Hurrdat Sports Live host Ravi Lulla lays out four games he believes Nebraska has to win in 2025—and why each one matters beyond the box score. From the neutral-site opener to rivalry week, his list focuses on tone-setting, response tests and beating the programs Nebraska needs to pass to climb the Big Ten ladder.
Cincinnati at Arrowhead — start fast, no excuses
Ravi doesn’t dance around this one: the opener is non-negotiable. Arrowhead will feel heavily pro-Nebraska, and starting 1–0 is about more than a clean record—it’s about setting the right tone for the Matt Rhule era in 2025. This is the first statement the Huskers get to make; it needs to land.
Week 5 vs. Michigan State — respond like a grown-up team
Whatever happens the week prior against Michigan, Week 5 is the real gut check. Ravi frames it as a response game: a must-win whether Nebraska is coming off a high or licking its wounds. How the Huskers handle that first real swing of emotion will tell us volumes about their ceiling.
Week 7 at Minnesota (Friday night) — pass the teams in your lane
It’s weird timing, it’s on the road, and Minnesota has been a thorn. All the more reason Ravi circles it. If Nebraska is serious about moving up the conference pecking order, the Huskers have to pass programs like the Gophers—especially in tricky spots like a Friday nighter in Minneapolis. Handle this, and you’re checking off a long-standing to-do.
Season finale vs. Iowa — the benchmark game
Like it or not, Iowa is a measuring stick for where Nebraska stands. Ravi calls the finale a must because it captures progress in one afternoon. Beat Iowa—and if you’ve already handled Minnesota—you’ve shown real movement from 2024 to 2025. It’s the clearest snapshot of how far the program has come.
The big picture
Ravi’s list isn’t just about picking four wins—it’s about who you beat and when you beat them: set the tone early, respond like a mature team, leap the middle of the league, and plant a flag against your benchmark. Nail those four moments, and the season’s arc starts pointing exactly where Husker fans want it to go.
