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2024 Rewind: Nebraska finished 7–6 after starting the season 5–1. Their wins came against UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Boston College in the bowl game. Four of Nebraska’s losses came by seven points or less. Matt Rhule is now in his third season guiding the Huskers, and at his previous stops—Temple and Baylor—year three was when his teams made the leap into the upper tier of their respective conferences. The same could easily be true this season, as Nebraska appears to have a manageable schedule. Recruiting under Rhule: 2023: On3 - 5th in Big Ten 247 - 5th in Big Ten 2024: On3 - 7th in Big Ten 247 - 6th in Big Ten 2025: On3 - 6th in Big Ten 247 - 6th in Big Ten Huskers on Offense: Dylan Raiola is a name known across the college football landscape thanks to last year’s NIL hoopla. The true sophomore completed 67% of his passes for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 2024. He’s the undisputed starter for Nebraska. Emmett Johnson returns at running back after racking up 607 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. He also added value in the passing game with 39 receptions for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite losing two starting wide receivers and an NFL-drafted tight end, Nebraska should be substantially improved in the passing game with the additions of Kentucky’s Dane Key and Cal’s Nyziah Hunter. Those two bring the kind of playmaking ability the Cornhusker offense lacked last year. Nebraska should be improved along the offensive line with the additions of Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler and Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett. Mainstays Justin Evans, Henry Lutovsky, and Gunnar Gottula also return, giving the Cornhuskers plenty of experience up front. Huskers on Defense: Nebraska lost their defensive coordinator and most of their production along the defensive line. Matt Rhule has said he’d like to keep the 3-3-5 in place, so it remains to be seen what the Cornhuskers ultimately settle on. Sophomore Vincent Shavers and senior Javin Wright step into starting roles at linebacker after the duo combined for 59 total tackles as backups in 2024. In the secondary, Malcolm Hartzog returns at nickel after collecting 45 total tackles and 4 interceptions. Ceyair Wright is back at one cornerback spot after recording 39 total tackles and 2 interceptions, while Idaho transfer Andrew Marshall is expected to fill the opposite corner. DeShon Singleton reprises his role at one safety following up a solid season that included 71 total tackles. The other safety spot will be filled by former backup Marques Buford. Nebraska struggled on special teams last year. Sophomore John Hohl is back at kicker after connecting on 67% of his field goal attempts, and freshman Archie Wilson will likely handle punting duties. Position Advantage: Nebraska holds the edge in almost every category. The Zips’ proven production at tight end gives Akron the advantage there, and with Nebraska being one of the poorest performing special teams units in 2024, I’m giving Akron the edge in that phase as well. QB - Nebraska RB - Nebraska WR - Nebraska TE - Akron OL - Nebraska DL - Nebraska LB - Nebraska DB - Nebraska ST - Akron Way too Early Prediction: Even though I expect Nebraska’s defense to be a bit worse than it was last year, they’re still going to be a formidable opponent for us. I also expect the Cornhusker offense to be substantially better than it was in 2024. I don’t have much to say about this game—it’s the one payday on our schedule. Once again, we’re catching a Power Five opponent on its way up. My best hope is we get out injury free and hang close for a while. Final score prediction: 42–10 Cornhuskers.

