Nebraska’s 2027 football schedule? Yeah, forget everything you thought you knew. Athletic Director Troy Dannen just dropped a bombshell on Tuesday night radio, basically saying that schedule is written in pencil and the eraser is coming out, big time. We’re talking about a complete overhaul, and it’s all thanks to the looming College Football Playoff expansion.
The 24-Team Playoff Reality Check
The talk around the league is that the College Football Playoff is almost certainly expanding to 24 teams next season. That’s a huge shift, and apparently, it’s coming with a new rule that could shake up schedules across the country: teams will likely need to play 10 Power Four opponents to even be eligible. And guess what? Nebraska is one of only five Big Ten teams that doesn’t have that tenth Power Four team on its 2027 schedule. That’s a massive problem, and Dannen is already on it. He’s gone straight to the three current non-conference opponents and told them they’re on the chopping block, making it clear they’ll need to be flexible enough to change weeks if they want to keep a game with the Huskers. But don’t think it’s just about finding that one extra game. Dannen himself said he’s had “three or four conversations about different opponents” and it’s not just about teams needing a tenth Power Four game. He even hinted at “wheeling and dealing to get other matchups set, freeing someone else up and putting that together.” So yeah, anything is on the table.
Unearthing Old Hatreds and Classic Rivalries
If I were calling the shots, the first name on the list to fill that schedule void, or maybe just to inject some pure, unadulterated passion, would be **Colorado**. Seriously, the hate between these two programs is unlike anything else. It’s not one of those rivalries built on mutual respect, like Oklahoma or Iowa. This is zero respect. If you doubt that, just try wearing red to a Nebraska-Colorado game in Boulder. You’ll get it. While Nebraska has some big Power Four opponents like Arizona, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame locked up for after 2027, the Colorado game needs to happen every single year. Keep that hate flowing!
Another no-brainer? **Kansas**. Right now, Kansas actually needs a Power Four opponent for their 2027 schedule, which makes this a perfect home-and-home setup to bring back some serious Big 12 vibes. The drive from Lawrence to Lincoln is only about three hours and fifteen minutes, so you know both fan bases would show up big. Before Nebraska moved to the Big Ten, the Kansas-Nebraska series was college football’s longest uninterrupted rivalry, playing every year from 1906 to 2010. It’s also a good reminder of those Mark Mangino-led Kansas teams. That 2007 squad, ranked 5th in defense and 14th in scoring in the entire country, was something else. Mangino leading Kansas to that level was, without a doubt, the greatest single-season coaching achievement of our lifetime, and frankly, I don’t think it’s even arguable.
The 2027 season might seem far off, but for Nebraska fans, Dannen’s moves are already setting the stage for what could be the most intense schedule in years. Get ready for some serious wheeling and dealing, because the Big Red is going to need some heavy hitters to get into that 24-team playoff picture.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply