Walker: Nebraska Will Be This Year's Indiana

Charlotte, Western Illinois, Florida International, UCLA, Northwestern, Maryland, and yes...Nebraska. The Hoosiers solidified the start to their season with an absolute thumping of Nebraska to the tune of 56-7. That still hurts to just type, let alone relive. The one win of note for IU in that run was over Michigan in an ugly 20-15 victory. It was the epitome of "a win's a win."

Indiana went on to lose to Ohio State, but finished the regular season 11-1, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. That resulted in a first-round exit at the hands of Notre Dame, but if you ask any fan in Bloomington, it was a season for the ages.

"Who will be the team that's pretty good, really good actually, but their schedule makes them look incredible and better than they actually are?" Walker questioned. "I think it might be Nebraska."

Walker backed up his assessment with some figures.

"Nebraska's bringing back a 5-star quarterback who got thrown into the fire last year, you've got a third-year coach in Matt Rhule who by his third year is usually pretty good," Walker said. "Defense-wise, the defense may need to be re-tooled, but schedule-wise, they might be favored in 10 games."

Walker then proceeded to go through the schedule game by game with some light analysis. He called Cincinnati a "home game" with it being held in Kansas City, and he's not wrong. Ticket sales are surging for the game strongly in favor of Nebraska. (More on that here: Apathy to Arrowhead: Husker Ticket Boom an Indicator)

He pointed out that the next four games are at home for Nebraska, including the team's first two Big Ten games, which are against Michigan and Michigan State.

"I don't really respect Michigan or Michigan State that much this year," Walker said.

He then called Nebraska road games at Maryland and Minnesota "pretty friendly" before calling home contests against Northwestern and USC and a road game at UCLA "winnable games." Walker gave Nebraska its first certain defeat at the hands of Penn State in Happy Valley, and he's certainly not alone in ruling the Huskers out of that one before it even kicks off.

"10-2 is on the table," Walker said. "They're going to be favored 10 times, maybe 11. This schedule is very doable for a team that should take a step forward. If you're looking for a 2024 Indiana, it's Nebraska in the Big Ten."

It sounds like the Kool-Aid delivery has been made at Barstool Sports.