ESPN: Must win game for 2016 Huskers

Saunders

Saunders

Heisman Trophy Winner
Must-win game: Oct. 29 at Wisconsin

Camp Randall Stadium has been a house of horrors for Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011. Finding a way to win in Madison would do wonders for Nebraska's collective psyche -- and provide a significant boost one week before a difficult matchup at Ohio State.

Nebraska fans likely aren't too keen on revisiting the Cornhuskers' two previous matchups at Camp Randall. In 2011, Wisconsin annihilated Nebraska 48-17 in a nationally televised, prime-time matchup of two top-10 teams as part of the Cornhuskers' first Big Ten game. In 2014, Badgers tailback Melvin Gordon rushed for a then-FBS single-game record 408 yards in Wisconsin's 59-24 victory. At the time, the Cornhuskers were 8-1 and in position to win the Big Ten West. Two weeks later, coach Bo Pelini was fired.

Of course, those games are in the past and took place under different coaching staffs. This year's matchup is important in its own right because it will go a long way toward keeping Nebraska in the Big Ten West race. Nebraska opens league play Sept. 24 at Northwestern, which defeated the Cornhuskers 30-28 last season. If Nebraska can win in Evanston, the Cornhuskers could be looking at a 4-0 start to Big Ten play ahead of the Wisconsin game. Nebraska plays Illinois and Purdue at home, sandwiched around a winnable road game against Indiana.

Iowa remains the favorite to capture the Big Ten West title again, but Nebraska can give itself a chance with a victory in Madison. Wisconsin's brutal early league schedule could knock the Badgers out even before their matchup with the Cornhuskers. There is no reason for Nebraska not to play more competitive football than it has at Camp Randall the past two trips.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/133465/must-win-game-nebraska-cornhuskers
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saunders45 said:
Must-win game: Oct. 29 at Wisconsin

Camp Randall Stadium has been a house of horrors for Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011. Finding a way to win in Madison would do wonders for Nebraska's collective psyche -- and provide a significant boost one week before a difficult matchup at Ohio State.

Nebraska fans likely aren't too keen on revisiting the Cornhuskers' two previous matchups at Camp Randall. In 2011, Wisconsin annihilated Nebraska 48-17 in a nationally televised, prime-time matchup of two top-10 teams as part of the Cornhuskers' first Big Ten game. In 2014, Badgers tailback Melvin Gordon rushed for a then-FBS single-game record 408 yards in Wisconsin's 59-24 victory. At the time, the Cornhuskers were 8-1 and in position to win the Big Ten West. Two weeks later, coach Bo Pelini was fired.

Of course, those games are in the past and took place under different coaching staffs. This year's matchup is important in its own right because it will go a long way toward keeping Nebraska in the Big Ten West race. Nebraska opens league play Sept. 24 at Northwestern, which defeated the Cornhuskers 30-28 last season. If Nebraska can win in Evanston, the Cornhuskers could be looking at a 4-0 start to Big Ten play ahead of the Wisconsin game. Nebraska plays Illinois and Purdue at home, sandwiched around a winnable road game against Indiana.

Iowa remains the favorite to capture the Big Ten West title again, but Nebraska can give itself a chance with a victory in Madison. Wisconsin's brutal early league schedule could knock the Badgers out even before their matchup with the Cornhuskers. There is no reason for Nebraska not to play more competitive football than it has at Camp Randall the past two trips.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/133465/must-win-game-nebraska-cornhuskers
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Completely agree. The Wisconsin game was what I had in mind even before I opened the thread.

I'm fully expecting Iowa to revert back to their Iowa selves and go 8-4, 9-4 this season. Oddly enough Nebraska hasn't lost in Evanston, nor Iowa City, since joining the Big Ten. I think we'll get wins there this year, but a win at Wisconsin puts less pressure on either of those games.

 
It's more about who you play across division.

Iowa got Indiana and Maryland last year and won the division. They were good last year, but I would have liked to have seen them play anyone of Michigan, MSU, PSU, OSU before they played in the Big Ten Championship.

This year they get PSU, Michigan and Rutgers.

Nebraska has Maryland, Indiana and Ohio State.

Wisconsin has Both Michigan's AND Ohio State. I don't think Wisky is a must win. They could go 0-3 without playing anyone in their own division.

