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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the Big Ten's top 10 nonconference games in 2025
Ranking the Big Ten's top 10 nonconference games in 2025 Many Big Ten teams have opted to take a conservative approach to nonconference scheduling following the recent round of conference realignment and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams. As a result, several programs don't have a power conference opponent on their out-of-conference slate. For example, Penn State was originally scheduled to host Virginia Tech this season on the back half of a home-and-home series, but the first battle, supposed to take place in Blacksburg in 2020, was canceled due to COVID-19. After the initial matchup was canned, the two were unable to find a solution and removed the second game as well. Other schools face similar situations, while some just opted to make their nonconference schedule as easy as possible, valuing wins as they battle for a playoff spot. Still, there are several high-quality battles slated for the 2025 season, including some highly anticipated Big Ten-SEC crossovers with bragging rights on the line. Here's a look at the top 10 nonconference matchups for Big Ten teams heading into the season. No. 10: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati, Aug. 28 The Cornhuskers are coming off their first bowl appearance since 2016, finishing last season at 7-6 after defeating Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Hopes are high that Matt Rhule can do what he's done at several previous stops, continuing to elevate a Cornhusker program that's failed to meet expectations in recent years. With star quarterback Dylan Raiola at the helm, Nebraska hosts Cincinnati, which made the move to the Big 12 two seasons ago and has struggled to compete. Though the Wildcats aren't a big brand, this matchup still represents a battle between power conference opponents, which has become increasingly rare in the modern era. No. 9: Minnesota at Cal, Sept. 13 The Golden Gophers round out their nonconference slate with a trip to the West Coast to take on Cal, which enters its second season as a member of the ACC. The teams have met six times previously, most recently in 2009, with the Golden Bears holding a 4-2 advantage in the head-to-head series. Both teams went through ups and downs last season but earned bowl eligibility, leaving the potential for this to be an entertaining game. Both head coaches are looking to return their program to where it was a few years back, with Minnesota winning nine or more games in three of four seasons from 2019-2022 and Cal peaking at eight wins under Wilcox in 2019. No. 8: UCLA vs. Utah, Aug. 30 Two former Pac-12 comrades will meet once more, this time with the Bruins in the Big Ten and Utah in the Big 12. The two have lots of recent history, and both are searching for better seasons after reaching just five wins in 2024. Though they now wear different conference patches on their jerseys, this regional rivalry could provide some fireworks in Week 1. No. 7: Illinois at Duke, Sept. 6 Two traditional basketball powers will clash on the gridiron in early September, with the Fighting Illini and Blue Devils both looking to continue a recent string of football success. A few years ago, both programs would be viewed as bottom-dwellers within their conferences, but that's changed recently. Both teams average over seven wins across the last three seasons and are primed for more success in 2025. Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini are coming off a 10-win campaign capped off with a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, while the Blue Devils went 9-3 before losing to Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. No. 6: Wisconsin at Alabama, Sept. 13 The Badgers have taken a step back during Luke Fickell's first two seasons leading the program, and a brutal conference slate leaves a bleak outlook in Madison. Still, if the Badgers show improvement and get a few bounces, they could give the Crimson Tide a run for their money in a clash between the two super conferences. Regardless of the apparent mismatch on paper, this matchup will be better than most throughout the early weeks of next season. No. 5: Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, Sept. 6 The Ducks have been involved in some big nonconference matchups in recent years, including against Ohio State, Georgia and Auburn. This year, they'll host Oklahoma State from the Big-12, a team that struggled last year but had consistently put together solid seasons throughout the last couple decades. If the Cowboys can return to their 10-win ways that have become the norm under Mike Gundy, this could prove to be a major matchup and the first real test of Oregon's season. No. 4: Iowa at Iowa State, Sept. 6 Though neither program is a blue blood, both could easily be ranked to begin next season, providing the potential for a big game. Though they took a slight step back in 2024, the Hawkeyes have won at least eight games every year since 2016, and there's little reason to believe that trend won't continue in 2025. Pair that with the Cyclones, who are coming off Big-12 championship game appearance, and this could be one of the biggest games in the long history of the rivalry. No. 3: Michigan at Oklahoma, Sept. 6 It's fair to say neither team lived up to expectations last season, with the Wolverines following a national championship season by dropping to 8-5 in Sherrone Moore's first year as full-time head coach, while the Sooners fell from 10-3 in 2023 to 6-7 in 2024. Still, these are two blue bloods who've only met once before, an Oklahoma victory in 1976, making for a historic matchup. Both squads fully believe they can push for a playoff appearance this season, and a win in this game would go a long way toward that goal or be the reason one team falls short of it. No. 2: USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 18 Despite