There's quite a bit of excitement over what is expected from the Nebraska football team in 2025. But what are the realistic expectations for a team that made its first bowl game in almost a decade and a record of 7-6 is a rather significant accomplishment?
CBS Sports Tom Fornelli tried to quantify the "best-case" and "worst-case" scenarios for each team in the Big Ten. For the Huskers, the best-case scenario might be even better than fans are willing to hope for by the season's end.
According to Fornelli, there is a realistic chance that the Nebraska football team could be as good as 11-1 in the regular season.
Nebraska football’s 2025 best- and worst-case scenarios outlined by CBS Sports
"Dylan Raiola takes a huge step forward in his sophomore season," Fornelli wrote for why they got to 11-1. "Playing so well that the world begins to wonder if Patrick Mahomes should start to mimic him instead. The transfers and incoming first-year students give the Huskers one of the best-receiving corps in the league."
"Nebraska's only loss comes on the road to Penn State after a 10-0 start, and the Huskers make their first trip to the Big Ten Championship since 2012. The only downside is that after the season."
Nebraska's worst-case scenario? The writer predicts 5-7, which honestly would obviously be disappointing, but just barely a losing record being the worst outcome is still a step forward from prior seasons.
"A lack of explosive plays on offense and defense put the Huskers in too many difficult spots, and it all ends with a home loss to Iowa on Black Friday to keep the team from going to a bowl game."
While some of what Fornelli wrote is obviously a joke, one item he points out would be absolutely the truth. Fornelli thinks that if the Nebraska football team somehow fell to 5-7, Matt Rhule would be on the hotseat entering 2026.