Which team would Nebraska fans want to beat this fall?

The Huskers’ 2024 football season will begin in just over 20 days when NU hosts UTEP on Saturday, Aug. 31. Not since 2019 has Nebraska opened the season with a win. It was a 35-21 home win over Arkansas State. Last year, NU lost at Minnesota in the season opener. In 2022, it lost to Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland. In 2021, it lost at Illinois. In the Covid year of 2020, it was a loss at Ohio State that kicked off the season.

UTEP’s first home game of the year could help the Huskers get off to a 1-0 start.

Notably, for the first time since joining the Big Ten conference in 2011, Nebraska will not face either Northwestern or Minnesota this season. Obviously, when four PAC-12 teams were added to the Big Ten this year, some schedule changes were inevitable.

What I want to know is which of the Huskers’ next four opponents (Colorado, Iowa, Ohio State or USC) would Huskers fans want to beat this year?

The teams are listed alphabetically. To help you decide, I’ve listed some key points about each team.

1.) Colorado Buffaloes. September 7

*Nebraska has lost 3 straight games to the Buffies.

*The Huskers have never lost 4 straight games to CU.

*Neon Deion Sanders is in his second year at Colorado.

*CU beat NU last year in Boulder 36-14

*CU’s record last year was 4-8

2.) Iowa Hawkeyes @Iowa City Friday, November 29

*In the last nine meetings between these two teams, the Huskers are 1-8.

*The Hawkeyes had the worst passing offense in the country last season.

*Iowa’s record last year was 10-4.

*The Huskers’ last win was in 2022 in Iowa City (24-17)

3.) Ohio State @Columbus Saturday, October 26

*Favorite to win the conference this year

*Last year’s record was 11-2.

*NU is 1-9 against the Buckeyes.

*The Huskers’ last win was in Lincoln in 2011.

4.) USC @Los Angeles, November 16

*NU has never beaten the Trojans.

*The Huskers are 0-4-1 in the series.

*The tie occurred in 1970, NU’s first national championship year.

*This will be USC’s first year in the Big Ten.

In this week’s episode, Will and I preview the 2024 Huskers football season and discuss the Big Ten preseason rankings.

Be sure to include the reasons for your choice. Send me your responses at [email protected]. I will publish the best ones in an upcoming column. Again, send me your response at [email protected].