Cincinnati vs. Nebraska: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Thursday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Nebraska football team will kick off the 2025 football season on Thursday night in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium vs. Cincinnati.
Can the Huskers win a Power Four season opener for the first time since 2003?
As things get closer to kickoff, here are the keys to victory for NU vs. the Bearcats, along with the HuskerOnline Week 1 score predictions. Nebraska enters today’s game as a 6.5-point favorite against Cincinnati. Thursday night’s game is set for an 8 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN.
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KEYS TO VICTORY: Cincinnati vs. Nebraska
KEY 1: Control early game emotions
Emotions will be high as Nebraska takes the field for the season opener against Cincinnati. Over 90 percent of Arrowhead Stadium is expected to be Husker fans. It will be important for NU not to get too charged up for the Bearcats.
KEY 2: Find a good offensive rhythm to start the game
One of the things I’m most excited about is how Nebraka’s offense under Dana Holgorsen comes out of the gate. I would expect some fresh looks and concepts with Holgorsen and QB Dylan Raiola that we have not seen before. The Huskers need to turn that into early points to start the game.
KEY 3: Early down defense vs. the run
We know what the Bearcats are going to do. They will test the teeth of this new-look Nebraska defensive line. NU must find success on early downs and play within the system, rather than trying to do too much up front and make the big play.
KEY 4: Have a plan for Dontay Corleone
Cincinnati will arguably have one of the best players on the field in defensive tackle Dontay Corleone. What will the plan be for offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and Holgorsen to slow down the All-Big 12 defensive linemen? You have to think Corleone is going to see a lot of double teams.
KEY 5: Make the crowd a factor
It’s a safe bet that we’ll see over 65,000 Nebraska fans at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this type of number on the road by Husker fans. NU needs to make the crowd a factor, especially on key third-down defensive situations, to set the early momentum of the football game.
Expert takes
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Publisher
Cincinnati will try to control the pace of this game and test Nebraska’s young interior defensive line. They will have some early success, but their defense is no match for Dana Holgorsen and the Husker offense. The crowd will also play a factor, fueling the defense to make some key second-half stops and help the Huskers leave with a 14-point win.
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Nebraska 34, Cincinnati 20
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist
This won’t be easy. But Nebraska’s strong offensive line will protect Dylan Raiola well, and Raiola will show signs of becoming what many Husker fans imagined when he chose the Huskers in December of 2023. Also, look for NU to win the special-teams battle.
Nebraska 34, Cincinnati 24
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer
Cincinnati’s top-line talent is cause for concern, but Nebraska’s depth – particularly its offensive line – will be the difference tonight. It might be close early, but I see the Huskers taking control of the line of scrimmage and slamming the door in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska 27, Cincinnati 17
Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
One of the strengths of the 2025 Huskers will be its offensive line — it’s as deep as it has been in years. Thursday is a great test case to show that strength. Nebraska will wear down Cincinnati and the Dana Holgorsen experience will be off and running. The defense will give up some yards and points but do enough to win.
Nebraska 37, Cincinnati 27
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
Nebraska couldn’t possibly have scripted a better opener. It has everything you need: Quality Power Four opponent, on ESPN, in prime time, up against the Buffalo-Minnesota game? Puleeze. And it’s a HOME game. 75,000 at Arrowhead with 74,550 pulling for Nebraska. UC has some things: namely, a vet QB, throwing to an NFL-caliber TE, and a decent transfer WR. UC’s DT Dontay Corleone could start for anybody in the Big Ten. I don’t see long drives for scores, but I do see big plays. It’ll be sloppy (most first games are), but a good start to what needs to be a big year.
Nebraska 28, Cincinnati 17
Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
One of the most consistent trends for Husker football has been under the game total. 10 of NU’s last 14 games have gone under and 6 of the last 7 vs Big 12 opponents. Thursday’s matchup number is at 53.5. I could see a lower number of possessions in the matchup. Last year the Bearcats led the Big 12 in time of possession and once Holgerson took over play calling last season Nebraska seconds per play actually slowed. I like the Huskers to get off to a quick start with the comfortable lead, with Cincy getting a late score to cover the 6.5.
Nebraska 27, Cincinnati 23
HuskerOnline Week 1 Score Predictions
| Week 1 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l Severe |
| Cincinnati vs. Nebraska (-6.5) | 34-20 Nebraska | 34-24 Nebraska | 27-17 Nebraska | 37-27 Nebraska | 28-17 Nebraska | 27-23 Nebraska |
| Texas at Ohio State (-1.5) | 27-23 Ohio State | 34-31 Texas | 31-28 Ohio State | 31-27 Texas | 28-21 Ohio State | 34-28 Texas |
| Alabama at FSU (+13.5) | 31-23 Alabama | 31-24 Alabama | 24-14 Alabama | 24-14 Alabama | 28-20 Alabama | 37-20 Alabama |
| LSU at Clemson (-4) | 34-31 Clemson | 27-24 Clemson | 35-34 LSU | 31-17 Clemson | 28-24 Clemson | 27-24 Clemson |
| Utah at UCLA (+6.5) | 23-17 Utah | 28-13 UCLA | 21-19 UCLA | 27-17 Utah | 35-28 Utah | 27-10 Utah |
| Notre Dame at Miami (+2.5) | 31-27 N. Dame | 28-21 N. Dame | 33-26 N. Dame | 34-31 N. Dame | 27-24 Miami | 38-28 Miami |
Sean Callahan can be reached at [email protected] and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.
