Nebraska football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

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Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

While Michigan State was just awful last season, finishing 5-7 after an 11-2 campaign the year before, talent isn’t an issue. Mel Tucker has plenty of talented players on the roster, but the coaching has to step up this season and I think it will in this one.

While this is a winnable game for the Cornhuskers and they always seem to play the Spartans tough, there may be a bowl game on the line for Michigan State and I don’t see Tucker letting this one slip through his fingers like he did last season at home against Indiana.

Prediction: Loss (4-5, 2-4)

Sitting two wins away from bowl eligibility, Nebraska will get another prime opportunity to pick up a home win and move on step closer to the postseason. They’ll get that with Maryland coming to town.

I think the Mike Locksley era in College Park might be coming to an end in the near future if his Terrapins finish 7-5 or 6-6 again and it feels like that’s what they’re destined to do this year.

Nebraska may very well put Locksley on the hot seat by itself, beating the Terrapins and Taulia Tagovailoa in Lincoln to improve to .500.

Prediction: Win (5-5, 3-4)

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