We’re approximately 8 weeks away from kick-off. I’ll do as many of these as I can, but keep in mind injuries—and yet another round of the portal—could change some of this information before the season starts. 2024 Rewind: Wyoming finished 3-9 overall in Jay Sawvel’s first year as head coach. Their wins came against Air Force, New Mexico, and Washington State. The Cowboys dropped four games by four points or less, so the season could’ve looked a lot different if a few more of those close ones had broken their way. Recruiting under Sawvel: 2024: On3 - 6th in MWC 247 - 6th in MWC 2025: On3 - 4th in MWC 247 - 5th in MWC Cowboys on Offense: Wyoming utilized two quarterbacks last season and neither was particularly stellar. The Cowboys often had to rely on their run game, but would prefer to have a more productive aerial attack to complement it. Sophomore Kaden Anderson returns and will start after throwing for 955 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions while completing 58% of his passes in 2024. Anderson took over for Quinn Ewers at Texas high school powerhouse Southlake Carroll and was also recruited by Bowling Green. Leading rusher Sam Scott is back after collecting 435 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024, but he’s not expected to start. North Texas grad transfer Damashja Harris is in line to take over. Harris has excellent size and speed at 6’4”, 224 pounds, but hasn’t produced at a high level as a running back just yet. He’s mostly made his name as a kick returner. If the Cowboys can unlock Harris’ potential in the backfield, they could be dangerous on the ground. Despite not being overly impressive through the air, Wyoming returns most of its production at wide receiver and tight end. Receivers Jaylen Sargent and Chris Durr, along with tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, combined for 84 receptions, 1,253 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 2024. Offensive line is where the Cowboys should be able to hang their hat in 2025. Caden Barnett and Jake Walsh are as good as almost any linemen in the MWC. Rex Johnsen and Wes King are two more returning starters. Sophomore Nathan Geiger is the only new face and will be expected to fill in at tackle after seeing action on offense in just one game last season. Cowboys on Defense and Special Teams: The defensive line went into 2024 with high expectations and didn’t come close to meeting them—whether it was stopping the run or getting after the quarterback. Defensive end Tyce Westland is the team’s best returning pass rusher after tallying 3 sacks and 41 total tackles last season. On the interior, Jayden Williams was a backup and will now slide into a starting role after posting 28 total tackles in 2024. Wyoming finds itself in a similar position to Akron, relying heavily on players with little to no experience at the G5 level. Wyoming is known for having strong linebacker play in the MWC. However, this season will feature a redshirt freshman and two former lower level players manning the middle of the defense. Redshirt freshman Gary Rutherford had offers from Indiana and Washington State coming out of high school before settling on Wyoming. Brayden Johnson and Ethan Stuhlsatz transferred in from Oklahoma Baptist and Lindenwood, respectively. The Cowboys will roll out almost an entirely new secondary in 2025. Illinois State transfer Desman Hearns is expected to take over at nickelback, while the cornerback group will be about as green as it gets. Redshirt freshmen Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss are competing with true freshman Tyson Deen for the starting spots. Part-time starter Andrew Johnson will step into a full-time role at one of the safety positions. His running mate is expected to be sophomore Jones Thomas, who saw action in just one game on defense last year. Wyoming will feature new specialists with redshirt sophomore Erik Sandvik handling placekicking and JUCO Bart Edmiston taking over at punter. Position Advantage: When looking at who has the advantage at the individual positions, this game is about as even as it gets. On offense, Akron should have the better quarterback and skill players, while Wyoming holds a clear edge along the offensive line. Defensively, Wyoming actually returns some production—albeit limited—on the defensive line, whereas Akron has next to none. The two teams have similar linebacker play styles, and Wyoming’s almost complete lack of experience in the secondary gives Akron the advantage at defensive back. Special teams feature all new starters for both squads. QB = Akron RB = Even WR = Akron TE = Even OL = Wyoming DL = Wyoming LB = Even DB = Akron ST = Even Way too early Prediction: While Wyoming is thankfully not Ohio State or any other power conference team, this matchup could still be viewed as a lose/lose scenario for the Zips. Win the game and college football nation yawns and acts like it’s no big deal beating a previously 3-9 MWC squad. Lose the game and the tiresome rhetoric about “same ole Akron” comes right back into play. Regardless, this is a winnable game—and one that Akron could desperately use as a confidence builder. Probably the best MAC comparison to Wyoming from our 2024 schedule would be Western Michigan. As Zips fans may remember, that was a game we had in the bag and managed to completely blunder away. Even though the first game of the season can get sloppy, I expect the Zips offense to be able to move the ball effectively against a fairly inexperienced Wyoming defense. Of course, moving the ball has rarely been an issue under Moorhead—it’s been finishing drives and scoring points where the problems have occurred. Akron’s defense will need to find a way to put pressure on Wyoming’s sophomore quarterback and limit the Cowboy offense from hitting on big plays, which a few of their guys definitely have the ability to create. If Wyoming gets ahead and is allowed to lean on their run game, it could be a long day for the Zips’ new-look defense. I could easily see this game going in either direction, and despite both teams having several rebuilt positions, I’m sticking with the home team and saying 24-21 Zips.

We may need him to step up the goal scoring this fall, so it's nice to see him hot coming into the season!

I like the Zips I'm this game. Wyoming was bad last year. I'm assuming Akron will be better than last year. Road game across the country for Wyoming is also a handicap for them. My way too early prediction, given no injuries during training camp for either team, Akron 33, Wyoming 28.