recent headlines about their inability to come to an agreement on scheduling future matchups, the two blue blood programs are slated to clash in 2025. The Trojans suffered a down year in 2024 at 7-6, while Notre Dame made a run to the national championship game before running into the buzzsaw that was Ohio State. Both schools have stacked strong recruiting classes and are expected to compete for playoff bids, leading to a likely top-25 matchup. Additionally, these two always tend to play each other tough in one of the nation's most storied rivalries. No. 1: Ohio State vs. Texas Aug. 30 In a rematch of last year's College Football Playoff thriller, the Buckeyes and Longhorns will clash in Columbus in a highly anticipated rematch, and easily the top nonconference game of the year. Per most betting sites, these teams have the two best odds to win the national championship this season. With star power across the board, huge name brands and an exciting rematch from last year's postseason, this game figures to be electric.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rumor Mill: Top prospects head to Nebraska for Hudl Future Forum
LINCOLN, Neb. – Some of the top high school football players from around the country came to Lincoln over the weekend. They were gathered at Hudl Headquarters for the Hudl Future Forum. The event featured a keynote speech from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, several panels and more. Many of the prospects in attendance made their first trip to Nebraska and were blown away by the town and facilities they also got to tour. Rivals was on hand to speak with some of the players to get the latest with their recruitments. Advertisement CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info The Georgia native is close to being a top-100 player in the 2027 recruiting class. So he's hearing from a lot of good programs right now, including Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska and South Carolina. He's looking for the coaching staff that will feel like father figures since he'll be away from home. Advertisement He will probably commit during his junior season or shortly after completing this upcoming season. Fakatou has really blown up over the last year. The 2028 prospect has been overwhelmed with the process but currently Oregon and Notre Dame are two programs that have his interest early on. The coaching styles of both Dan Lanning and Marcus Freeman is something that will hold his attention throughout his recruitment. Hudson was the star of the Battle at the Boneyard 7-on-7 tournament Friday night. He was dominant during the tournament even though he admitted he was nervous heading into it. He's being recruited by all the best football and basketball programs in the country. That's important to him because he wants to play both in college. Advertisement Texas A&M, LSU and Florida are early standouts. He did pick up the Nebraska basketball offer while in Lincoln, too. Early playing time will also be a big factor in his recruitment. The Florida native spent a lot of the weekend with Trae Taylor and Ahmad Hudson as Taylor is recruiting them both to Nebraska. Those relationships are growing but Tennessee, Florida, Miami and Florida State are also making Matthews a priority. Matthews says that distance won't be a factor in his recruitment even though it has a Southeast feel to it. The plan right now is to commit at the beginning of his senior season. But he did leave the door open if he finds the right fit before then. Streets has shot up recruiting boards after a monster sophomore year. He named the defensive line coaches at South Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Florida State as a handful of coaches standing out to him. Advertisement His recruitment will come down to development, coach stability and how comfortable his family feels with the school he wants to choose. Taylor has his recruiting hat on in a major way for the Huskers now that he is in the 2027 class. Throughout the weekend Taylor has been attached at the hip to a pair of the best players in the 2027 class. Louisiana tight end Ahmad Hudson and Florida offensive tackle Mark Matthews were both in town for the 7-on-7 event and the Hudl event. Taylor believes if he can help Nebraska land them both, a top-five recruiting class could be coming to Lincoln in his cycle. Warren has been a player on the rise this offseason. The quarterback from Omaha Westside in Nebraska just took a camp swing to Florida State, Illinois and LSU. He'll take a visit to Ohio State to camp with them this upcoming week. Advertisement He picked up an offer from Florida State after a camp in Tallahassee and was impressed with the coaching staff there. The relationship with the Illinois staff is one to watch as well. His recruitment is really just getting started but he's gaining more interest by the week. Washington is a top-15 prospect in the 2027 Rivals250 and is part of a loaded group of defensive backs out West for his class. He's been on a lot of campuses and talked to plenty of coaching staffs. But what he's looking for is a position coach that will keep it real with him all the time, and he feels like he's found that so far at Nebraska, Ohio State and USC. Webb-Scott has been to a lot of programs around the Southeast, including South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Auburn. All these programs love his size and speed combination because he can bend well and turn the corner. Advertisement He's looking for a position coach to stay locked in with him all the way up until it's time for him to sign. But he also wants the right scheme fit. He'd like to play in a 3-3-5 or 4-3 that will allow him to use his skills off the edge. Williams is one of the top defenders in the 2027 class. The top corner in the country has offers from coast-to-coast. He's complimentary of a lot of programs with Texas A&M, Georgia, Washington, Oregon and Alabama all in the mix for him. But it's USC and UCLA that I have my eye on the most in his recruitment. The Trojans led now but he'll be back in Westwood on Sunday to give the Bruins another chance to impress.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pat McAfee Names College Football QB That Is ‘Going To Be A Star' In 2025
