ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts measured success for the Huskers in year two of Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule’s tenure.
ESPN made a post-summer update of FPI this week and the Huskers check in at No. 41 in the country, with a 69.3 percent chance of getting to six wins and the program’s first bowl game since 2016.
FPI is «a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season» and «represents how many points above or below average a team is. In the preseason, these components are made up entirely of data from previous seasons, such as returning starters, past performance, recruiting rankings and coaching tenure. ESPN’s preseason rankings also give extra consideration to teams with returning quarterbacks.
Sept. 28: At Purdue
Nebraska Win probability: 54.1 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 60
Previous Meeting: 31-14 Nebraska (2023)
Oct. 5: Vs. Rutgers
Nebraska Win probability: 57.2 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 45
Previous Meeting: 14-13 Nebraska (2022)
Oct. 19: At Indiana
Nebraska Win probability: 62.2 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 77
Previous Meeting: 35-21 Nebraska (2022)
Oct. 26: At Ohio State
Nebraska Win probability: 8.6 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 4
Previous Meeting: 26-17 Ohio State (2021)
Nov. 2: Vs. UCLA
Nebraska Win probability: 54.8 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 40
Previous Meeting: 37-29 Nebraska (2015)
Nov. 16: At USC
Nebraska Win probability: 26.4 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 18
Previous Meeting: 45-42 USC (2014 Holiday Bowl)
Nov. 23: Vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska Win probability: 54.1 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 39
Previous Meeting: 24-17 Wisconsin (2023)
Nov. 29: At Iowa
Nebraska Win probability: 40.2 percent
Opponent FPI Rank: No. 37
Previous Meeting: 13-10 Iowa (2023)