The Nebraska football team has spurred quite a bit of optimism heading into the 2023 season. However, the Huskers still have to overcome the last six years, which have been filled with nearly unprecedented failure.
However, it appears that if the Nebraska Cornhuskers don’t have a successful fall this year, it won’t because the road to a bowl game was too tough. In fact, it seems as though 2023 might be the perfect season for Matt Rhule’s first in Lincoln.
Pro Football Focus (PFF for short) recently released a list of the 10 teams with the easiest 2023 schedules. The list is based on opponents’ 2022 record. It turns out that Nebraska football has the 4th easiest schedule in the country.
Interestingly enough, the Nebraska football team is one of four Big Ten schools in this Top 10. Three Big Ten West schools make the cut. Iowa is the only B1G squad with an easier schedule, according to PFF as they have the third easiest.
Easiest 2023 Schedules🏈 pic.twitter.com/zGDq2YMLDX
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 16, 2023
Maryland clocks in at number nine, and Wisconsin is number 10. Even the top-ranked team has conference ties as former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm’s Lousiville Cardinals reportedly have the easiest schedule in the country.
Nebraska football makes other schedules easier
The most interesting part of this list is that, as much as Husker fans might not like it, they play a part in the three other B1G schools being on this list. Since the rankings are based on 2022 records, the Cornhuskers’ 4-8 record last year was a factor in the Hawkeyes, Badgers and Terapins making the list since all three teams play Matt Rhule’s squad this season.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin, Maryland and Iowa probably all moved NU down the list, considering they all had winning records in 2022. Season opener Minnesota and Michigan are likely the toughest opponents on deck.
Deion Sanders’ Colorado (1-11), Northern Illinois (3-9), Louisiana Tech (3-9) all being in the non-conference slate obviously play a very big part in the Nebraska football team projected to have such an easy 2023 schedule.