Nebraska Cornhuskers

The 12th installment of a series ranking Iowa's 12 opponents for the 2014 season. Today it's No. 1 Nebraska, which joins Iowa and Wisconsin as the favorites in the Big Ten west division. The game is in Kinnick Stadium on Friday Nov. 28.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

Division:

Big Ten West

2013 record:

9-4 (5-3 T2nd Legends Division)

Returning offensive starters (5)

: IB Ameer Abdullah, QB Tommy Armstrong Jr., WR Kenny Bell, TE Cethan Carter, OG Jake Cotton

Projected starting offense

: QB Tommy Armstrong Jr., so., 6-1, 220; IB Ameer Abdullah, sr., 5-9, 195; WR Jamal Turner, sr., 6-1, 185; WR Jordan Westerkamp, so., 6-0, 195; WR Kenny Bell, sr., 6-1, 185; TE Cethan Carter, so., 6-4, 240; LT Alex Lewis, jr., 6-6, 290; LG Jake Cotton, sr., 6-6, 305; C Ryan Reeves, jr., 6-3, 300; RG Mike Moudy, sr., 6-5, 305; RT Zach Sterup, jr., 6-8, 315

Returning defensive starters (8)

: LB Zaire Anderson, S Corey Cooper, DT Aaron Curry, DE Randy Gregory, CB Josh Mitchell, LB Michael Rose, LB David Santos, DT Vincent Valentine

Projected starting defense:

DE Randy Gregory, sr., 6-6, 245; DT Maliek Collins, so., 6-2, 300; DT Vincent Valentine, so., 6-3, 320; DE Greg McMullen, so., 6-3, 280; WLB Zaire Anderson, sr., 5-11, 220; MLB Michael Rose, so., 5-11, 240; BLB David Santos, jr., 6-0, 225; CB Josh Mitchell, sr., 5-11, 160; CB Jonathan Rose, jr., 6-1, 190; SS Corey Cooper, sr., 6-1, 215; FS Nate Gerry, so., 6-2, 210

Returning specialists (3):

P Sam Foltz, so., 6-1, 205; PR Jordan Westerkamp, so., 6-0, 195; KR Kenny Bell, sr., 6-1, 185

Other specialists:

K Drew Brown, fr., 5-11, 170

Key losses:

WR Quincy Enunwa, TE Jake Long, OG Spencer Long, C Cole Pensick, OT Andrew Rodriguez, OT Jeremiah Sirles, FB C.J. Zimmerer, DE Jason Ankrah, DB Ciante Evans, S Andrew Green, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DT Thad Randle, PK Pat Smith

Key additions

: DL Joe Keels (6-3, 250 juco) OL Tanner Farmer (6-4, 315), DL Peyton Newell (6-3, 285), OL Nick Gates (6-5, 275), RB Mikale Wilbon (5-8, 190), OL D.J. Foster (6-3, 310), QB Zack Darlington (6-2, 205), TE Freedom Akinmoladun (6-4, 240), K Drew Brown (5-11, 170)

2013 review

: Strange year for the Huskers. It started with great optimism and then the Huskers played. They narrowly escaped Wyoming 37-34 in their home opener and then collapsed in Lincoln against what turned out to be a great UCLA team, 41-21.

After that game, Deadspin released secretly recorded audio in which coach Bo Pelini, before the postgame news conference after the Huskers' come-from-behind victory over Ohio State in 2011, unleashed a torrent of vitriol directed at fans and media but not toward cats. Keep that tidbit in mind.

In November, while new Huskers athletics director Shawn Eichorst remained tight-lipped about the coach's future, Pelini had a meltdown during and after a 38-17 home loss to Iowa. Pelini was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during the game, after swinging his baseball cap toward an official. He criticized the officiating crew following the game.

