Nebraska just got another reminder about the tall task in front of its offense

The idea that the Nebraska football team has a tough road ahead of it for the 2026 season is hardly a mystery. It’s not a thought that’s up for debate. And yet, on Thursday, another indication of just how hard the Huskers will have it, especially once they get deep into the Big Ten schedule, surfaced in the form of a list of the best defenses in the country.

On3 analyst JD Pickell released his list of what he considers the best defenses in the country, and the 10-team list was jam-packed with Husker opponents. If that wasn’t bad enough, the team that Pickell thinks is the best defense not just in the Big Ten, but the entire country is the Oregon Ducks.

When talking about Dan Lanning’s squad, most people mention an offense that’s been one of the best in the country for years. However, he’s gradually built up the defensive unit, one brick at a time, and this year it appears to be better than ever. That’s especially bad news for Nebraska, which takes on the Ducks in Eugene on October 17.

That’s the bad news; there’s even worse news. Three more teams in Pickell’s Top 10 defenses in the country are all on the Huskers’ schedule. The No. 8 defense in the country, according to the On3 analyst, is Ohio State.

JD Pickell’s defensive rankings show Nebraska football’s brutal Big Ten path

Nebraska takes on the Buckeyes in their penultimate game of the season. Then, the next week, on Black Friday, the No. 9 defense heading into 2026, the Iowa Hawkeyes, will come to Memorial Stadium.

Just ahead of the Cornhuskers' showdown with Ohio State, they’ll take on another team on this list. Pickell has Indiana ranked No. 10 in the country on defense. It’s interesting that the Hoosiers are a team that more than one analyst has pegged as a potential upset victim by Nebraska should all the chips fall just the right way.

It’s an intriguing idea that the Huskers could topple Curt Cignetti’s squad, especially if their defense is putting up the kind of numbers that would have them in the Top 10 in the country in those metrics.

The list as a whole demonstrates once again how much of a challenge not just the Huskers, but the Huskers’ offense will have after their first couple of Big Ten games.

It also underlines once again that Nebraska cannot afford to have any sort of misstep against the opponents they’re supposed to beat in 2026. If NU handles its business, it should be 5-0 when they welcome the Hoosiers to town. Even with that record, going better than 6-6 will be a herculean accomplishment.

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