Greg McElroy Optimistic About Nebraska Heading Into 2024 Season

Greg McElroy laid out the blueprint for Nebraska to make its first bowl game in seven seasons.

On his Always College Football show, the ESPN analyst said the Huskers can notch a winning record in Matt Rhule's second season behind a better offense.

"If they can get just 20 percent improved QB play, which should not be a significant ask, then I think this team has a great chance to flip the script from a disappointing season that was and become a team that absolutely punches their ticket to the postseason," McElroy said (h/t Saturday Down South).

McElroy noted that Nebraska committed an NCAA-worst 31 turnovers last season with abysmal play under center. Heinrich Haarberg ranked 108th in QBR.

"The glaring weakness for Nebraska last year was at QB," he declared. "I don't need to explain that to anybody."

Yet the Huskers added five-star recruit Dylan Raiola to eventually take over a unit that added wide receivers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor through the transfer portal.

"If you listen to the buzz coming out of spring, they feel like they've really progressed on that side of the ball," McElroy said.

The former Alabama star also cited a stout Huskers defense returning 78 percent of last year's production. 

Going game by game, McElroy predicted the Huskers could "at worst" be 6-1 entering a late-October matchup at Ohio State. While the schedule gets more challenging, including November road games at USC and Iowa, he thinks they have a "real good chance" of finishing the regular season 8-4.

"The first seven games of their schedule is extremely manageable before they finish tough," McElroy said. "But at that point, I think Dylan Raiola--who ultimately will be the starting quarterback--will be well ready to take on the increased competition."