Nebraska at Utah - 2025 Matchup Preview

Wednesday, December 31st 2025 (3:30 PM EST)
Utah -13.5 (51.5) (0) Open: 0.0
Utah 44 - Nebraska: 22 (SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl)

Cornhuskers (7 - 6) (4 - 9 - 0)
Coach Matt Rhule (11 - 13)
Avg Score : 29 - 25 (20 - 28 on Road)
Record Prediction: 7.1 - 5.9 (#69)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Bowl Game Opt Outs
Our Line: Utah -15.5 (SP+ UTAH -16)
Projected Score: NEB: 19 - UTAH: 35 (54)
UTAH Win prob: 84% | Cover: 56%
NEB Travel: 1440 miles, 2 hrs ahead

Utes (11 - 2) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Kyle Whittingham (167 - 86)
Avg Score : 41 - 19 (44 - 20 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 10.9 - 2.1 (#13)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
Bowls
NEB Players
UTAH Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Nebraska's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/28	Nebraska vs Cincinnati	-6.5	52.5	W 20 - 17	U	N
Sat 9/6	Nebraska vs Akron	-34.0	47.5	W 68 - 0	O	Y
Sat 9/13	Nebraska vs Houston Christian	-48.5	58.5	W 59 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/20	Nebraska vs Michigan	+1.5	47.5	L 27 - 30	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/4	Nebraska vs Michigan State	-12.5	48.5	W 38 - 27	O	N
Sat 10/11	Nebraska at Maryland	-7.0	47.5	W 34 - 31	O	N
Fri 10/17	Nebraska at Minnesota	-7.0	47.5	L 6 - 24	U	N
Sat 10/25	Nebraska vs Northwestern	-7.5	44.5	W 28 - 21	O	N
Sat 11/1	Nebraska vs USC	+4.5	59.5	L 17 - 21	U	Y
Sat 11/8	Nebraska at UCLA	+1.5	45.5	W 28 - 21	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/22	Nebraska at Penn State	+7.5	45.5	L 10 - 37	O	N
Fri 11/28	Nebraska vs Iowa	+5.5	38.5	L 16 - 40	O	N
Wed 12/31	Nebraska vs Utah	+13.5	51.5	L 22 - 44	O	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Nebraska's Schedule

Utah's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/30	Utah at UCLA	-6.5	50.5	W 43 - 10	O	Y
Sat 9/6	Utah vs Cal Poly	-42.5	53.5	W 63 - 9	O	Y
Sat 9/13	Utah at Wyoming	-24.5	47.5	W 31 - 6	U	Y
Sat 9/20	Utah vs Texas Tech	-3.5	58.5	L 10 - 34	U	N
Sat 9/27	Utah at West Virginia	-13.5	46.5	W 48 - 14	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/11	Utah vs Arizona State	-9.5	44.5	W 42 - 10	O	Y
Sat 10/18	Utah at BYU	-4.0	49.5	L 21 - 24	U	N
Sat 10/25	Utah vs Colorado	-14.5	50.5	W 53 - 7	O	Y
Sat 11/1	Utah vs Cincinnati	-11.5	57.5	W 45 - 14	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/15	Utah at Baylor	-9.5	60.5	W 55 - 28	O	Y
Sat 11/22	Utah vs Kansas State	-18.5	52.5	W 51 - 47	O	N
Fri 11/28	Utah at Kansas	-10.5	59.5	W 31 - 21	U	N
Wed 12/31	Utah vs Nebraska	-13.5	51.5	W 44 - 22	O	Y

Important Stats (2024)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NEB	#74 (.18)	45% (37)	28.7	48% (22)	3.21 (40)	121	43% (55)	210	3.38 (114)	#44 (.13)	40% (50)	24.6	39% (24)	42% (82)	3.06 (11)	48.9	1.3	1.2
UTAH	#120 (.08)	37% (125)	41.3	38% (116)	2.73 (114)	130	35% (119)	199	3.4 (111)	#7 (.05)	35% (4)	18.9	37% (10)	34% (6)	3.13 (15)	46.3	1.8	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NEB		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
UTAH		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2024

