Nebraska (5-0, 2-0) will look to end its 30-game losing streak against ranked opponents when defending national champion and No. 7-ranked Indiana come to Lincoln.
As kickoff approaches, here are the keys to the Huskers’ victory over the Hoosiers, plus our HuskerOnline score predictions for Week 6.
NU enters today’s game as a 7.5 point underdog against IU. Saturday’s game begins at 11 a.m. CT on FOX’s big kickoff at noon.
***SIGN UP FOR HUSKERONLINE TODAY! – GET 60% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR***
KEYS TO VICTORY: Maryland vs. Nebraska
KEY 1: Develop an offensive identity
It goes without saying: If you want to be the defending national champion with just two losses in the last three seasons, against Ohio State and Notre Dame, you better have a plan. Nebraska needs to come up with a great offensive game plan and develop the identity with which they want to try to win this game.
KEY 2: Limit IU’s explosive plays in the ground game
The Hoosiers will enter Memorial Stadium with one of the most explosive running games in the country, with a pair of backs each capable of surpassing 100 yards. Slowing down that ground game and limiting explosive plays will be as key as anything for the Huskers.
KEY 3: Winning in coverage against Becker and Marsh
Nebraska has seen its share of good receivers so far this season, but nothing like this Charlie Becker And Nick Marsh from Indiana. The teams didn’t really go after Andrew Marshall on the cover. The Hoosiers will. Can Marshall and other NU DBs win these matchups?
KEY 4: Adapting to Indiana Adjustments
Curt Cignetti is the best in the industry. You know he scouted Nebraska well for this game. What will its adjustments be? And better yet, how will NU adapt to these adjustments?
KEY 5: Give the crowd a reason to attend that football game
Games at 11 a.m. can be tough. Nebraska needs to come out early and make some plays to get the crowd into the game. The field has to be a factor for the Huskers to win this game.
The expert takes
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Publisher
It will be a back and forth battle. Both teams will have their moments, but some big sparks from Anthony Colandrea and a pumped-up Memorial Stadium crowd will help Nebraska to a 1-point win over Indiana.
Nebraska 31, Indiana 30
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline Columnist
Yes, it plays out until the end. Nebraska will need its best overall performance of the season and will get it in large part thanks to Anthony Colandrea, an opportunistic defense and a special teams squad that more than carries its weight. Colandrea will have to make plays throughout the sequence. Have you seen anything that suggests he can’t do that?
Nebraska 28, Indiana 24
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline Senior Editor
You all know the stats: Nebraska has lost 30 straight games to ranked opponents and hasn’t beaten a top 10 team in a decade. History is clearly not on the Huskers’ side in this one. I stay in need-to-see-it-before-you-believe-it mode with NU. I certainly think Nebraska has a recipe for an upset today, with Anthony Colandrea being the X factor. However, I think Indiana is the superior team and has played and won countless games like this under Curt Cignetti.
Indiana 34, Nebraska 24
Andy Kenleigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
Meet the moment. Can the Huskers respond at this point? Who can run best on a windy and hot Saturday afternoon in Lincoln? Nebraska returns to full strength and will find a way to handle it enough to finally end a 10-year winless streak against ranked teams.
Nebraska 31, Indiana 28
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
Clear the aperitif plates, it’s time for the starter. “Nebraska gets Matt Rhule’s first and REAL validation play”. And the conditions couldn’t be more favorable. No injuries, home game, IU was untested and yes, the Huskers have the horses to make big plays, which will be needed against an Indiana front seven that might be the best in the Big 10. The problem is timing. Will Colandrea succeed? Will Rhule succeed? Who has the most pressure? Who will feel it? I’m thinking of Nebraska. This one will be decided by something bad happening in the 4th quarter.
Indiana 28, Nebraska 20
Microphone’I Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
Nebraska had so many opportunities to get the monkey off their backs against a ranked opponent. In most of them, they came close; NU forced at least one turnover and did well on defense on third down. (Michigan and USC 2025, Ohio State and Illinois 2024, 2023 Iowa). But Indiana has only lost one fumble so far this season, and Josh Hoover has no interceptions. All bets are off when you have a QB like Colandrea who can extend the play and win in the red zone. If NU borrows from Northwestern’s fast-paced game plan, I think they can take advantage of IU’s average pass defense (allowing 9.8 yards per attempt in conference).
Indiana 30, Nebraska 23
HuskerOnline predictions for week 6
| Week 6 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l severe |
| Indiana at Nebraska (+7.5) | 31-30 Nebraska | 28-24 Nebraska | 34-24 Indiana | 31-28 Nebraska | 28-20 Indiana | 30-23 Indiana |
| UCLA at Oregon (-11.5) | 31-27 Oregon | 38-21 Oregon | 41-38 Oregon | 37-35 Oregon | 42-24 Oregon | 34-20 Oregon |
| Illinois at Michigan State (+2.5) | 23-20 Illinois | 21-17 Michigan State | 27-21 Illinois | 21-17 Michigan State | 24-14 Illinois | 24-20 Illinois |
| USC at Penn State (-1.5) | 31-27 U.S.C. | 27-24 U.S.C. | 35-27 U.S.C. | 27-24 Power supply | 28-24 Power supply | 24-21 U.S.C. |
| Georgia at Alabama (-1.5) | 34-30 Georgia | 27-21 Georgia | 20-17 Alabama | 34-31 Georgia | 35-31 Georgia | 27-24 Alabama |
| Texas A&M at Missouri (-3.5) | 27-20 Missouri | 31-21 Missouri | 24-19 Missouri | 31-17 Missouri | 31-27 Missouri | 24-20 Missouri |
Updated ranking
| Picker | Straight ahead | vs propagation | Cumulative |
| Robin Washut | 23-7 | 18-12 | 41 |
| Sean Callahan | 21-9 | 18-12 | 39 |
| Mike’l severe | 20-10 | 17-13 | 37 |
| Andy Kendeigh | 20-10 | 17-13 | 37 |
| Jim Rose | 20-10 | 16-14 | 36 |
| Steven Sipple | 16-14 | 15-15 | 31 |
Past winners
| Year | Overall Pick Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Robin Washut |
| 2024 | Andy Kendeigh |
| 2023 | Sean Callahan |
| 2022 | Mike’l severe |
Sean Callahan can be contacted at (email protected) and is heard daily at 6:45 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during football season. It can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha in the fall, and each week he appears on the Nebraska Public Media show Big red abstract Tuesday at 7 p.m..
Never miss the latest news or another article from HuskerOnline again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline’s daily and breaking news newsletters.
Gn headline
