kept him off the field in 2021 and ’22. He finally got healthy last season and quickly showcased his potential. The former four-star recruit led NU with four touchdown catches and hauled in 25 receptions for 260 yards.

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native stayed healthy all season and through the spring, and now he’s primed for a breakout campaign in 2024. The 6-6, 250-pound native Fidone should also benefit from improved quarterback play. 

Name to know: defense

Nebraska’s defense will clearly be its strength this season, and no unit is stronger than the line. Nose tackle Nash Hutmacher is a significant reason why. 

Hutmacher is back for a fifth season in Lincoln after posting his best campaign yet in 2023. The 6-4, 330-pounder started all 12 games last year, posting 40 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, and 23 quarterback pressures.

He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by the conference’s coaches and media in 2023. Hutmacher now has a chance to prove himself as one of the conference’s top interior d-linemen.

Biggest question:

Is Raiola ready? As mentioned, no player will be more important to Nebraska’s 2024 success than the true freshman Raiola. The former five-star recruit was considered one of, if not the top QB prospect in the 2023 class. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he has all the physical tools to be a star at the next level.

However, Raiola has never taken a college snap, let alone taken hits from a live pass rush in college. As good as he may have looked during spring practices, how big will his learning curve be as he adjusts to life as the new face of Nebraska’s offense?

Key newcomer:

Raiola should have a good corps of weapons to utilize in the passing game this season. Along with Fidone, Nebraska also added potentially a new No. 1 wide receiver in Wake Forest transfer Jahmal Banks.

Through four seasons with Wake Forest, Banks amassed over 100 catches and 1,400 receiving yards. He started 10 games for the Demon Deacons last season and hauled in 59 passes for 653 yards and four touchdowns. The year prior, he earned honorable-mention All-ACC recognition after tallying 42 catches for 636 yards and nine scores.

He was at his best in big games during the 2022 campaign. He logged multi-touchdown games against Liberty and Boston College, as well as a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns against No. 5 Clemson. Banks totaled seven games with over 50 receiving yards in 2023.

Early outlook on Purdue vs. Nebraska

Though no longer Big Ten West foes, the two will meet for the 12th-consecutive season in 2024. Last year, Purdue struggled mightily on offense, as the Cornhuskers cruised to a 31-14 win in Lincoln.

This game may determine if the Boilermakers can go bowling in 2024. For Purdue to reach the six-win mark, it can’t lose many of its “toss-up” games like this one. Matt Rhule‘s past programs have taken leaps forward in Year Two under his guidance. Can Purdue defend its home turf in its Big Ten opener and notch a big win to close out September?

2024 expectations

Nebraska enters its second season under Rhule with cautious optimism. The defense, which was top-30 nationally a year ago, brings nearly everyone back and will again be the strength of the team.

The Huskers feel like they have their quarterback of the future and significantly upgraded their offensive skill over the past two offseasons. They also return a veteran offensive line that’s as experienced and cohesive as it’s been in years.

The other factor is that NU’s schedule looks extremely favorable. Five of the first seven games are at home, and Colorado should be the only real test in non-conference play. If things go as hoped, Nebraska could feasibly be 7-0 or 6-1 going into its biggest challenge of the year at Ohio State on October 26.

The Huskers don’t play Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, or Washington, and they get UCLA and Wisconsin at home. Going back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016 is the expectation, and if the chips fall the right way, the ceiling could be much higher.

That all being said, many fans still need to see it before they fully believe it. That’s why 7-5 feels like a reasonable expectation going into the fall.

2024 Purdue football schedule

Date	Opponent
Aug. 31	Indiana State, Noon ET, BTN
Sept. 7	OFF
Sept. 14	Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Sept. 21	at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. ET, CW
Sept. 28	Nebraska
Oct. 5	at Wisconsin
Oct. 12	at Illinois
Oct. 18	Oregon, 8 p.m. ET, FOX (Friday)
Oct. 26	OFF
Nov. 2	Northwestern
Nov. 9	at Ohio State
Nov. 16	Penn State
Nov. 22	at Michigan State, 8 p.m. ET, FOX (Friday)
Nov. 30	at Indiana