Northwestern at Nebraska Week 9 College Football Matchup Northwestern at Nebraska Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 25 2025 · Week 9 · 🏟 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE · Turf · 86,047 cap
Northwestern✈ 474 miSame TZ
21 28
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Northwestern
22
Nebraska
24
P&R Line Nebraska -2
P&R Total O/U 46.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Nebraska -7.5 · O/U 44.5
Matchup Prediction
Nebraska has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Nebraska entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Nebraska wins
Lean
Game Control
50.6%
Nebraska wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Nebraska -7.5
O/U 44.5
ESPN Bet
Advanced Stats
3 factors agree (PPA + PPO + Havoc) → Northwestern · 82.4% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Northwestern 2025 Schedule
Northwestern's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Northwestern at Tulane+6.5L3–2347.5L3–23UN
Fri 9/5Northwestern vs Western Illinois-30.5W42–748.5W42–7OY
Sat 9/13Northwestern vs Oregon+25.5L14–3450.5L14–34UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/27Northwestern vs UCLA-6.0W17–1445.5W17–14UN
Sat 10/4Northwestern vs UL Monroe-12.5W42–743.5W42–7OY
Sat 10/11Northwestern at Penn State+20.5W22–2146.5W22–21UY
Sat 10/18Northwestern vs Purdue-3.0W19–047.5W19–0UY
Sat 10/25Northwestern at Nebraska+7.5L21–2844.5L21–28OY
— Bye Week —
Fri 11/7Northwestern at USC+14.5L17–3854.5L17–38ON
Sat 11/15Northwestern vs Michigan+10.0L22–2441.5L22–24OY
Sat 11/22Northwestern vs Minnesota-4.0W38–3541.0W38–35ON
Sat 11/29Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L13–2044.5L13–20UY
Fri 12/26Northwestern vs Central Michigan-13.5W34–743.5W34–7UY
Nebraska 2025 Schedule
Nebraska's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/28Nebraska vs Cincinnati-6.5W20–1752.5W20–17UN
Sat 9/6Nebraska vs Akron-34.0W68–047.5W68–0OY
Sat 9/13Nebraska vs Houston Christian-48.5W59–758.5W59–7OY
Sat 9/20Nebraska vs Michigan+1.5L27–3047.5L27–30ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4Nebraska vs Michigan State-12.5W38–2748.5W38–27ON
Sat 10/11Nebraska at Maryland-7.0W34–3147.5W34–31ON
Fri 10/17Nebraska at Minnesota-7.0L6–2447.5L6–24UN
Sat 10/25Nebraska vs Northwestern-7.5W28–2144.5W28–21ON
Sat 11/1Nebraska vs USC+4.5L17–2159.5L17–21UY
Sat 11/8Nebraska at UCLA+1.5W28–2145.5W28–21OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/22Nebraska at Penn State+7.5L10–3745.5L10–37ON
Fri 11/28Nebraska vs Iowa+5.5L16–4038.5L16–40ON
Wed 12/31Nebraska vs Utah+13.5L22–4451.5L22–44ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Northwestern PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Northwestern
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Northwestern #83
+0.359
Nebraska #77
+0.331
Northwestern Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern #85
+0.403
Nebraska #83
+0.454
Nebraska Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Northwestern #83
0.150
Nebraska #100
0.144
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Northwestern Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern #116
+7.581
Nebraska #50
+7.297
Northwestern Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Northwestern #57
+0.864
Nebraska #27
+0.914
Nebraska Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Northwestern #82
71.5
Nebraska #15
68.2
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Nebraska Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Nebraska Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Northwestern
-0.6
Nebraska
4.8
Offense Rating
Northwestern
16.0
Nebraska
18.4
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Northwestern
16.6
Nebraska
13.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Nebraska Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Northwestern #26
1.83
Nebraska #81
2.17
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #44
1.00
Nebraska #103
1.00
Nebraska +0.33
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Nebraska Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Northwestern #1
54.6
Nebraska #1
58.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #77
33.4
Nebraska #55
27.0
Nebraska +4.3
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Nebraska, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Northwestern
David Braun #1
12–13 (48%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Zach Lujan Yr 2 #1
DC Tim McGarigle Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Nebraska
Matt Rhule #1
11–13 (46%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Dana Holgorsen Yr 1 #1
DC John Butler Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself