Imagine wrapping up a football season with a record that leaves you bowl-eligible but with a bittersweet aftertaste— that's the story for Nebraska fans as the 2025 campaign draws to a close. With the Huskers' regular season in the books at 7-5, all eyes are now on December's bowl games, where the Big Red could face some intriguing matchups. But here's where it gets controversial: Is Nebraska really destined for a glamorous showdown, or is this just another letdown in a rollercoaster era under Matt Rhule? Stick around to dive into the latest projections and see if these predictions align with your hopes—or spark a debate about where the Huskers truly belong.
Nebraska's journey through year two of Rhule's tenure kicked off promisingly, securing bowl eligibility early with a strong 6-2 start. However, November brought a stumble, as the team went 1-3, leaving fans questioning what might have been. Conference championships are unfolding this week, setting the stage for the final College Football Playoff rankings and bowl assignments on Sunday. Let's break down the most talked-about projections for Nebraska, exploring each potential opponent with a bit more context to help even casual fans grasp the stakes.
The Music City Bowl against LSU stands out as the fan-favorite pick by a wide margin, generating buzz just as the official announcements are imminent. For Nebraska, this Nashville showdown would mark their second-ever trip to the Music City Bowl, following a 2016 defeat to Tennessee. This time around, it could pit the Huskers against a Tiger squad that's undergone significant coaching upheaval—LSU parted ways with Brian Kelly mid-season and swiftly brought in Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss over the weekend. LSU finished 7-5, with a tougher stretch of 2-4 in their latter games, which might make them a winnable foe for a team like Nebraska that's historically dominated this rivalry. Speaking of history, the Big Red boasts a perfect record against LSU: 5-0-1 overall. That includes a 1975 regular-season win and a tie in Baton Rouge the following year, plus four New Year's Day bowl victories—from the 1971 and 1983 Orange Bowls to the 1985 and 1987 Sugar Bowls—where Nebraska averaged a commanding 24-14 margin. And this is the part most people miss: With both teams at 7-5, this could be a classic underdog tale, but skeptics might argue that LSU's coaching shakeup leaves them vulnerable, turning a potential mismatch into a thrilling upset opportunity.
Shifting gears, another SEC opponent in the Music City Bowl could be Missouri, offering a nod to Nebraska's deep historical ties in the heartland. The Huskers hold a commanding all-time edge over the Tigers: 65-36-3, though it's been over a decade since their last clash in 2010, when Nebraska headed to the Big Ten and Missouri was transitioning from the Big 12 to the SEC. Nebraska claimed the final two meetings, but that's just a snippet compared to the epic 24-game winning streak they rode from 1979 to 2002—a testament to the Huskers' dominance in an era when these rivalries defined college football. Missouri wrapped up at 8-4, dropping three games in their last five to playoff contenders, yet they rewarded coach Eli Drinkwitz with a contract extension last week. Could this be a chance for Nebraska to revive old rivalries, or is Missouri's recent form a sign they're too inconsistent to challenge? It's a point that could divide fans: Some see it as poetic justice for Nebraska, while others worry it might replay past disappointments.
Heading west, the Las Vegas Bowl versus Utah would bookend the season nicely, having started with Big Ten Media Days in Sin City. But facing the Utes, who are 10-2 and ranked No. 15 in the College Football Playoff standings, might feel like a daunting challenge for an average Nebraska squad. Utah's ground game is elite, leading the nation with 269.8 rushing yards per contest, which could expose any defensive weaknesses. On the bright side, Nebraska is undefeated against Utah in their four all-time meetings, all regular-season games in Lincoln spanning from 1968 to 1992. For beginners, think of it as Nebraska's home-field magic against a team that's built for explosive plays— a perfect example of why historical records can sometimes predict outcomes, even if modern matchups feel unpredictable.
Alternatively, the Las Vegas Bowl could pair Nebraska with another ex-Pac-12, now-Big-12 rival: Arizona. The Wildcats are No. 18 in the latest playoff rankings after a solid 9-3 season, with only one loss to an unranked opponent—a stat that highlights their consistency. Nebraska and Arizona are deadlocked at 1-1-1 all-time, including a 1961 tie in Lincoln and split results in Holiday Bowls (Arizona won in 1998, Nebraska in 2009). This matchup could be a clash of styles, with Arizona's balanced attack versus Nebraska's traditional strengths, sparking debates on whether geography and conference shifts make these games less meaningful today.
Finally, the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City against Clemson might feel like déjà vu for Husker supporters, following last year's win over Boston College. Ending up there again could sting, especially after a November slump that left a sour taste. Clemson, also 7-5, enters on a high note with four straight wins. The teams have faced off twice: Clemson edged out Nebraska 22-15 in the 1982 Orange Bowl, but the Huskers flipped the script with a 26-21 Gator Bowl victory in 2009. It's controversial territory—do back-to-back NYC trips signal progress or stagnation for Nebraska? Fans might argue it's a step up from recent years, yet others could see it as a missed chance for a more prestigious bowl.
To understand the full picture, remember that Nebraska tied for 10th in the Big Ten at 4-5. The league's bowl partnerships, minus College Football Playoff teams like Indiana and Ohio State, are as follows: 1. Citrus Bowl (formerly Capital One) vs. an SEC foe; 2. ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly Outback) vs. SEC; 3. Las Vegas Bowl vs. former Pac-12 teams; 4. Music City Bowl vs. SEC; 5. Pinstripe Bowl vs. ACC; 6. Guaranteed Rate Bowl (formerly Cactus, Insight, Copper) vs. Big 12; 7. GameAbove Sports Bowl (formerly Quick Lane, Motor City) vs. MAC. There's a real chance a pre-2024 Big Ten team like Nebraska could face a new Pac-12 addition, since Oregon is playoff-bound, potentially setting up matchups with teams like Washington or USC (though UCLA missed out on a bowl). Excluding CFP and Pac-12 newcomers, the bowl-eligible Big Ten standings look like this: 1. Michigan at 9-3 (7-2 in conference); 2. Iowa at 8-4 (6-3); 3. Illinois at 8-4 (5-4); 4. Minnesota at 7-5 (5-4); 5. Nebraska at 7-5 (4-5); 6. Northwestern at 6-6 (4-5); 7. Penn State at 6-6 (3-6). These standings will heavily influence pairings, so stay tuned for how Rhule's team stacks up.
What do you think—does Nebraska deserve a high-profile matchup like Music City against LSU, or are the Las Vegas options more fitting for their season? Is reviving old rivalries against Missouri or Arizona worth the nostalgia, or should fans push for better? And here's a controversial twist: Could Nebraska's historical dominance in these games be a relic of the past, overshadowed by modern coaching changes and expanded conferences? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with these projections, or is there a counterpoint I'm missing? For questions or rants, hit up Kaleb at kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com. Keep following all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI (https://www.si.com/college/nebraska/), subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@huskermax1183), and checking HuskerMax.com (https://www.huskermax.com/) every day.
