The college football season is about to kick off for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Cincinnati Bearcats in the “Battle Sports Kansas City Classic” at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Cornhuskers and Bearcats face off in a primetime clash in a battle between the Big Ten and Big 12. Here are some predictions for the game Thursday.
Week 1 Preview: Nebraska-Cincinnati
Nebraska:
Nebraska has been a benefactor of the Transfer Portal with many plug-in and play talent on both sides of the ball, most specifically at major skill positions. This is seen with transfers at wide receiver with Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter, defensive lineman like Williams Nwaneri and linebackers like Marques Watson-Trent.
After seven straight losing seasons, the Cornhuskers finally landed a winning season, with a 7-6 record. The first step in coach Matt Rhule’s rebuild was achieved and now entering year three, the Huskers could be in line to make noise nationally.
The 2025 season will be first season that will have mostly just the players that Rhule has recruited, regardless out of high school or the transfer portal, in his time in Lincoln. One of those players is obviously former five star quarterback Dylan Raiola. Raiola’s first season in Lincoln was a bit of a roller coaster. However, it was a successful season, finishing with 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns. His performance in 2024 was enough to give him the Nebraska freshman passing yardage record and completion percentage record with 67.1 percent.
Raiola will have the targets and weapons at his disposal. Kentucky and Cal transfers, Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter, will be the main guys on the outside with freshman standout Jacory Barney Jr. to be that dangerous weapon in the open field and even off the line. Tight ends will be the most unknown group with Luke Lindenmeyer, Heinrich Haarberg and Carter Nelson being the main three at the position. Running backs will be mostly lead by Emmett Johnson, who has the possibility to be the Huskers first 1,000 yard rusher since Devine Ozigbo in 2018.
The offensive line will be very deep for Nebraska in 2025. When’s the last time that happened? There is a major battle going on at left tackle between Gunnar Gottula, Turner Corcoran and Elijah Pritchett. At left guard, Henry Lutovosky is the main guy with Justin Evans at center and Rocco Spindler at right guard. At right tackle is another battle between Teddy Prochazka and Tyler Knaak.
The Huskers will have basically two new coordinators on the staff. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was elevated from a analyst role to offensive coordinator in the latter half of the season and now has had a full offseason to build an offense in his image. The hope is that the offensive woes that the Huskers have had the past two seasons will be solved in 2025.
Nebraska lost defensive coordinator Tony White, who took off for the Florida State defensive coordinator opening and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton followed suit. That also led to multiple players entering the transfer portal with a few transferring to the Seminoles. The Huskers replaced White with John Butler, who was elevated from his secondary coaching position.
The defense is very key for the Huskers in 2025. Most of the defensive line will be someone new in the starting role. How will they replace Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson. Keona Davis and Elijah Jeudy are set to the be the starters at nose guard and defensive tackle. Transfer defensive tackle Jaylin George will get some playing time as well earlier in the season as well. Linebackers and the secondary is where the Blackshirts are the strongest.
The second level will be lead by a combination of Georgia Southern transfer Marques Watson-Trent and standout freshman linebacker from 2024, Vincent Shavers and Javin Wright. Former Indiana Hoosier and Oklahoma Sooner Dasan McCullough has the potential to be a monster at the “jack” position.
The secondary will be led by Ceyair Wright, who essentially broke out last season for the Huskers. Wright will be the No. 1 boundry corner with former Idaho cornerback Andrew Marshall on the other side. Malcolm Hartzog will man the nickel and DeShon Singleton will be the main “rover” for the defense. At safety, Marques Buford Jr is back for a sixth season and helps keep the secondary very experienced.
On paper, Nebraska should be very competitive during the 2025 season. Should be something to watch throughout the first few weeks, especially that week four matchup with the Michigan Wolverines, if things go well in week one.
Cincinnati:
The Bearcats have some pressure in 2025. Not as much as Nebraska does, but they still do, especially for coach Scott Satterfield. Cincinnati came of the gates on fire in 2024, starting 5-2, including a win over then No. 7 Arizona State (who made it to the College Football Playoff). However, a five-game losing streak killed any momentum and Cincinnati failed to make a bowl game. Despite that, the Bearcats have a lot coming back for them for the 2025 campaign.
To start off, quarterback Brendan Sorsby is back for another season and there is hope he can lead the Bearcats offense to the next level. Not only a decent passer, Sorsby is certainly a threat on the ground, rushing for over 400 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
Former Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker joins the Cincinnati running back room alongside Evan Prior. Alongside the running backs, the Bearcats filled some important spots at wide receiver. Former Lindenwood standout Jeff Caldwell, who has had about 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns through three seasons. Caldwell could be a serious contributor with his 6-5, 215 pound frame and he was a Walter Payton award finalist last season, which is given to the top offensive player in the FCS.
Alongside the receivers, 2024 All-XII First Team tight end Joe Royer is back for another season for the Bearcats. Royer broke the Cincinnati single-season reception record with 50 catches with 521 yards and three touchdowns, which was previously held by Travis Kelce.
The defense will be a very experienced group in 2025 where nine of 11 starters will be redshirt juniors or seniors. At the “MIKE” and “SAM” positions have some large athletic profiles with Jack Dingle, at 6-4, 240 pounds and Jake Golday at 6-4, 240 pounds as well. Senior cornerbacks Matthew McDoom and Logan Wilson are the leaders of the secondary and will play a role to help slow down the quarterbacks in the Big 12 and even in the matchup with the Huskers.
With the amount of returning production and transfer portal additions, the Bearcats have a 6.5 projected win total that is certainly reachable. This team could go either way and should be something to keep an eye on this season.
Nebraska-Cincinnati History and Prediction
The week one matchup between Nebraska and Cincinnati will be the two teams’ first matchup since 1906, so it’s the first matchup in modern college football.
So, how will this game go? It’s week one and both teams are in different spots in terms of where they are in their conferences. It could go in a multitude of ways. Nebraska could just dominate this game. Dana Holgorsen’s offense has built off the momentum it built in the final few weeks of last season and the defense doesn’t miss a step. It could also be a very close game and goes down to the final minutes of the game. It shouldn’t be surprising either way.
The Huskers will kickoff the season with a win over the Bearcats and kickstart momentum from last season. Nebraska leads most of the game and keeps it just out of reach for Cincinnati.
Prediction: 30-17 NEB
Main Image: © Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
