The Nebraska football team is still trying to figure out just what the roster will look like once spring practices start in a couple of months. However, there are at least some national voices who believe that head coach Matt Rhule could have this thing pointed in the right direction.
Because it’s officially 2025, it’s officially “way too early” time for college sports analysts to start churning out their predictions on who they think is ready for a solid campaign next fall. As it turns out, the Huskers are one of those teams.
Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman put out their “way too early” Top 25 for next season on Monday and the On3 analysts included the Nebraska football team in those rankings. The Huskers are right inside that group as they sit at No. 25
NEW: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 via @Andy_Staples & @AriWasserman👀
— On3 (@On3sports) January 20, 2025
Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/7RazdrYgQ7 pic.twitter.com/zgPp0pFpQn
Nebraska football getting love, ‘way too early’
There has been a kind of mantra around the Cornhuskers’ program of late that NU tends to be the “offseason national champions.”
In other words, there’s always a lot of hype in and around Lincoln during the winter spring and summer. However, until this past season, the team hasn’t managed to live up to the hype in the fall.
Granted, things might be changing thanks to the first winning season since 2016 and first bowl win since 2015. Staples, who wrote up the explanation for the Huskers being included in the top 25, appears to believe that’s the case.
“Coach Matt Rhule went into the portal to get some help for rising sophomore QB Dylan Raiola. The hope is that former Kentucky receiver Dane Key can do for Nebraska what Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson did for Kentucky in 2021. Also, former Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett should help immediately. The Cornhuskers lost a lot off a very good defense to the NFL and to the portal, but the hope is replacements such as former five-star recruit Williams Nwaneri (a Missouri transfer) and former Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough can blossom in Lincoln.”
On the one hand, Nebraska football fans are growing tired of hearing how good NU can be in the offseason. On the other, there isn't a single person who wouldn't like to see the Cornhuskers be ranked for a large part of the 2025 season.