Pelini was reprimanded and fined by the Big Ten. But then, Eichorst issued a statement of support for Pelini. The Huskers went on to beat Georgia 24-19 in the Gator Bowl. And, now, Pelini is the toast of the college football world after responding to a popular internet meme and Twitter account @FauxPelini. Pelini carried a cat out of the tunnel for the Huskers spring game.

In between all of that coaching drama (which really does some to have dissipated), the Huskers beat Northwestern on a tipped pass that was an all-timer. converted a 99-yard TD pass against Georgia and lost to Minnesota for the first time since 1960.

2014 schedule

: A30 Florida Atlantic, S6 McNeese State, S13 at Fresno State, S20 Miami (Fla.), S27 Illinois, O4 at Michigan State, O18 at Northwestern, O25 Rutgers, N1 Purdue, N15 at Wisconsin, N22 Minnesota, N28 at Iowa

Key Stretch

: The end of the Huskers' season obviously is important. If this all plays out as it should, Nebraska will be in the west division race and it will have at Wisconsin, Minnesota and at Iowa in front of it. That's where Nebraska should end up. Out of Iowa and Wisconsin, the Huskers might have the toughest road to November contention.

This is probably too large of a chunk to fit this category, but Nebraska will be on notice from its trip to Fresno State on Sept. 13 to its stop at Northwestern on Oct. 18. It's a big stretch, but on the road at Fresno is a gamble. Then, Nebraska plays host to Miami (Fla.). It's hard to say exactly what the Hurricanes will be. It could be a tough out, or it could be a springboard for Nebraska. Then, Big Ten play starts. Two of the Huskers' first three B1G games are on the road, at Michigan State and at Northwestern.

There's the biggest difference between UNL's Big Ten schedule when compared to Iowa and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes' crossover with the east against Maryland and Indiana. Wisconsin has Maryland and Rutgers. Nebraska plays host to Rutgers, but then has to travel to East Lansing for the Spartans, the defending B1G and Rose Bowl champions. That's just the luck (or not really so lucky) of the B1G draw.

Trap game: Sometimes the trap games really stand out. For Nebraska, it could be the Sept. 27 home date against Illinois. We know that the Fighting Illini are likely playing for their coach's job. Tim Beckman is at the top of all of the Big Ten 'coaches on the hot seat” list. Before the Illini travel to Lincoln, the Huskers play host to Miami. Whether it's worthy or not, this game will be viewed as a gauge for how healthy the B1G and/or Miami is or isn't. Coming out of the Illinois game, the Huskers travel to Michigan State. That will be B1G on B1G, but you know a Huskers loss would trigger a round of columns from the Nebraska media about the school's slide from the national stage. Kind of like this one.

Glass half-full

: Nebraska has had great running backs. Where Ameer Abdullah falls on the list might never be answered, but what he's done and the possibilities that lie ahead of him this season put him among the school's all-time greatest. Abdullah, a 2013 first-team All-Big Ten selection and Doak Walker semifinalist, ran for 1,690 yards (6.0 per carry) and nine touchdowns for UNL last season, gaining at least 100 yards in 11 of 13 games. His 2013 performance ranks as the No. 4 season for any Nebraska back in history, trailing only Mike Rozier (2,148 in 1983), Ahman Green (1,877 in 1997) and Lawrence Phillips (1,722 in 1994).

Defensive end Randy Gregory made an immediate splash last season coming out of the juco ranks. The 6-6, 245-pounder led the Big Ten in sacks (10.5) and tied for second in tackles for loss (17.5). The Huskers were young up front last season and will remain that way in 2014 (particularly at defensive end). Gregory's pass-rushing skills will give the Huskers' defense a chance to be devastating on any given passing play.

Here's an idea that probably will spin off the charts in the next season or two. Nebraska has a great all-purpose wide receiver in Kenny Bell. The senior had 52 catches for 577 yards and four TDs last season. He also led the Huskers with 26.8 yards a kick return. We say 'all-purpose” here, because Nebraska's wide receivers must block and Bell excels at this. Against Wisconsin in 2012, Bell laid such a devastating block on a defender that a loyal Nebraska fan out there started a 'Kenny Bell's Hit” Facebook page. Why these types of pages haven't swept the social media world is kind of odd.

