The postseason path for the Nebraska Cornhuskers is beginning to take shape, and it leads straight to a heavyweight clash in Nashville. Renowned bowl insider Brett McMurphy has officially projected the Huskers to the Music City Bowl, where they are slated to face a familiar SEC foe: the Ole Miss Rebels.
This potential matchup carries a deep history. The two programs have met only once—a narrow 27-23 victory for the Rebels in the 2002 Independence Bowl. For Nebraska fans, this isn’t just a bowl game; it’s a chance to avenge a loss that ended a 40-year winning season streak and to prove that the Big Red is ready to compete with the SEC’s elite.
A New Era in Lincoln
As Nebraska enters Year Four of the Matt Rhule era, the team is sporting a dramatically different look. Following the departure of Dylan Raiola to Oregon, the offense is now led by Anthony Colandrea. The dynamic UNLV transfer and Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year brings an explosive dual-threat ability to Lincoln that fans are eager to see on the big stage.
But the biggest shift is on the sidelines. New defensive coordinator Rob Aurich has officially moved the «Blackshirts» to a modern 4-2-5 scheme. After three seasons of the 3-3-5, this philosophical change is designed to counter the high-powered «spread» offenses like Lane Kiffin’s Rebels. With a 7-6 finish in 2025 and a grueling 2026 schedule behind them, a win in Nashville would be the ultimate statement that Nebraska is back.