Is Indiana the biggest surprise in college football so far?

Welcome back to the Just Askin’ mailbag.

The premise is straightforward. You ask me some questions — or vent your frustrations — about Nebraska Athletics. Any sport. I attempt to answer them.

If you want your question included in the next edition of the mailbag, find me on Twitter/X at @Amie_Just, Threads/Instagram at @_amiejust or email me at ajust@journalstar.com.

What has been the biggest surprise this football season for you? Not just at NU, but all of CFB. — X user @TwinTwisterDad

Indiana. There are only 11 teams in the FBS right now with perfect records, and Indiana is one of them? Indiana was the first team this season to be bowl-eligible. Never in a million years would I have guessed that.

Before the season, you could have circled Indiana as an easy win for Nebraska. Not now. I’d venture a guess that one of the only people to believe in Indiana from the jump this season was coach Curt Cignetti. I’m friends with many IU grads and not one of them expected this right away.

Do you think John Cook is gonna have Merritt Beason play six rotations? The offensive difference seems worth it, especially the way Olivia Mauch and Harper Murray have stepped up. — Andrew J.

Nebraska wants one hitter to play all six rotations. And right now, that hitter is Harper Murray.

“The question is who helps us more — (Mauch) or one of (the hitters) in the back row,” coach John Cook said in September. “That’s the question. We always want to have one hitter back there.”

At the beginning of the season, that one hitter was Merritt Beason, with Olivia Mauch coming in for the L1 — either Lindsay Krause or Taylor Landfair — and Laney Choboy coming in for the L2 — Harper Murray.

But Nebraska switched to Murray, and she has thrived in the back row. For several weeks, Murray has been one of the best receiving outside hitters in the country.

As of right now, Nebraska isn’t going to have two six-rotation players because of how good Nebraska’s littles are.

Mauch is one of the country’s best passers. You’re not taking her off the floor. And Choboy adds hustle and heart, which routinely pays off for Nebraska.

Who wins more games: MBB or WBB? — Sean S.

Men’s. But hear me out. The path for the Nebraska women is incredibly difficult.

In the women’s AP preseason poll, the Big Ten had six in the Top 25 with three more receiving votes: No. 3 USC, No. 5 UCLA, No. 14 Ohio State, No. 18 Maryland, No. 23 Nebraska, No. 25 Indiana, and Iowa, Illinois and Michigan State receiving votes. Then there’s Creighton (No. 21) and Georgia Tech (RV), who were also listed.

That’s 10 of Nebraska’s opponents receiving preseason love. The one saving grace for the Nebraska women’s brutal schedule is that the Huskers only have to play USC, UCLA, Ohio State, Indiana and Maryland once in the regular season. Nebraska does play Iowa twice.

Compare that to the men’s AP preseason poll. The Big Ten has four: and none in the top 10. The only men’s noncon foes receiving some preseason hype are Creighton (No. 15) and St. Mary’s (RV).

But, just because I think the men win more games doesn’t mean I think less of the women. I actually think the women are poised for a deeper postseason run.

Postseason? Yep. Bold prediction: I think both teams, once again, will make the NCAA Tournament with the women advancing to the second weekend.

The TEs are beasts and a matchup problem. When will we see the TEs in the downfield passing game? — Darrin S.

Nebraska needs to get more out of Thomas Fidone. He is underused. Nebraska’s coaches have acknowledged that in past weeks.

The tight ends have been used quite a bit in the run game, but there definitely needs to be more action for them in the pass game.

Fidone is a weapon, and yet, he’s only reeled in 14 catches for 127 yards. Nate Boerkircher only has one reception on the season for 25 yards and the same goes for Luke Lindenmeyer: only one catch for 12 yards.

I know they finally decided to build grandstands, etc. at the track. My question is, what is the timeline for this? Are they going to go another outdoor season without being able to host a meet? — X user @Burk1

These things take time. Construction projects in Nebraska never happen as fast as we want them to since the winter weather hinders that.

Also, the bureaucracy of the process takes time, too.

At the most recent Board of Regents meeting, the Regents approved both a budget increase for the project and the execution of the second phase of construction.

The track schedule for 2025 has yet to come out, but based on how long these things take, I’d imagine the next phase won’t be finished in time for the 2025 season.

It’s a shame, too. The Nebraska track and field program deserves better. But thankfully this administration realizes that.