Nebraska: 2026 Week 12 recap

Nebraska's rating slipped a point this week to 14.4, dropping them to 23rd as the program sits at 5–4 following a 24–13 loss at Illinois in Week 10. The defeat exposed a core offensive weakness: a red-zone TD rate of only 16% means Nebraska is leaving points on the board when it matters most. Third-down conversions at 41% and fourth-down aggression at 43% suggest the offense lacks both consistency and the ability to manufacture crucial yardage. GIE projects 6.3 expected wins for the season, with playoff probability now at zero and conference title odds equally dim. Nebraska heads to Rutgers in Week 11 needing to stack wins, but the trajectory points downward without a significant offensive reset.