2025 Nebraska-Houston Christian football stats matchup

Here’s how the Cornhuskers and Huskies match up statistically entering their Sept. 13 game in Lincoln. Although it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison due to HCU’s status as an FCS program, the average NCAA statistical ranking is 43.4 for Nebraska and 39.4 for Houston Christian. Those averages don’t include FPI rankings, which don’t exist for FCS schools.

We initially reported in this space that Nebraska took a demotion in ESPN’s FPI ratings despite the 68-0 win over Akron, but the FPI numbers were subsequently revised. As it turns out, the Huskers’ overall FPI ranking jumped substantially, from 36th to 12th. See separate chart below.
NEBRASKA

2-0 (0-0)
HCU

1-1 (0-0)
Stat Rank Stat Rank
Rushing offense 172.0 65 223.5 14
Passing offense 368.5 6 173.0 67
Pass efficiency 178.91 22 110.55 78
Total offense 540.5 15 396.5 28
Scoring offense 44.0 22 39.5 12
Rushing defense 157.5 94 68.5 5
Pass defense 65.5 5 70.5 3
Pass eff. defense 64.59 2 56.18 2
Total defense 223.0 22 139.0 3
Scoring defense 8.5 14 10.0 4
Net punting 36.75 104 35.25 64
Punt returns 13.57 28 2.00 81
Kickoff returns 18.75 77 18.83 61
Turnover margin 1.00 26 -1.00 83
Tackles for loss 5.5 74 3.5 94
Sacks 1.00 102 1.00 77
Sacks allowed 1.50 60 1.00 77
Third-down conversion 0.643 8 0.448 22
Third-down defense 0.167 10 0.032 1
Fourth-down conversion 0.333 97 0.500 51
Fourth-down defense 0.750 101 0.429 46
Red zone offense 0.833 80 0.909 38
Red zone defense 0.667 24 0.600 17
First downs offense 54 14 48 15
First downs defense 29 37 12 2
Fewest penalties 4.50 29 6.00 47
Fewest penalty yards 49.00 63 54.00 64
Time of possession 34:50 13 30:27 47
Power index* 14.3 12
Efficiency: Offense* 59.6 54
Efficiency: Defense* 80.6 25
Efficiency: Spec. Teams* 66.8 38
Efficiency: Overall* 76.3 36
Schedule strength* 81 81
*ESPN FPI analytics. Schedule strength does not include future opponents.
• Click on column headers to sort

Nebraska’s FPI metrics
This week Last week
Stat Rank Stat Rank
Power index 14.3 12 8.3 31
Efficiency: Offense 59.6 54 54.8 67
Efficiency: Defense 80.6 25 74.6 44
Efficiency: Spec. Teams 66.8 38 41.0 87
Efficiency: Overall 76.3 36 65.5 52
Schedule strength 81 81 38 38

• More pregame info: HuskerMax game page