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NEB Offense	13	28.7	19.5	45%	3.38	1.3	20	331	121	210	3.8	48%	51%	48%	43%	16%	.18
UTAH Defense	12	18.9	20.2	35.3%	3.13	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	48%	51%	37%	34%	20%	.05

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NEB Defense	13	24.6	28.3	40.3%	3.06	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	47%	52%	39%	42%	18%	.13
UTAH Offense	12	41.3	44	36.7%	3.4	1.8	17	330	130	199	3.9	49%	51%	38%	35%	19%	.08

Additional Stats 2024

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Nebraska	13	29:43	20.1	43%	32%	5.7	48.9	1.3	1.2	5.7	2	3	27.2
Utah	12	32:06	16.6	33%	45%	5.4	46.3	1.8	1.5	6.4	1.9	4	30.7

Run Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NEB Offense	13	48% (80)	48% (22)	31.7	121.1	3.8	20 (67)	.18 (38)	3.21 (40)	83% (8)	10% (71)	0.89 (105)
UTAH Defense	12	48% (41)	37% (10)	-	-	-	-	.04 (25)	2.53 (9)	64% (22)	12% (34)	1.07 (105)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NEB Defense	13	47% (29)	39% (24)	-	-	-	-	-.01 (9)	2.72 (26)	69% (40)	12% (33)	0.9 (32)
UTAH Offense	12	49% (76)	38% (116)	33.6	130.4	3.9	7 (131)	(123)	2.73 (114)	66% (113)	12% (117)	0.88 (111)

Pass Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NEB Offense	13	51% (57)	43% (55)	20.3	31	209.5	6.8	10.3	12 (118)	11 (72)	.21 (91)	1.4 (132)	28% (18)	34% (45)	.31 (79)	6% (67)	1.8 (125)
UTAH Defense	12	51% (92)	34% (6)	-	-	-	-	-	-	12 (39)	.09 (15)	1.6 (74)	37% (4)	25% (8)	.09 (1)	8% (4)	2 (59)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NEB Defense	13	52% (101)	42% (82)	-	-	-	-	-	-	11 (52)	.28 (88)	1.6 (89)	33% (52)	31% (80)	.37 (96)	6% (55)	2.2 (98)
UTAH Offense	12	51% (58)	35% (119)	16.6	29.8	199.4	6.7	12	20 (58)	17 (127)	.16 (106)	1.7 (23)	36% (127)	24% (127)	.2 (110)	7% (107)	2.2 (22)

Nebraska's Power Ratings
Nebraska's Power Rating: 0.48 #68
Nebraska's Offense Rating: 11.28 #80
Nebraska's Defense Rating: 10.80 #51
2025 Talent Rating: 986.00 #14
Blue Chip Ratio: 27% #22
Nebraska's 2025 Expected Record: 7.1 - 5.9
Nebraska's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 6.2 #46
Nebraska's Offense SP+ Rating: 28.8 #56
Nebraska's Defense SP+ Rating: 22.7 #44

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 906.67
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Nebraska: 0.48 Utah: 18.93

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Nebraska: 6.2 Utah: 22.2

Utah's Power Ratings
Utah's Power Rating: 18.93 #19
Utah's Offense Rating: 24.77 #11
Utah's Defense Rating: 9.11 #39
2025 Talent Rating: 750.00 #66
Blue Chip Ratio: 13 #36
Utah's 2025 Expected Record: 10.9 - 2.1
Utah's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 22.2 #8
Utah's Offense SP+ Rating: 39.7 #6
Utah's Defense SP+ Rating: 17.5 #17

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 798.25
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Nebraska Scoring
Offense: 28.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 19.5
Defense: 24.6 PPG
Defense on Road: 28.3

Nebraska's 2025 Record
Record: 7 - 6
Record vs Spread: 4 - 9 - 0
Over/Under Record: 10 - 3
Record on Road: 3 - 2
Record vs Spread on Road: 1 - 3 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 2 - 5 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 1 - 1 - 0

