Nebraska Football: And so it Begins

Begin the season relatively healthy? Check. Get an opening win for the first time since 2019? Check. Beat Colorado for the first time in 4 tries and over 5,000 days? Check. Finish non-conference play 3-0 for the first time since 2016 by beating a team we’ve never faced before? Check. Play an opponent in Memorial Stadium at night for the first time in a decade with both teams ranked? Soon to be check. Let’s bring on the B1G Conference slate.

Look at him. The growling face of a man who’s lusting after a half rack of ribs at halftime. The man with the 6XL Jacket longing for the meat sweats. The biggest opponent we’ve seen all season. Oh, and then there’s the team he coaches, who are also off to a decent start too. Illinois comes into this game ranked 24th in the AP Poll this week. A team who is much improved to this point compared to last year. The defense has created multiple turnovers, particularly by the secondary, so Raiola will have to be smart with the football.

I know what you are thinking, we beat them last year. Trust me, this game was ugly, like “you can’t drink someone cute” ugly. Multiple 4th down stops, missed field goals, turnovers, a blocked punt, just to name a few things that happened last year. The scoring summary suggested this game was comfortable in the end, but watching it made it far from it.

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

That’s the beauty of this conference. Some games you will have ugly ducklings, some will be the beautiful swan. Without divisions now there is no rooting for specific teams to lose (like Iowa, but still encouraged). Now Penn State can find the Michigan’s or Ohio State’s twice in a year to play for conference glory. Destiny being in our own hands has never been so important, because now a gluttony of teams need to lose every week. Indiana has a fantastic offense, Iowa has scored points (allegedly), Michigan could be having a real down year, but Oregon could be filling its place. Penn State can lose one to a fellow former East division foe and it won’t knock them out of any contention. Purdue and UCLA could be bottom dwellers while Wisconsin lost its QB for the season.

The B1G prides itself on a particular brand of football, but with the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, that brand has evolved. Good thing for Nebraska, they have too. The Huskers have a shiny new offense, complete with a better QB and receiving corps. The defense is just as stout as last year, giving up only 20 points on the season. The last time Nebraska did that through 3 games? 1999. I know, the three opponents were UTEP, Colorado and Northern Iowa.

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

UTEP tried to be balanced with its offense, Colorado was pass heavy and Northern Iowa was run heavy. That’s 3 different styles of play, which is exactly what Nebraska will need to gameplan against over the next 9 games. I know they weren’t “tough” opponents, but the versatility is what the Nebraska defense needed in order to get ready for conference play.

Offensively, the Huskers had to change the style of play in order to deal with future conference foes. The offense got to deal with good secondary personnel like Travis Hunter. Illinois has a pretty good secondary themselves. Ohio State, USC and Iowa are also prime candidates. Illinois’ run defense will be the toughest we see so far, but I think Iowa’s and Ohio State’s will be the strongest, followed by Rutgers.

We have reached the fun part of the season, and now it’s time to see just how high Nebraska can climb up the B1G mountain. The goal from here on out for everyone is top 2. Otherwise, it’s commiserating with the other 16 teams who didn’t make the conference title game. Go Big Red!