Link: http://philsteele.com/Pdf/Blogs/2015_Top_40/26_Nebraska.pdf
Phil Steele has Nebraska ranked #26 in his preseason Top 40 countdown.
Phil's Forecast
Nebraska has had a long history of success winning back-to-back national titles in '94 and '95 and finishing ranked in the Top Ten 8 of 9 years from '93 to '01. The Huskers have not finished in the Top 10 since (14 years). They went through a regrettable 4 years from '04-'07 (27-22) when Bill Callahan tried to switch them from their power option rushing attack to a West Coast passing attack. In Pelini's first year, NU made by Most Improved List and did not disappoint, going 9-4. The Cornhuskers made the switch from the Big 12 (members since 1928, known as Big 8 until '95) to the Big Ten in 2011. They have gone 22-11 in conference play, including 10-6 on the road (10-4 if you take out the Madison trips).
Four loss seasons would be a common theme in the Pelini era, however, as the team finished with 4 losses in all 7 of his years. In 2014 he had just 10 returning starters. The Huskers blew out Florida Atlantic 55-7 in the opener but then needed Ameer Abdullah to catch a short pass and take it 58 yards for a touchdown with :54 left to escape McNeese State. Nebraska became the first team since 1989 to drop out of the rankings (were #19) after a win. They dominated Fresno State 55-19 then got a crucial 57 yard fumble return touchdown when leading Miami 24-21 and won the game 41-31. NU's crowd, always kind to its visitors, actually booed Miami postgame (numerous personal fouls & unsportsmanlike penalties). Nebraska won all of its non-conference regular season games under Pelini for a third time and if you take out the '08 & '09 Virginia Tech losses and the '12 and '13 UCLA losses, he went a perfect 24-0.
Illinois was down to backup QB Reilly O'Toole (Wes Lunt injured) and the Huskers rolled 45-14 to get to 5-0. They were dominated by Michigan State (trailing 27-3 in the fourth quarter) but rallied to 27-22 and had the ball at the end but came up short. After a road win over Northwestern 38-27, Rutgers QB Gary Nova was injured late in the first half and NU won 42-24. They followed that up with a 35-14 win vs. Purdue.
The Huskers jumped out to a 17-3 lead over Wisconsin then allowed 56 consecutive points (and were outgained 627 yards to 180 yards). They led Minnesota 21-7 at half but the Gophers got a TD with 3:25 left. Nebraska appeared to have the game-winning TD but the ball was ripped out of Pierson-El's hands at the goal line and UM held on for a 28-24 win. They were on their way to their fifth loss as Iowa dominated the first half (188-78 yard edge) but only led 10-7, blowing numerous scoring opportunities. NU got a field goal on the final play of regulation to send the game to OT and won it there.
Surprisingly, NU fired Pelini who finished 66-28. Barney Cotton was the interim head coach for the bowl, NU lost 45-42 to USC. Out of the blue they hired Mike Riley from Oregon State who is the anti-Bo as he likes to throw the football and is much friendlier with the press.
In 2015 Riley inherits 12 returning starters but will be switching up the offense. They draw Michigan State out of the East and have a tough non-conference game at Miami. Still, if they can adapt to the new offense quickly, my main set of PR's actually calls for 7-1 and a trip to the Big Ten title game. Despite just 12 returning starters, Mike Riley has a talented team in his first year.
Phil Steele has Nebraska ranked #26 in his preseason Top 40 countdown.
Phil's Forecast
Nebraska has had a long history of success winning back-to-back national titles in '94 and '95 and finishing ranked in the Top Ten 8 of 9 years from '93 to '01. The Huskers have not finished in the Top 10 since (14 years). They went through a regrettable 4 years from '04-'07 (27-22) when Bill Callahan tried to switch them from their power option rushing attack to a West Coast passing attack. In Pelini's first year, NU made by Most Improved List and did not disappoint, going 9-4. The Cornhuskers made the switch from the Big 12 (members since 1928, known as Big 8 until '95) to the Big Ten in 2011. They have gone 22-11 in conference play, including 10-6 on the road (10-4 if you take out the Madison trips).
Four loss seasons would be a common theme in the Pelini era, however, as the team finished with 4 losses in all 7 of his years. In 2014 he had just 10 returning starters. The Huskers blew out Florida Atlantic 55-7 in the opener but then needed Ameer Abdullah to catch a short pass and take it 58 yards for a touchdown with :54 left to escape McNeese State. Nebraska became the first team since 1989 to drop out of the rankings (were #19) after a win. They dominated Fresno State 55-19 then got a crucial 57 yard fumble return touchdown when leading Miami 24-21 and won the game 41-31. NU's crowd, always kind to its visitors, actually booed Miami postgame (numerous personal fouls & unsportsmanlike penalties). Nebraska won all of its non-conference regular season games under Pelini for a third time and if you take out the '08 & '09 Virginia Tech losses and the '12 and '13 UCLA losses, he went a perfect 24-0.
Illinois was down to backup QB Reilly O'Toole (Wes Lunt injured) and the Huskers rolled 45-14 to get to 5-0. They were dominated by Michigan State (trailing 27-3 in the fourth quarter) but rallied to 27-22 and had the ball at the end but came up short. After a road win over Northwestern 38-27, Rutgers QB Gary Nova was injured late in the first half and NU won 42-24. They followed that up with a 35-14 win vs. Purdue.
The Huskers jumped out to a 17-3 lead over Wisconsin then allowed 56 consecutive points (and were outgained 627 yards to 180 yards). They led Minnesota 21-7 at half but the Gophers got a TD with 3:25 left. Nebraska appeared to have the game-winning TD but the ball was ripped out of Pierson-El's hands at the goal line and UM held on for a 28-24 win. They were on their way to their fifth loss as Iowa dominated the first half (188-78 yard edge) but only led 10-7, blowing numerous scoring opportunities. NU got a field goal on the final play of regulation to send the game to OT and won it there.
Surprisingly, NU fired Pelini who finished 66-28. Barney Cotton was the interim head coach for the bowl, NU lost 45-42 to USC. Out of the blue they hired Mike Riley from Oregon State who is the anti-Bo as he likes to throw the football and is much friendlier with the press.
In 2015 Riley inherits 12 returning starters but will be switching up the offense. They draw Michigan State out of the East and have a tough non-conference game at Miami. Still, if they can adapt to the new offense quickly, my main set of PR's actually calls for 7-1 and a trip to the Big Ten title game. Despite just 12 returning starters, Mike Riley has a talented team in his first year.
