Nebraska football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions for 2023

Nebraska football just wrapped up its first spring under Matt Rhule and the expectations for the upcoming season have adjusted accordingly.

The Cornhuskers are looking to finally make a bowl game and put the nightmare that was the Scott Frost era behind them. They’ll be facing a fairly favorable schedule, but can they earn a bowl berth and kick the Rhule era off the right way?

Here’s how I see the 2023 season playing out after spring ball.

This is a tough start to the Matt Rhule era. Minnesota will be one of the favorites to win the Big Ten West, but PJ Fleck and Co. will be breaking in a new quarterback. There’s a chance Nebraska could pull off the early-season upset, but the fact that this is in Minneapolis crushes any hope.

Fleck and the Gophers will pick up a win but it won’t be the blowout that they would have hoped in the home opener.

Prediction: Loss (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

This one will be circled on a lot of calendars in Week 2. This is an opportunity for two first-year coaches to make a statement and Colorado has the home-field advantage.

Deion Sanders took over the Buffaloes this offseason and his presence was immediately felt with the wave of transfers in and out of the program. Colorado will basically be fielding a brand new team next year.

Nebraska will take advantage of that brand new roster that isn’t used to playing together and pick up a big road win.

Prediction: Win (1-1)