dutch91701

It’s possible. I’m just not going to go crazy saying the Huskers have the makings of the 09 defense reincarnated on this team. This team should have a relatively high base-level of talent given the recruits that have been brought in over the last few classes, as well as guys coming in to compete for spots immediately. Maybe this staff will be able to turn that talent loose and have it translate to on-field success. A defense that ranks in the top 100 nationally would be pretty cool, tbh.

I’d agree with this. A change in system can have a big effect though. I’m not calling for any of the guys to have a Suh-like transformation next year, but really anything resembling aptitude would represent a marked improvement.

So it’s wide open and Nebraska COULD win it? Perfect. Glad we’re in agreement, bud.

There are plenty of reasons to believe Nebraska could win the west. Frost turned a 0-12 football team with, presumably, near 0-12 talent into an undefeated team that was CFP level in two years. Did UCF get top recruiting classes? No. Frost was able to maximize existing talent and plug gaps where needed. Nebraksa’s base talent level is MUCH higher than UCF’s, even last year I might argue. There is reason to believe that he could take that talent, supplement with new recruits, and have this team competing in the weaker half of the B1G in year one. The schedule isn’t easy, but the division may not prove to be daunting either.

34%? I'll take the under.

Even if the new coach runs some watered down version, they can phase in their system. A good coach should be able to implement something that will work with what's here rather than throw 40+ times a game with a running QB......We can't forget that there are multiple QBs with different skill sets on the depth chart and, if recruiting grades were correct, an abundance of talent here and on the way in. A good, thoroughly vetted replacement should have plenty with which to work.

NU is that school now, isn't it? I agree with your assessment but that is very depressing.

New QB but not a freshman QB. There is nothing that suggests NU will be better next year or any year under Riley. The ineptitude of this staff has taken P5 talent and made it look completely anemic against directional schools. And then there's Lee....he's living the dream and he can't be expected to bench himself, but someone needs to make that decision for him.

I like playing on Black Friday but the rivalries they've tried to give NU in the B1G feel forced. I'm not a Nebraskan so maybe the Iowa hate is real, but it doesn't seem like the same level of intensity as the NU-OU matchups had. It's like Colorado, but with less history. Partially the fault of Nebraska for not having a whole lot to play for the last game of the year, but I think Wiscy would be a better game to have that day. Although with the way Wiscy has torched us I think I want that game to be on a day with as many other high profile games as possible. Edit: I amend my previous position to also allow for Minnesota to be the last game, provided that the broken chair stays a thing. It both reminds us to be thankful for FauxPelini and provides what may or may not be a much needed laugh at the end of the season.

Saying the same thing in 5 threads doesn't make it more valid or you any less depressing. Also, Imani is slow. Why put in a slow back when our faster back is getting swallowed up in the backfield because he can't beat the defense to the hole? I understand he's a hammer but he doesn't run hard. He makes cuts in the backfield and doesn't run as punishing as he used to (rewatch the Illinois game if you don't believe me) and has little acceleration. He's valuable, but he won't fix the running game if Ameer can't get it going.

You spelled 45 wrong.

It's not an actual ranking of who is the best. If it was Oregon wouldn't drop, Bama wouldn't drop, etc. teams get beat and get punished. It doesn't make any sense but it makes sports writers feel important.

You should feel dumber for having disagreed with it. Yeahhhhh nah. Someone has an alias?

This is important to remember. You can criticize the coaching of the players that are healthy, but don't forget that there are guys that were supposed to start that aren't, forcing inexperienced guys into pressure spots. I have a lot of hope for next year. Ameer and Bell will be big losses, of course, but we get much of the core back and maybe Ameer can tell Gregory how awesome being a senior is. Maybe? Please? Don't want to sound like I'm giving up on this season. This team has a lot of opportunities ahead to have a great year. I feel next year we may surprise some people.

Michigan State is a playoff contender and we were beaten but not blown out. I'm not referring to the score either. I mean the actual gameplay. That's a really freakin good defense and a good offense. We hung around and were able to make a run at it at the end. Is that what top 15 teams do? No. But it's what #20-25 teams do. No we'll still be knocked out, but, it doesn't matter now, what matters is getting to the Big Ten title game and winning it. So, destroy the poor souls we play next.You're right. I suppose I got carried away answering "should we drop out" instead of the question at hand which is "will we". Yes. We will. For a variety of reasons we've been deemed unimpressive by voters this year so I don't see the trend changing.