There's been all kinds of optimism around the Nebraska football program since Matt Rhule arrived in Lincoln. That optimism has endured even though the Huskers started the season 5-3 and finished the season 5-7.
There are all kinds of reasons to think that the Huskers will be better in Season 2 of the Rhule regime and beyond. There's the track record of Rhule. There are two straight, excellent recruiting classes. And there's the arrival of 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola.
The optimism continued into 2024. That optimism isn't just floating around Lincoln either. National analysts believe that the Nebraska football team is going to see some serious improvement. And those same analysts believe the Huskers are going to go bowling for the first time in a long time.
On Sunday morning, FanDuel released the projected win totals for every team in the Big Ten. Obviously, there is a long way to do until the season even starts. There are all kinds of storylines that will surface in the offseason.
NEW: 2024 College Football Big Ten Win Totals👀
— On3 (@On3sports) February 11, 2024
Ohio State: 10.5
Oregon: 10.5
Michigan: 9.5
Penn State: 9.5
USC: 7.5
Washington: 7.5
Nebraska: 7.5
Iowa: 7.5
Maryland: 7.5
Wisconsin: 6.5
Rutgers: 5.5
Northwestern: 5.5
Michigan State: 5.5
UCLA: 5.5
Illinois: 5.5
Indiana: 5.5… pic.twitter.com/YNnYLvp9ww
However, FanDuel believes Nebraska has the best chance to win more than six games for the first time in years. The site has set the over/under for win totals for the Cornhuskers at 7.5, which has them tied for the highest total in the Big Ten.
It's here where I point out where the Nebraska football win totals last year was almost uniformly set at 5.5 for the 2023 season. This is not just a jump but a rather impressive jump considering the Huskers hit the under.
Projected Nebraska football win totals offer hope for brighter 2024
When it comes to the expectations of Big Ten teams this coming season, only Ohio State (10.5), Oregon (10.5), Michigan (9.5) and Penn State (9.5) have higher win totals.
The Nebraska football team is right there with USC, Washington, and Iowa and well ahead of the rest o the Big Ten. It would certainly be fun as hell if they could hit the over in 2024.