<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4VhDeL_1H2ZRwjw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4VhDeL_1H2ZRwjw00" width="1476" height="985" ><figcaption>Art by Jennifer Castle</figcaption></figure>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 2026, with the best record crowned at the end of the season.<h2>Alex Berry, senior sports editor: Nebraska 42, Rutgers 21</h2>This sort of game could not have come at a better time for Nebraska. Amidst a four-game losing streak, the Huskers travel east to take on a struggling Rutgers team.While NU loses some really important players on the defensive end with senior linebacker Owen Chambliss and senior cornerback Andrew Marshall, the Scarlet Knights lose even more significant guys. Greg Schiano will be without superstar junior wide receiver KJ Duff, and current starting quarterback AJ Surace is listed as questionable as of Thursday. He is already without QB Dylan Lonergan, so Rutgers could have to roll with third-string sophomore Sean Ashenfelder. For Nebraska’s offense, it will be interesting to see what interim offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas dials up. This Scarlet Knight defense has struggled immensely all season, allowing 32.4 points per game. The same defense is tied for last in sacks in the conference with 11. This should be a major get-back game for Anthony Colandrea and the offense.While a 2-7 team shouldn’t give the Huskers fits, traveling to the East Coast is never easy. Early in the season, USC squeezed out a 42-35 win in Piscataway, so anything can happen.My takes: Jamal Rule runs for 150-plus yards with two touchdowns. Isaiah Mozee adds a touchdown on the ground on a longer run. On defense, Williams Nwaneri and Kade Pietzrak register a combined three-plus sacks.<h2>Eli Rodriguez, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 28, Rutgers 14</h2>Well, here we are. Nebraska has dropped four straight after winning its first five of the season. At one point, many thought that the Huskers were in for a record season, being up on Indiana 17-6 in the fourth quarter.Rutgers is next for NU, a 2-7 team that has struggled this season. KJ Duff, Andrew Marshall and Owen Chambliss are all out and Dwayne McDougle III is questionable. Sure, some of defensive coordinator Rob Aurich’s top players will be out, but Rutgers' offense is brutal. Saturday will be a chance for Aurich to get some new faces in rotation. Against Wisconsin, Rutgers looked rough. Very rough. The Scarlet Knights’ defense went up against freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins and didn’t find much success, as Hopkins threw for 240 yards and three passes. This is probably the most confident I’ve been about picking Nebraska since the Maryland game, although I believe it will take some time for them to settle in. For the first time all season, the Huskers didn’t lead going into the fourth quarter against Illinois; if they go in ahead, they lose; if they go in behind, they lose. What needs to happen? How much is interim offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas exactly doing and how much of a say is Rhule going to have? He has worked with Colandrea for some time, but when it comes to play-calling, that’s a different ballgame. If Nebraska wants to jump out to a fast start, it needs to start with the run game; right now that’s Mekhi Nelson. Especially after Matt Rhule said that Jamal Rule got a “little banged up” again. My takes: Mekhi Nelson 15+ attempts and a touchdown; Nyziah Hunter finds the end zone for the first time since opening up scoring against the Hoosiers, Colandrea finds the edge for a rushing touchdown. HOT TAKE: Victor Evans III pick.<h2>Matthew Malloy, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 35, Rutgers 10</h2>At this point, I don’t know what to expect.The Huskers played well against a top-ranked Indiana and talented Oregon, but dropped the ball in its last two games against worse opponents. Fans aren't as tuned in to the program as they were a month ago, which is understandable, but I think there’s a sliver of optimism in that apathetic state. An eight-win season is still on the table, and if there are any fans out there willing to cling on to that possibility, it’s Nebraska’s.Matt Rhule knows the worst thing he can do this week is get ahead of himself, which is why focusing on lowly 2-7 Rutgers matters. Sure, a win against the Scarlet Knights would secure a bowl-game appearance, but it would also give a team confidence that’s been through hell since its last win.With KJ Duff out, I think NU will win. It’s just that simple. Yes, Andrew Marshall and Owen Chambliss are also out, but Rutgers’ defense is in such rough shape that Colandrea and company should score at least four times.If they don’t, it’ll be a new low in the Rhule era.My takes: GIlmer and Barney combine for 160 receiving yards and two scores, and Jamal Rule punches in a touchdown as well. The Blackshirts notch three sacks and a turnover.<h2>Kyler Cox, senior sports reporter: Nebraska 24, Rutgers 14</h2>What should fans expect from Nebraska football this weekend, against an awful 2-7 Rutgers team? In short, I don’t know.In a general sense, fans should have some optimism that the Huskers get a break in their schedule before games against Ohio State and Iowa to end the year. But an East Coast morning game, fresh off the firing of their offensive coordinator and an offense that hasn’t shown any life in its past three games, is hardly a break.Injuries will play a role this weekend. Nebraska will be missing cornerback Andrew Marshall and linebacker Owen Chambliss, while Rutgers is without star receiver KJ Duff for the rest of the season. The Huskers may also be without safety Dwayne McDougle III, who is listed as questionable for the contest.The biggest question is whether Glenn Thomas can improve the offense against an opposing group that ranks 120th in the country in total defense. Colandrea was better last weekend, but he threw over 40 passes for the third straight week. If Rule gets a majority of the offensive workload, it will pay dividends.The Huskers should win this game, but how many times has that been said in recent history? It’s the type of game that Nebraska has dropped, but I don’t expect that to happen on Saturday. Still, it won't be a cakewalk. My takes: Nebraska’s running backs combine for 35 rushing attempts, and the Huskers clear 150 yards on the ground for the first time since Week 5. Defensively, Dawson Merritt impacts the game with a pair of tackles for loss.<h2>Standings</h2>1. Matthew Malloy 7-2 (+/- 137)2. Kyler Cox 7-2 (+/- 149)3. Alex Berry 7-2 (+/- 152)4. Eli Rodriguez 6-3 (+/- 160)<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=06vQlN_1H2ZRwjw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06vQlN_1H2ZRwjw00" width="1763" height="1175" ></figure></div></body>

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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 2026, with the best record crowned at the end of the season. Alex Berry, senior sports editor: Nebraska 42, Rutgers 21. This sort...

Editor Score Predictions: Nebraska vs. Rutgers

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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 

Editor Score Predictions: Nebraska vs. Rutgers

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