Glass half-empty: It wasn't Tommie Armstrong Jr.'s turn, but he jumped in for the injured Taylor Martinez last season and completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 966 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. Yes, Armstrong's numbers need to be better, but there's no reason to think he won't improve. Wait, he did work with Brett Favre during the offseason. Well, read into that what you will.

The Huskers have one starter returning on their offensive line. They lose five players with 125 starts on their résumés and three different all-Big Ten performers. Nebraska does have a chance to have four senior bodies in the lineup here, but they don't have a lot of experience.

Gregory is going to need some support on the D-line. Nebraska remains young up front, but the potential is there. (For what it's worth, Iowa and Nebraska were in heavy contention for defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Aaron Curry before they picked the Huskers. Tackle Vincent Valentine (6-3, 320) and end Greg McMullen (6-3, 280) should push UNL forward here.

The Huskers' will have to replace a ton of playmaking ability in the secondary. Cornerback Ciante Evans had 10 tackles for loss. He combined with Stanley Jean-Baptiste to pick off eight passes and break up another 18.

Of the three contenders in the Big Ten west division, Nebraska has the toughest schedule. Wisconsin's crossovers with the east division are Maryland and Rutgers. Iowa's is Maryland and Indiana. The Cornhuskers get Rutgers and Michigan State. Add a trip to tricky Fresno (Calif.) State and a home game against Miami (Fla.), this is a Nebraska team that's going to have to prove it.

The Iowa angle

: So, is it a rivalry now?

Probably not quite yet. The Hawkeyes need a few more wins to cement it. Iowa did, however, snap a load of streaks with its victory in Lincoln last season. It was the Hawkeyes first win over the Huskers since 1981 and first at Nebraska since 1943. Iowa also claimed the Heroes Trophy for the first time since NU joined the Big Ten in 2011. Is it a rivalry? No, but it's a step closer than it was. If the teams are in the Big Ten west hunt this year, that'll add some embers to it. It's inching toward being a game that is worthy of rivalry, one that is actually competitive and not born from geography (which, let's be honest, always will be at the heart of this).

It's futile to 'on paper” a game that will be played after 11 games and 13 weeks have unfolded. A lot of the Huskers' season will be determined by Armstrong's trajectory. The Huskers also need to find the guts of an offensive line. The defense should grow, but will it have a big playmaker to go along with Gregory?

On a national look-in level, Pelini has a ton of good will and a contract that runs through 2019 (a one-year extension came not long after Pelini's implosion after Iowa). Pelini is 58-24 at Nebraska. That's a great record at a lot of places. At Nebraska, it's a record without any conference titles. That's how time is marked in Lincoln. Championships have eluded Pelini. Will it reach 'hot seat” level? That remains to be seen.

As we noted, this game comes with 11 games and 13 weeks in front of it. That's a lot of mileage for both teams. This game will have meaning for the Hawkeyes, but will it have championship meaning? This Big Ten reshuffle favors Iowa (and Wisconsin and Nebraska), but it still has to cash in on what's viewed as a highly favorable schedule. Given Nebraska's history, it's hard to see Iowa assuming a cash in.

Quotable

: 'Make [the offer] mean something. People will be like, ‘Whoa, I've got to take this kid now.' It will slow things down for the kids, for the institutions. There will be less mistakes. Why does there have to be one specific day? And it will get rid of some of the stuff that goes on, kids pulling the hats and so forth.” - Nebraska coach Bo Pelini on his solution to slow down the recruiting process: the elimination of national signing day. In early June, Pelini said he believes high school players should be able to sign with teams as soon as they receive scholarship offers. If coaches choose to offer scholarships to freshmen and sophomores - an increasingly common tactic - they have to be prepared for those players to sign on for the distant future.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net