Follow along as The Daily Nebraskan’s sports senior staff makes their predictions for every Nebraska football game this fall.
A rolling tally will be kept throughout 2025, with the best record crowned at the end of the season.
Anthony Rubek, senior sports editor: Nebraska 28, Minnesota 20
Nebraska hasn’t beaten Minnesota on the road since 2015, but the No. 25 Huskers are more than capable of changing that.
The Golden Gophers pulled out gritty wins over Rutgers and Purdue, but both teams have yet to win a conference game. Minnesota’s run game has been nonexistent, recording just 30 yards last week. While Nebraska failed to fully halt Maryland’s subpar rushing attack, I expect them to fare better this time around.
The Husker offense should move the ball at will against the Golden Gopher defense, but they will have to protect the football. While I can see Raiola throwing another pick, he limits it to just one while Emmett Johnson runs for 100-plus yards on his hometown team.
Minnesota will provide a fight as all P.J. Fleck-led teams do, but Nebraska has too much talent and momentum on its side. The Huskers clinch bowl eligibility under the lights.
Ben Beecham, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 30, Minnesota 24
The Huskers haven’t won back-to-back road games since 2006. That won’t matter. This is a new era of Nebraska football.
However, I think this game will be closer than most think. The Huskers are the better team, but Fleck has had Nebraska’s number during his tenure. Fleck has a 6-1 record vs the Huskers and has taken five straight matchups, including Matt Rhule’s debut.
The Golden Gophers got back lead back Darius Taylor last week. Taylor has struggled this year since returning from a hamstring injury, but he has the stuff to break out, especially against an iffy Nebraska run defense.
However, I expect Raiola to clean up the turnovers and the offense to continue its scoring output. Getting to 6-1 and taking down the opponent who beat him in his first game would be a significant win for Rhule, and I expect him to get it.
Alex Berry, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 20, Minnesota 17
After a 5-1 start to the season, identical to last year, I don’t think it will take the Huskers till week 11 to find that sixth win.
Nebraska fans have got to like the way the Huskers match up with the Golden Gophers. Minnesota’s run game ranks 16th in the Big Ten. As many know, the Blackshirts’ biggest weakness has been stopping the run game. If the secondary can continue to shut down the passing game, the Golden Gophers won’t score over 20 points.
After a career-high game for Johnson, the junior running back should be able to repeat his dominance against a Minnesota defense that is fresh off allowing 253 rushing yards to Purdue. As many know, Johnson, a Minnesota native, wasn’t given an offer from Fleck, so I expect him to play with some extra fire. Johnson will run for over 150 yards.
My hot take: A defensive touchdown will be scored.
Bobby Schneider, senior sports reporter: Nebraska 42, Minnesota 24
While the rumors of Rhule being the odds-on favorite to land at Penn State took priority this week, No. 25-ranked Nebraska has a chance to gain more playoff-talk steam with a Friday night win at Minnesota. The 4-2 Golden Gophers are nothing special, but Fleck always finds a way to make the scoreboard respectable.
The 5-1 Huskers had the same record at this time last year before getting crushed at Indiana. However, this Nebraska team gives a different vibe.
Dressed in all-white uniforms with pink accessories for breast cancer awareness, I’m calling for NU to snap a five-game skid over Minnesota convincingly. In fact, I firmly believe tailback Emmett Johnson has himself another 130+ all-purpose yards in his homecoming. Meanwhile, I think the Blackshirts pick off Gopher quarterback Drake Lindsey at least two times.
Standings
1. Alex Berry 6-0 (+/- 74)
2. Ben Beecham 6-0 (+/- 100)
3. Anthony Rubek 6-0 (+/- 111)
4. Bobby Schneider 5-1 (+/- 78)