 
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RunMickeyRun02 said:
It's more about who you play across division.

Iowa got Indiana and Maryland last year and won the division. They were good last year, but I would have liked to have seen them play anyone of Michigan, MSU, PSU, OSU before they played in the Big Ten Championship.

This year they get PSU, Michigan and Rutgers.

Nebraska has Maryland, Indiana and Ohio State.

Wisconsin has Both Michigan's AND Ohio State. I don't think Wisky is a must win. They could go 0-3 without playing anyone in their own division.
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I agree. The Iowa game is technically more of a must-win IMO. We could easily lose to Wisconsin and still win the division due to Wiscy's schedule.

Although the article is more referring to the psychological side of finally getting over the Wisconsin hump. I would have to agree with that sentiment. I'm not sure how we would react to another Wisconsin beatdown. Would be very bad for Riley. So really that game is a must-win for RILEY.

 
The "must-wins" are: Fresno, Wyoming, Illinois, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota and Indiana.

The "must-win to have a crack at the division are: Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

The "would be nice to win": Oregon and Ohio State.

 
1995 Redux said:
The "must-wins" are: Fresno, Wyoming, Illinois, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota and Indiana.

The "must-win to have a crack at the division are: Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

The "would be nice to win": Oregon and Ohio State.
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Well said and with Oregon being such a unknown due to a lot of players leaving and Kelly's players leaving either to the NFL or graduating, it is time for Kelly's replacement to show if he is really continuing what Kelly started at Oregon or will he fall flat like other coaches we know of at a big time program after their previous coaches players leave. That makes the Oregon game at home a lot more winnable than it looked like it would be when the game was scheduled. IMO @tOSU is the only game that I consider a loss on the schedule right now as long as TA doesn't implode again or get hurt. If we have a healthy and low turnover TA (if that exists) then I really like our chances of playing in Indy.

I also agree with the game @Wisky being more mental than a "must" win game. A win there "should" put us at 5-0 in the conference where a loss to tOSU isn't a big deal.

 
If ever was a time to stake our claim for setting a precedent that we are a contender in this conference, that time is near.

 
1995 Redux said:
The "must-wins" are: Fresno, Wyoming, Illinois, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota and Indiana.

The "must-win to have a crack at the division are: Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

The "would be nice to win": Oregon and Ohio State.
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I like the way you put it although I still contend that if we win your must wins, really only NW is a 2nd level must win due to Wiskys schedule. If Wisky goes on the road and beats both Michigans and Ohio State home then beats Iowa and us all in a 5 week span then they're beasts and we don't stand much of a chance anyway.

 
In my opinion, it's a must win in the sense that it restores faith in the program. Wisconsin has owned us, even when they haven't been very good, or a paper tiger (ala last year). It's time to show them who the real Big Red is.

 
saunders45 said:
In my opinion, it's a must win in the sense that it restores faith in the program. Wisconsin has owned us, even when they haven't been very good, or a paper tiger (ala last year). It's time to show them who the real Big Red is.
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^^ This. I don't know that's it's a must win, but it sure would be great to win in Camp Randall and get that monkey off our back. It's a tough venue. I think it's the toughest place to play in the Big Ten. Camp Randall is just a crazy loud, obnoxious stadium[SIZE=12pt]—[/SIZE]what with all with all those drunken screaming cheese-heads in the crowd.

 
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The past 2 games at Madison have been blowouts for sure, but in both games we have started out well. I'm not sure what the hell happens in the 2Q in Madison.

In 2011, we were up 14-7 early in the 2nd before Wisconsin outscored us 34-3 the rest of the way In 2014, we were ahead 17-3 early in the 2nd before Wisconsin outscored us 56-3 the rest of the way.

 
Red Five said:
The past 2 games at Madison have been blowouts for sure, but in both games we have started out well. I'm not sure what the hell happens in the 2Q in Madison.

In 2011, we were up 14-7 early in the 2nd before Wisconsin outscored us 34-3 the rest of the way In 2014, we were ahead 17-3 early in the 2nd before Wisconsin outscored us 56-3 the rest of the way.
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That is easy, Wisconsin adjusted and Bo stubbornly didn't which was one of his trademarks. There are two words for that "Jet Sweep."

 
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