Nebraska football: Final game-by-game predictions for Huskers in 2023

Nebraska vs. Northwestern on Oct. 21 (W)

The Huskers will dominate this one. Northwestern knocked off Nebraska last season in Dublin due to a moronic Scott Frost onside kick that they never recovered from.

However, that won’t happen under Matt Rhule. Nebraska will be fresh off a bye week and with an 0-3 record in the Big Ten, this game will have 2021 vibes. Maybe it won’t be that lopsided, but Jeff Sims throws for 300 — Gabe Ervin goes for over 100 and Nebraska nearly hangs 50 as Matt Rhule gets his first Big Ten win in front of a restless fanbase.

Nebraska 48, Northwestern 17  (4-3)

Nebraska vs. Purdue on Oct. 28 (W)

Purdue will be a completely different team this year with Jeff Brohm off to coach Louisville. Ryan Walters is an elite defensive coach, as we saw with Illinois and QB Hudson Card is going to surprise people.

That being said Nebraska should be humming at this point. The Huskers have more talent than Purdue and by now, some of the talented freshmen such as Malachi Coleman, Cameron Lenhardt, and others should be playing bigger roles.

Purdue won’t drop off as much as some pundits think, but they won’t be good enough to win in Lincoln as the temperatures start dropping.

Nebraska 31, Purdue 23 (5-3)