The Nebraska Cornhuskers are in a transitional phase. They had a lot of upperclassmen last year at important positions, starting with quarterback. This team will look and feel very different from the 2016 version. Fans in Nebraska are hungry for a conference title, since the program hasn’t yet won one this century. Yet, this is a process whose master plan probably won’t be realized until next season. This year feels like a season which must set the table for what is to come in the future. That might be a hard pill to swallow, but Nebraska has to build itself back to what it once was. It can’t just snap its fingers and immediately make everything feel like 1997 again.
How Did They End 2016
The Huskers watched starting quarterback Tommy Armstrong get injured against Ohio State. That took the wind out of their sails. They had enough to beat Minnesota but lost steam – and lacked offensive firepower – in a blowout loss at Iowa to close the 12-game schedule. Without Armstrong, Nebraska once again lacked the weapons it needed on offense to beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. The season didn’t conclude the way anyone hoped it would, but the lack of Armstrong was an obvious reason for the downturn. This was not on the coaches.
Even with the late slide and the injuries, Nebraska did well last season. It won important non-conference games and generally stabilized the program after a nightmarish 5-7 regular season in 2015. Head coach Mike Riley earned his way off the hot seat. His recruiting efforts have been fruitful, and good energy is beginning to flow into and through the program. The team took a clear step forward, despite the rocky times.
Offseason Changes
Tommy Armstrong and Mark Banker, the veteran starting quarterback and the veteran defensive coordinator, are both gone. Everyone knew Armstrong would have to leave, but the Banker news was stunning, given that Banker was Riley’s longtime assistant and confidant dating back to their days at Oregon State. Riley coldly dismissed Banker in a phone call instead of telling his colleague face-to-face that he was searching for a new direction on defense. Riley’s choice was former Notre Dame defensive coordinator and recently fired Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco. While the fiery coach could not turn around UConn, his work at Notre Dame against elite offensive players was consistently excellent. Notre Dame contained USC and Oklahoma, among other teams, when Diaco was there. The Fighting Irish reached the 2013 BCS National Championship Game against Alabama. Diaco will try to turn Nebraska’s defense from solid into elite. We’ll see how quickly the process can fall into place.
Team X-Factor
The wide receivers need to help out the new quarterback. NU signal-caller Tanner Lee has been met by rave reviews, but he transferred from Tulane, a terrible program without quality wideouts. If Lee can get more support at Nebraska, he can settle into the position. The offense could exceed expectations.
What To Expect From The Cornhuskers This Year
Nebraska does not have experienced, high-end talent this year. The Huskers have to endure a season in which they know they will not have better players than the other top teams in the Big Ten. This season is more about survival than excellence. The 2018 campaign is when the Huskers will need to make a big national statement.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 9-4
2015: 6-7
2014: 9-4
2013: 9-4
2012: 10-4
Schedule and Outlook
Nebraska will start the season with a game at home against Arkansas State followed by a trip to Oregon in Week 2. Then they’ll host Northern Illinois and Rutgers and weeks three and four. They also have a winnable game at Illinois in Week 5. It’s not out of the question that this team is 3-2 or 4-1 through five games.
However, with games against Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin mean that Nebraska has to be perfect in its other eight games to get to eight wins. That means an under play is the smarter choice than over against a beastly schedule. They’ll push or go under.
Regular Season Win Total Prediction: Under 7
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