Kernal

Kenny Bell was very complimentary of Armstrong today, and I'd agree with him. I think some Husker fans are overlooking just how well Armstrong played last year under the circumstances. Also remember, he was only the starter for the Michigan State loss- two of the losses were under an injured Taylor and Iowa was RK3. http://hailvarsity.com/2014/07/on-the-offensive/

Seems more like that preview was written by a disgruntled Husker fan than an outsider, but whatever. Maybe he got his perspective from following the message boards. I can't say I disagree too much with him, but he is a bit harsh. We were a whisker away- a miracle against Northwestern- from totally imploding last year. If we'd lost there, who knows if we find it within ourselves to win those close games at Michigan and Penn State. Lose those two after losing to NW and we're sitting home for the bowl game. I hope we have a great year this year, but I've become accustomed to keeping the enthusiasm in check and bracing for a disappointing season.

I think the deal is that under current NCAA rules a conference must have two divisions in order to play a championship game. It's why the Big 12 doesn't play one. I dislike the divisions arrangement in conferences since they are never balanced.

What will teams do for the other 10 weeks of the season? Actually, a 128-team playoff could be done in five weeks, excepting the final four teams- two of which would have one additional week/game and two of which would have two additional weeks/games. Like this: Week one: 128 teams = 64 games Week two: 64 teams = 32 games Week three: 32 teams = 16 games Week four: 16 teams = 8 games Week five: 8 teams = 4 games (Week six: 4 teams = 2 games) (Week seven: 2 teams = 1 game) Now, 128-team playoff is kinda silly and would render the regular season meaningless, but there's no reason playoffs couldn't have 16 teams, or 24 teams as the FCS currently does.

Don't agree that its like being in the Big XII north because division is not apples to apples to B1G West. Wisconsin is better than all of the Big 12 North, NW is solid, Iowa won't be a push over and Minny is on the uprise. Not to mention Nebraska has lost to each of one of these teams in the first two years of our involvement in the Conference. We have stayed consistent, and the competition has gotten better hands down won't even argue. From my perspective the downside isn't entirely about competition. You're right that Wisconsin is more accomplished than any of the former Big 12 North teams. And overall, the Big Ten West is probably somewhat stronger overall. The bigger downside is that the Big Ten West will most likely be treated in the media like the Big 12 North, due to the more marquee teams residing in the East, along with better overall competition and much larger populations.

That would be a fun addition to college football- playing a bowl game in the spring. I'm not sure that would ever happen, but it's fun to think about. The other possibility for the bowl games when a playoff eventually comes is that they could still invite teams that didn't make the playoffs, sorta like the NIT tournament, or whatever.

I hate the new alignment, and I hate that we don't play Michigan for five years. It really will be the Big 12 North again, so I hope it changes again in two years. On paper, it should be an easier division. But in reality, I think our players take on this mentality from the fans then get caught sleepwalking a couple times a year. Until the Huskers can go out and smack these teams down every week, it's all just theoretically easier. Let's not forget Iowa and Minnesota are two of the theoretically easier teams in our division. Next year we'll have several tough road games, so we'll see what happens. The Huskers will need to be taking the schedule very seriously beginning this offseason if they want to play in the Rose Bowl next season. We have the talent. The question is do they have the will?

Two of my favorite Huskers on this team. Congrats to them and good luck, and also to Qvale, Evans, and SJB in their senior/all-star games.

Abdullah had dismissed the notion of leaving early for the NFL earlier this season, but it appears he re-evaluated the situation. I'm very glad he's coming back. He's the best player on the team, and as was said earlier tonight on BTN, Nebraska (or nearly any other team) will not sign a recruit this year better than Abdullah. It's also very promising for the team. If Abdullah is coming back, he must have confidence in his teammates. That's a good sign and I'm hopeful for next season, too. It's refreshing to see the wisdom of AA's decision when so many people, many of them much older and more experienced, do absolutely nothing but chase money. Abdullah gets only one chance at a senior season. The whole senior class, and really the whole team, gets only one chance at the 2014 season. And after it's gone no amount of money will bring it back.

My thoughts on the 4-team playoff? It's a tiny step in the right direction. It allows four teams the opportunity to show they are the best team in the nation rather than only two teams. The bowl games weren't "designed" to determine championships. That's why the history of major college football is littered with a hundred different polls and multiple champions many years. A one-game playoff? Really? Imagine the NFL finishing up their regular season and having bowl games determine the champion. Every other sport has a legitimate playoff, including FCS football (24-team playoff). Those kids study too, and have less academic support than the larger FBS programs. NDSU, the FCS champ this year (three-peat), finished 15-0, so they only played one more game than 14-0 Florida State. Next year's FBS champion, assuming they come from a conference with a CCG, will play 15 games too.

Agree. Alabama's offense is nothing special. For that matter, their defensive scheme isn't all that special either. They just get superior athletes who are then well-coached in fundamentals.

Michigan gets plenty of talent; they're nearly always top-10 in recruiting.

Good info. I think there's two different issues here: 1) the bowls; and 2) the football games. Bowl games are vacation destinations with exhibition football games. That's just what they are. That's why they are all in the South and mostly on the coasts. Nobody really wants to sit in the freezing cold of Chicago or wherever in December or January for a vacation. The other issue is the football itself. The solution there is to do a legitimate playoff like the FCS does. They do 24 teams with the top 8 getting byes for the first round. Several of those games are played on home fields. That does a couple things. It fills the stadium (or at least it would in Lincoln), and it gives Northern teams the potential for a weather advantage just like Southern teams have with bowl games.

The price of gas will never go down. Time to get over it.

The big difference is Alabama's run is current and ongoing, and Nebraska's was so long ago that the players have no direct memory of it. When I was in college for the 90's run, the 70's run seemed like ancient history. Today, the same is true of our 90's run- it's ancient history.

I'm rooting for the nuts. OSU and UM were sufficiently de-pantsed by Sparty to satisfy my contempt for them. The Big Ten could use another bowl victory, and that could help Nebraska's perception. Mostly, I'm hoping for an entertaining game though.

Musta had the mute button on. No, I didn't. And believe me, I'm no fan of espn slobbering over the SEC.

What's so impressive about this play to me is that Quincy does a complete 360 to catch the ball, take the hit, and continue running straight toward the endzone, and he barely even slows down. Crazy!

I've been impressed with Armstrong's passing overall. He needs more experience and a better understanding of defenses and coverages, which he has said, but if he puts in the time the future with him is bright. We really need him to be a passing threat, because he's not going to run many to the house like Martinez did- he's just not fast enough. But if he improves his passing and continues to run those options well, he'll win us plenty of games.

I disagree Bo should get an extension. He can recruit perfectly fine with three or four years remaining- whatever he has. Any recruit savvy enough to find out about the coach's contract length is also savvy enough to know they are bought out all the time and length of contract doesn't guarantee the coach will remain.

I didn't notice the announcers being particularly pro-Georgia or anti-Nebraska.