Nebraska football is one game away from finding out its bowl destination.
After getting to and winning the Pinstripe Bowl last year, Matt Rhule has the Huskers headed for a bowl game in back-to-back years for the first time since 2016. NU has also guaranteed a winning season in back-to-back years for the first time since the Bo Pelini era.
But November remains a difficult portion of the schedule for the Big Red. In the Rhule era, Nebraska went 0-4 in the month in 2023, 1-3 last year, and is 1-2 this year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule. / Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Ahead of a matchup with similarly ranked 7-4 Iowa on Black Friday, here are the latest bowl projections for Nebraska.
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Las Vegas Bowl vs. Utah
Nebraska has never played in the Las Vegas Bowl, but it would be fitting to open the season there for Big Ten Media Days and then end the season in the same place for a bowl game.
This is far and away the most popular pick for the Big Red, with five predictors saying Nebraska will be heading back to Sin City.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. / Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Nebraska and Utah have played four times in history, but not once since the George H. W. Bush administration. The Huskers are 4-0 in the series that goes back to 1968.
The Utes are on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff, sitting at No. 13 with a 9-2 record.
Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona State
Another former Pac-12 team here, the Sun Devils are 8-3 and No. 20 in the latest rankings after making the College Football Playoff last season. Former Husker Jeff Sims is now their starting quarterback after Sam Leavitt’s season-ending injury.
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Former Husker Jeff Sims has been leading Arizona State at quarterback this season after stepping in for the injured Sam Leavitt. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nebraska owns a 6-2 all-time record against Arizona State. ASU famously upset the Huskers in 1996 to stop a potential run to a third straight national title.
Music City Bowl vs. LSU
Nebraska’s only Music City Bowl appearance was a 2016 loss to Tennessee. This time, though, could feature a fourth opponent for the Big Red that does not have its original head coach at the helm.
LSU fired Brian Kelly earlier this season. The Tigers are currently 7-4 and headed to No. 8 Oklahoma to close out the year.
Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
A different but more familiar SEC opponent could be waiting for the Big Red in Nashville.
Nebraska holds an all-time lead over Missouri, 65-36-3, though the two teams have not played since 2010, when the Huskers went to the Big Ten and the Tigers were heading into their last year with the Big 12 before departing for the SEC. NU won the last two matchups in the series, but that falls far short of the 24 straight the Big Red took from 1979-2002.
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Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Roy Helu Jr runs between Missouri Tigers defender Jarrell Harrison (11) and Aldon Smith (85) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 31-17. / Bruce Thorson-Imagn Images
Pinstripe Bowl vs. Miami (FL)
A return trip to New York might not be what the Huskers want, but a chance at a historical bowl rival could get the juices flowing all the same.
Nebraska and Miami are level all-time against each other, splitting the 12 meetings. The two have met in a New York bowl game before, with the Huskers winning 36-34 in the 1962 Gotham Bowl.
In the other five bowl matchups (four Orange and one Rose), the Hurricanes hold a 4-1 advantage. Thrice has the winner of a bowl game between these two teams been named the national champion.
Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 41-31. / Bruce Thorson-Imagn Images
Miami is another team on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff. The Hurricanes are 9-2 and No. 12 in the latest rankings.
Nebraska is currently tied for eighth in the Big Ten standings at 4-4. The league’s bowl ties are listed below, but keep in mind that College Football Playoff teams are removed from these. Meaning, Indiana and Ohio State are not likely to fill any of these spots.
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Citrus (formerly Capital One) vs. SEC
ReliaQuest (formerly Outback) vs. SEC
Las Vegas vs. Former Pac-12 Teams
Music City vs. SEC
Pinstripe vs. ACC
Rate (formerly Cactus, Insight, Copper) vs. Big 12
GameAbove Sports (formerly Quick Lane, Motor City) vs. MAC
There is a likelihood that a pre-2024 Big Ten team faces a newly added opponent from the Pac-12. Just like Indiana and Ohio State, Oregon is likely destined for the CFP. That means teams like Washington and USC (UCLA won’t make a bowl) could face a Big Ten opponent in Las Vegas.
Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.
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The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.
Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.
The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.
According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.
The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
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NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.
This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.
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Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)
KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.
They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.
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The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.
“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”
Students representing UNK include: Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano Minden – Evan Porter, percussion Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute
