Is 8-4 success? What about 7-5?

Irv · 2025-11-23T10:10:40-0600

I’ve seen some comments that a win on Friday and this season is a success.

How do we feel about that? How do we feel about a 7-5 which, frankly, is the most likely outcome?

To end 8-4, we will have had one devastatingly terrible loss to Minnesota and one surprise win vs Cockeye.

I guess you can argue that is a success in that it is not an obvious failure. But 5-4 in conference in a year that you don’t play any of the top 3 seems like the absolute minimum you should be hoping for.

On other hand, 7-5 is an abject failure. 5-5 vs power conference teams and 4-5 in conference where you avoided the powerhouses entirely is a completely wasted opportunity and is really not an improvement from a 6-6 when you played OSU and Indiana.

I was very pro-Rhule before Minnesota, but this season feels like a giant red flag.

We are probably going to have to accept that the goal every year is 6 wins and a bowl, and hope that every now and then we can put it all together and get 9 wins and make a run at a 28-team playoff.*

*BTW no program needs an expanded playoff more than Nebraska. We should be pimping it at every opportunity.

Fargo Husker · 2025-11-23T10:13:03-0600

I predicted we would go 7-5 before the season.

No, I do not think that is real progress/success.

Sous Chef · 2025-11-23T10:14:39-0600

If we beat Cockeye I'll call it a success. Win the bowl game too and most definitely a success. I don't anticipate either happening though.

Mr.Bojangles · 2025-11-23T10:21:20-0600

Irv said:
I’ve seen some comments that a win on Friday and this season is a success.

How do we feel about that? How do we feel about a 7-5 which, frankly, is the most likely outcome?

To end 8-4, we will have had one devastatingly terrible loss to Minnesota and one surprise win vs Cockeye.

I guess you can argue that is a success in that it is not an obvious failure. But 5-4 in conference in a year that you don’t play any of the top 3 seems like the absolute minimum you should be hoping for.

On other hand, 7-5 is an abject failure. 5-5 vs power conference teams and 4-5 in conference where you avoided the powerhouses entirely is a completely wasted opportunity and is really not an improvement from a 6-6 when you played OSU and Indiana.

I was very pro-Rhule before Minnesota, but this season feels like a giant red flag.

We are probably going to have to accept that the goal every year is 6 wins and a bowl, and hope that every now and then we can put it all together and get 9 wins and make a run at a 28-team playoff.*

*BTW no program needs an expanded playoff more than Nebraska. We should be pimping it at every opportunity.

How do we get a win on Friday when we are better off not fielding a defense on a running play and just hope the rb trips. Cockeye is licking their chops at this point. Way too easy for them.

TampaBaySkers · 2025-11-23T10:21:30-0600

I think most here will admit the schedule was far easier than anyone thought it would be . 7-5 is a massive failure.

Mr.Bojangles · 2025-11-23T10:23:11-0600

TampaBaySkers said:
I think most here will admit the schedule was far easier than anyone thought it would be . 7-5 is a massive failure.

Yeah just wait til next season. 😆🤢

SlumpBuster · 2025-11-23T10:25:34-0600

I think you're mincing two words.

Progress is a better word than success.

We go 8-4 (or especially 9-4) and it's no doubt progress.

7-5 (or worse 7-6) and it could definitely be argued no progress and a failure.

The "easy schedule" things is a little overplayed. Our schedule isn't absolutely horrible, it's just average (around #60 SoS IIRC).

HCFord1 · 2025-11-23T10:25:48-0600

We just have to steadily improve. We’re not at a place yet where we’re beyond having a bad game or two, but they have to come out and play well against Cockeye or this offseason is going to be rough.

For the most part Rhule has raised the floor of the program to where we’re now beating a majority of the teams with inferior talent than us, but he hasn’t been successful in elevating the ceiling, where we’re either beating more talented teams or stockpiling enough talent to make it an even fight. That has to happen next.

If they can beat Cockeye it would be laughable to call the season a failure. Going from 5-7 to 6-6 to 8-4 would be undeniable progress.

Alcaus · 2025-11-23T10:26:38-0600

8-4 is a success, 7-5 is a disappointment.

Curious how these last few games would’ve turned out with Dylan playing.

ThomOsborneMD · 2025-11-23T10:26:42-0600

I think last night was a terrible loss.

8-4 is ok
7-5 is a failure with this schedule.

ThomOsborneMD · 2025-11-23T10:27:17-0600

Alcaus said:
8-4 is a success, 7-5 is a disappointment.

Curious how these last few games would’ve turned out with Dylan playing.

Last night probably not different. I think they’d have a better chance against Cockeye with Ravioli

Cash68847 · 2025-11-23T10:27:26-0600

TampaBaySkers said:
I think most here will admit the schedule was far easier than anyone thought it would be . 7-5 is a massive failure.

I think most rational people could see before the year this would be one of our easiest schedules we have had in awhile and going forward. Rhule didn’t take advantage of it, and next year could be a Bowl less season if Rhule doesn’t get some things figured out this offseason.

vailhusker · 2025-11-23T10:27:52-0600

7-5 would be a failure but some fans will talk themselves into thinking its progress.

SlumpBuster · 2025-11-23T10:30:15-0600

ThomOsborneMD said:
Last night probably not different. I think they’d have a better chance against Cockeye with Ravioli

I like Dylan but I agree Dylan isn't beating PSU last night

HCFord1 · 2025-11-23T10:30:57-0600

ThomOsborneMD said:
I think last night was a terrible loss.

8-4 is ok
7-5 is a failure with this schedule.

Can we pause and consider the fact that the line between okay and failure is one game apparently?

If Raiola doesn’t get hurt and we beat USC, but then get butt fucked by Penn State and lose at home to Cockeye, is that really so much better than losing Raiola mid game at USC and losing that game, with everything else playing out the same?

PonyBoy · 2025-11-23T10:32:28-0600

The schedule allowed us to go 9-3 or 10-2. Not a single "upset" win while getting smoked by Minnesota, and embarrassed by a Penn State team that is 1-5 with an interim head coach, isn't going to cut it.

This off-season is a critical one for Rhule.

Sous Chef · 2025-11-23T10:33:22-0600

HCFord1 said:
Can we pause and consider the fact that the line between okay and failure is one game apparently?

If Raiola doesn’t get hurt and we beat USC, but then get butt fucked by Penn State and lose at home to Cockeye, is that really so much better than losing Raiola mid game at USC and losing that game, with everything else playing out the same?

The goal is to win the games you play. If you want to introduce any other metric and play the what if game to celebrate your losses as improvement it's wishful thinking plain and simple.

Blakejc · 2025-11-23T10:35:29-0600

7-5 is a stalemate. 8-4 is progress. Not sure anyone appreciates how freaking easy this schedule was. We may not see anything like it for several years. If we had Wisconsin’s schedule we might be same as them sitting at 4-7.

ThomOsborneMD · 2025-11-23T10:36:01-0600

Alcaus said:
8-4 is a success, 7-5 is a disappointment.

Curious how these last few games would’ve turned out with Dylan

HCFord1 said:
Can we pause and consider the fact that the line between okay and failure is one game apparently?

If Raiola doesn’t get hurt and we beat USC, but then get butt fucked by Penn State and lose at home to Cockeye, is that really so much better than losing Raiola mid game at USC and losing that game, with everything else playing out the same?

Have draw a hypothetical line somewhere for this subjective question, no? The game will have direct bowl game implications. Not that bowls matter much but it will.

ThomOsborneMD · 2025-11-23T10:37:33-0600

Blakejc said:
7-5 is a stalemate. 8-4 is progress. Not sure anyone appreciates how freaking easy this schedule was. We may not see anything like it for several years. If we had Wisconsin’s schedule we might be same as them sitting at 4-7.

Wow I didn’t realize how brutal wiscys schedule was. 4-7 would be optimistic for us with that schedule.

Is 8-4 success? What about 7-5?

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