Anthony Rubek, assistant sports activities editor: 9-4
After dropping a number of video games in heartbreaking trend lately, this Husker workforce has what it takes to show issues round.
In fact, all eyes will probably be on true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola and the way he transitions into school play. Nevertheless, he’s arrange with a supporting solid that few Nebraska quarterbacks have had in current reminiscence.
Inexperience on offense proved expensive for the Huskers up to now, however now the group is almost caught as much as their defensive counterparts. Accidents pushed receivers Malachi Coleman and Jaylen Lloyd into the highlight final yr, giving the sophomores a yr of convention play underneath their belt and the boldness that comes with it. Add in dynamic transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, and Nebraska’s air assault is in enterprise.
In the meantime, junior tight finish Thomas Fidone II continues to keep away from the harm bug and may rank up there with the Massive Ten’s greatest on the place. Rounding issues out is a operating again room and offensive line that return a number of gamers with expertise.
The Blackshirt protection that ranked within the prime 15 within the nation in 2023 returns almost each key contributor, in addition to a number of depth items. After incomes 9 of the ten single-digit numbers for the yr, all indicators level to a different dominant yr from Tony White’s crew.
A simple first half of the season offers Nebraska an opportunity to make main waves within the Massive Ten and school soccer world. Whereas a difficult again half might function a roadblock in these plans, I nonetheless see the Huskers doing properly sufficient to make their first bowl recreation since 2016.
Ben Beecham, assistant sports activities editor: 9-4
One other Nebraska soccer season means one other yr of massive expectations. Plenty of the expectations are normally delusions fueled by the fan base, nevertheless this yr there are actual causes to be excited.
Current seasons have resulted in disappointment for the Huskers, however this can be the right storm for them to snap their eight-year streak of not making a bowl recreation. With head coach Matt Rhule establishing his tradition and quarterback Dylan Raiola taking the lead on offense, Nebraska might lastly attain the followers’ lofty expectations.
On offense, the Huskers are in the perfect place they’ve been in for some time. There’s the apparent improve of Raiola at quarterback however all throughout the sector Nebraska has improved. The receivers, the road and the backfield have all gotten a face-lift this offseason and look to enhance an offense that ranked twelfth within the convention in factors per recreation.
On the defensive facet, the Huskers didn’t make lots of adjustments as a result of they didn’t must. The Blackshirts are skilled and are crammed prime to backside with disruptors. To succeed, all of the protection must do is replicate what they did final season, however their doubtless enchancment means this unit could possibly be one of many nation’s greatest.
Nebraska’s favorable schedule additionally helps their probabilities. The Huskers will doubtless be favored of their first seven video games and have an actual probability to be undefeated heading into their midseason matchup at Ohio State. Even when they have been to drop a recreation or two in that span, Nebraska’s bowl likelihood is the perfect they’ve been shortly.
Barring main accidents, it appears to be like just like the Huskers have the items to lastly put it collectively.
Ben Drozd, employees author: 9-4
Nebraska’s historical past over the past eight-plus years makes this prediction appear a bit formidable, because the Huskers haven’t had a profitable report since 2016. Nevertheless, there’s one factor totally different this season from years previous – Dylan Raiola.
Many Husker followers consider Nebraska would have gotten at the very least six or seven wins final yr with simply common quarterback play. What about above-average? In case you haven’t heard, Dylan Raiola is above common.
Head coach Matt Rhule in his first two years at Temple went from 2-10 to 6-6, and at Baylor, it was a good larger bounce from 1-11 to 7-6. It doesn’t appear too daring to say that underneath yr two of Rhule, Nebraska can get three extra wins with the addition of Raiola, a positive schedule and virtually the identical protection as final yr that ranked eleventh within the nation.
I count on Nebraska to begin the season 5-2 heading into Ohio State, dropping to Colorado at dwelling and Purdue on the highway. The Buffaloes will probably be Dylan Raiola’s first actual take a look at, and rising pains are to be anticipated. Purdue has gained three of the final 4 matchups towards the Huskers, and touring to Ross-Ade Stadium for an 11 a.m. recreation seems like bother for his or her first away recreation.
After a loss to Ohio State, I predict Nebraska will go 3-1 in November to complete the season out sturdy. Whereas Nebraska struggled towards the top of the season final yr, Dylan Raiola ought to be taking part in his greatest soccer of the season come November. USC, Wisconsin and Iowa all look like toss-ups, and I count on the Huskers to win two of the three.
All indicators level to a powerful season for Matt Rhule and firm this yr.
Danny Berg, employees author: 10-3
With competent quarterback play, the 2023 Nebraska soccer workforce ought to have recorded eight wins and located themselves in a halfway-decent bowl recreation. Territory through which the Huskers haven’t discovered themselves for the reason that Cubs gained the World Collection (really feel outdated but?).
Jeff Sims dropping the QB competitors at Arizona State proves that Matt Rhule whiffed on the decide final time round, however he made positive to not screw up recruiting the perfect highschool signal-caller in Dylan Raiola.
Evening and day, the weapons on offense have been vastly improved. Receivers like Alex Bullock, who was a significant contributor to final yr’s squad, now discover themselves combating for enjoying time. Almost the whole beginning protection returns, a unit that was extensively generally known as a top-15 protection throughout the nation.
What stays to be seen is how the offensive line holds up. Nebraska solely sports activities two linemen per place (besides at left guard with three). The lack of Teddy Prochazka solely amplifies the deficit that the Huskers have within the trenches.
Whereas the predictions that Nebraska will probably be a Faculty Soccer Playoff darkish horse appear a bit of outlandish, particularly in in the present day’s Massive Ten soccer panorama, a profitable season looks like a foregone conclusion. The Huskers ought to be competing for a formidable bowl recreation come December, however don’t be stunned both in the event that they discover themselves ranked for the primary time since September of 2019.
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