Projected Score
Utah 35
Nebraska 19

Projected Total Points: 54

Utah Scoring
Offense: 41.3 PPG
Offense at Home: 44
Defense: 18.9 PPG
Defense at Home: 20.2

Utah's 2025 Record
Record: 11 - 2
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 9 - 4
Record at home: 5 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 2 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 4 - 2 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	12/31	Utah	44	Nebraska	22	Utah -13.5	Utah	51.5	Over

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Utah	1	1	1 Overs
Nebraska	0	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 0	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 1

Nebraska Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2025	Vegas Bowl	Nebraska vs Utah	+13.5	51.5	L 22 - 44
2024	Pinstripe Bowl	Nebraska vs Boston College	-3.0	47.5	W 20 - 15

Utah Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2025	Vegas Bowl	Utah vs Nebraska	-13.5	51.5	W 44 - 22
2023	Vegas Bowl	Utah vs Northwestern	-6.5	44.5	L 7 - 14
2022	Rose Bowl	Utah vs Penn State	+1.5	55.5	L 21 - 35
2021	Rose Bowl	Utah vs Ohio State	+4.5	64.5	L 45 - 48
2019	N/A	Utah vs Texas	-7.5	57.0	L 10 - 38

(#68) NEB at (#19) UTAH

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	NEB	UTAH
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#68	#19
SP+SP+	#46	#8
Perf GradeGrade	#40	#18
OffenseOff	#39	#18
DefenseDef	#84	#50
Spec TeamsST	#4	#27
TalentTal	#14	#66
Blue ChipsBC%	#22	#36

Nebraska Notes(12/31) Has lost 30 straight games to ranked opponents.
(12/1) DC John Butler fired after only one season
(11/29) Neb has lost 4+ games every season for 22 years
(11/28) Rhule 2-4 since raise, 7 pt W's vs NW/UCLA. Yikes
(11/28) QB TJ Lateef dreadful vs Iowa. Neb needs portal QB '26
(11/28) Matt Rhule is 2-10 in November at Nebraska
(11/26) QB Raiola threatening portal again. Neb better w/o him
(11/22) Loss to Penn St a huge setback. Program going ?
(11/2) Rhule 0-19 vs top 25, Neb streak is now 0-29
(11/2) QB1 Raiola out for season (broken fibula).
(11/1) Hard L vs USC, Raiola inj, Run Def mauled
(10/29) Rhule signs extension, will remain at Nebraska
Nebraska Injury Report

Utah Notes(10/29) QB Devon Dampier will play vs Cincy
(10/26) QB Byrd Ficklin (Fr) ran wild on Col, pass meh
(9/20) Killed by T Tech, Off awful, Dampier worse. Ugly
(9/20) Is Off any good or feasted on cupcakes early?
(7/22) RBs Parker (WSU) good, leads 4 portal adds
(7/22) WR rebuild. Top 2 from NM LY, 6 portal adds
(7/20) LB L Damuni has 4 years starting exp, hurt LY
(6/6) OL returns all 5 starters, top 5 unit in CFB
(5/27) QB Dampier (NM) full control of OC Beck's Off
(5/12) QB Dampier forced 54 missed tackles LY
(4/15) New OC Beck (NM) big improvement. Fun Off?
(4/4) OT Spencer Fano the #1 OT via PFF
Utah Injury Report

Nebraska on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	NEB Off	UTAH Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#39	#50
SuccessSuc	#37	#4
ExplosiveExp	#129	#104
PPAPPA	#74	#7
PowerPwr	#80	#39
SP+SP+	#56	#17
Pts POPPO	#114	#15
HavocHav	#62	#12

Nebraska Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	NEB Off	UTAH Def
Run GameRun	#63	#87
Run SuccessRSuc	#22	#10
Run ExplRExp	#105	#105
PPAExp	#38	#25
Run BlockR Blk	#9	-
OL YdsOLY	#40	#9
Stuff RateStuff	#7	#3
TackleTak	-	#113

Nebraska Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	NEB Off	UTAH Def
Pass GamePass	#106	#47
Pass SuccessPSuc	#55	#6
Pass ExplPExl	#132	#74
PPAExp	#91	#15
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#11	#42
F7 HavocF7	#71	#34
DB HavocDB	#67	#4