The 2025 college football season is still months away and there are a lot of new faces with several superstar quarterbacks heading to the NFL. Moreover, a lot of signal-callers have found new homes, including Carson Beck going from Georgia to Miami (FL). Advertisement On Friday, "The Pat McAfee Show" had ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel on the set, and the topic of college football quarterbacks came up. In the process, McAfee spoke highly of one specific quarterback: Nebraska Cornhuskers QB Dylan Raiola. Raiola is entering his second season and had an up-and-down freshman campaign for the Cornhuskers. However, McAfee had some high praise for Raiola going into Year 2. Nebraska QB Dylan Lebryk-Imagn Images 'That Dylan kid was, it was great," McAfee said. "I enjoyed the way he was operating. He just has like a star kind of vibe about him." "I think Dylan Raiola is going to be a star next year," McAfee added. Advertisement Raiola threw for 2,819 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his freshman season, which isn't exactly what many were hoping for. Nebraska went 7-6 overall and 3-6 in the tough Big Ten Conference, and the final game of the season was a win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. Raioa, who was a former five-star and one of the top quarterbacks in his recruiting class, has all the pieces necessary to take a giant step forward in his second year and beyond. So, only time will tell if McAfee is right, but there is a reason Raiola was a five-star prospect. Related: Patrick Mahomes Praises Nebraska QB
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: Michigan State, Nebraska, Illinois
Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith has predictions on Michigan State keeping a critical commit in the fold, a big season ahead for a certain Big Ten quarterback and Illinois getting early help from a key 2025 signee. RELATED: Surprise! Oregon lands five-star DE Richard Wesley CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker KAYD COFFMAN STICKS WITH MICHIGAN STATE There haven't been many quarterbacks around the country that have had as strong of an offseason as Kayd Coffman. The Michigan State commit was very close to receiving an automatic invite to the Elite11 Finals with a strong performance at regional camp. He followed that up with an MVP performance at the UA Next Camp in Ohio. Advertisement He continues to draw interest from other programs. Ohio State has been pursuing him but recently Colorado put down an offer for him. Still, I'm predicting that the Michigan native sticks with the Spartans and signs with coach Jonathan Smith in December. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MICHIGAN STATE FANS AT DYLAN RAIOLA HAS A BREAKOUT SEASON FOR NEBRASKA © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images During the 2024 season Nebraska accomplished its overall team goal: make a bowl game. Now is the time for the Huskers to make the next step as a program under coach Matt Rhule. If that step happens it'll be in part because former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola took a leap. Advertisement Raiola had a solid freshman year throwing for 2,819 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. I'm expecting Raiola to eclipse 3,000 yards passing with at least 25 touchdown passes in 2025. The team has a host of new weapons for him to throw to. There were a couple nice portal additions along the offensive line too. The coaching staff has also been upgraded to help. This should be a big year for Raiola and the Huskers. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NEBRASKA FANS AT BRAYDEN TRIMBLE CATCHES 30-PLUS PASSES AS A FRESHMAN Nick Lucero/ Brayden Trimble is looking like a steal for the Illini based on the early reviews of his game down in Champaign. We had the wideout rated as a high three-star at the end of last recruiting cycle but he could have easily been higher. He was a top performer at the Rivals Camp Series in Indianapolis a couple of years ago displaying a large catch radius and strong hands. Advertisement Illinois is replacing a lot of production this year making it a ripe opportunity for Trimble to step in and get a lot of snaps. I've got him going over 30 catches and having a season similar to last year's Big Ten freshman receiver surprise Nick Marsh. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ILLINOIS FANS AT
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Nebraska quarterback signs NIL deal with Adidas
Nebraska quarterback signs NIL deal with Adidas A Nebraska quarterback has signed a new NIL deal. Sophomore Dylan Raiola has signed a deal with Adidas. Last season, Raiola played in all 13 games for the Cornhuskers. He threw for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while leading Nebraska to its first bowl game after a seven-year drought. He set the record for most passing yards and highest completion percentage by a freshman in Nebraska football history. In a statement to the media, Raiola says he looks forward to joining the Adidas family and building the next era of Nebraska football. 'Heading into my second season, the goal remains the same: help build the next era of Nebraska football and leave a legacy that makes our fans proud. Joining the elite family of athletes at Adidas is a tremendous honor, and their support strengthens the journey as we continue building something special in Lincoln.' Nebraska has a relationship with Adidas. The apparel company and the school are currently in the midst of an 11-year, $128 million contract signed in 2017. Raiola has preexisting deals with Campus Ink, EA Sports, and Panini America per On3. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
