Mandel’s Mailbag: What are realistic expectations for Nebraska in Scott Frost’s second season?

[BowedButNotBeaten]

19 hours ago, brophog said:

 

 Had any other of the top 6 finished like that with their upcoming schedule, and maybe even Minnesota minus the tugboat captain at the helm....this is easily the consensus favorite. Nebraska has a favorable schedule, as does Purdue, but nobody has as soft of one as Minnesota.

 

The only thing I don’t like about it, particularly for Minnesota specifically, is that it’s backloaded. The last four are PSU/NW/Iowa/Wisc. What has happened the last few years is they play this super soft non-con, think they’re something, then crash back down to earth. 

 

I’ll say this about their finish last year: Yes, after the changes made after Illinois, they did play better. They also faced some teams where either injuries and/or apathy had set in. They were able to get into positions where they didnt have to throw the ball. They only had 1 turnover in the final 3 wins, while collecting 6. But there are two things that really make me question how much of this improvement they can take forward: opposing QB completion rate was still high (over 65% aside from the non-passers at GT) and they played against Purdue and NW whom neither could run the ball against anyone else. They improved those two areas to where they’d be expected to be, which is way better than it was, but maybe not necessarily a sign they’re about to take off.

 

Still, they’ve been playing with a lot of youth that will take that experience with them, making Minnesota a very interesting team this year.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know about that. Last year's non-conference included a win over eventual 12-2 and #18 ranked Fresno State.

[brophog]

6 hours ago, BowedButNotBeaten said:

I don't know about that. Last year's non-conference included a win over eventual 12-2 and #18 ranked Fresno State.

 

It’s not for lack of effort on Minnesota’s part...the year that game was scheduled Fresno St would win 3 games, and only 1 the following year.