Utah on Offense

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 44%
CategoryCat	UTAH Off	NEB Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#18	#84
SuccessSuc	#125	#50
ExplosiveExp	#55	#89
PPAPPA	#120	#44
PowerPwr	#11	#51
SP+SP+	#6	#44
Pts POPPO	#111	#11
HavocHav	#120	#40

Utah Run Game

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 44%
CategoryCat	UTAH Off	NEB Def
Run GameRun	#12	#77
Run SuccessRSuc	#116	#24
Run ExplRExp	#111	#32
PPAExp	#123	#9
Run BlockR Blk	#59	-
OL YdsOLY	#114	#26
Stuff RateStuff	#123	#24
TackleTak	-	#22

Utah Pass Game

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 44%
CategoryCat	UTAH Off	NEB Def
Pass GamePass	#31	#53
Pass SuccessPSuc	#119	#82
Pass ExplPExl	#23	#89
PPAExp	#106	#88
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#8	#129
F7 HavocF7	#117	#33
DB HavocDB	#107	#55

Program Comparison
UTAH 5 Year Profile: Improving Top 25 Contenders
'25 Profile: Up to Title Contenders

NEB 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg P4
'25 Profile: Remains Below Avg P4

Weather Forecast
Playing in Allegiant Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 1
Utah -13.5 (51.5)
Utah won vs Nebraska this year (44-22)

Previous Matchups
Utah beat Nebraska last year (44-22)

NEB's OC Dana Holgorsen (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Dylan Raiola	181	250	72%	2000	18	6	8.0
TJ Lateef	74	123	60%	904	5	1	7.3

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Emmett Johnson	251	1451	12	5.8	70
Mekhi Nelson	27	147	2	5.4	38
Kwinten Ives	20	133	2	6.7	28
TJ Lateef	40	120	4	3.0	16

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Nyziah Hunter (Tr)	43	617	5	14.3	64
Jacory Barney Jr.	45	484	5	10.8	52
Dane Key (Tr)	39	452	5	11.6	40
Emmett Johnson	46	370	3	8.0	56

View Nebraska's Full Roster

NEB's DC John Butler (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Javin Wright	86	9	3	2	4
DeShon Singleton	70	4	1	2	4
Rex Guthrie	63	2	0	0	1
Vincent Shavers Jr.	61	8	1	1	0

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Javin Wright	86	9	3	2	4
Williams Nwaneri (Tr)	27	5	3	5	1
Kade Pietrzak	16	6	2	3	1
Dasan Mccullough (Tr)	21	5	2	3	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Ceyair Wright	29	1	1	0	5
Donovan Jones	59	2	0	0	5
Javin Wright	86	9	3	2	4

UTAH's OC Jason Beck (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Devon Dampier (Tr)	212	334	64%	2490	24	5	7.5
Byrd Ficklin	21	35	60%	301	3	0	8.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Wayshawn Parker (Tr)	149	981	6	6.6	64
Devon Dampier (Tr)	146	835	10	5.7	59
Byrd Ficklin	61	513	10	8.4	74
NaQuari Rogers (Tr)	98	387	11	3.9	23

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Ryan Davis (Tr)	62	725	4	11.7	56
Dallen Bentley	48	620	6	12.9	45
JJ Buchanan	26	427	5	16.4	60
Larry Simmons (Tr)	15	280	6	18.7	48

View Utah's Full Roster

UTAH's DC Morgan Scalley (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Johnathan Hall	63	6	3	1	4
Jackson Bennee	62	4	1	2	5
Lander Barton	51	4	2	2	1
Tao Johnson	50	3	0	0	4

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
John Henry Daley	45	18	12	0	1
Logan Fano	43	8	5	3	2
Kash Dillon	32	5	4	1	0
Johnathan Hall	63	6	3	1	4

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Smith Snowden	37	2	0	0	9
Blake Cotton (Tr)	27	2	0	0	7
Jackson Bennee	62	4	1	2	5