Regarding the 2021 schedule being a bear -- I think that's because Nebraska has underachieved so badly in recent years that most of our opponents seem capable of beating us.
Illinois
Buffalo
Oklahoma
Michigan State
If Frost had been who we thought he was upon hiring, we'd be thinking 3-1 at worst to start -- and with an explosive offense similar to what we saw at UCF potentially capable of beating OU.
Now, there's at least a bit of concern with Illinois, a MAC school, and Michigan State -- because Mel Tucker had Frost's number when coaching CU.
Northwestern
Certainly a very well coached team. However, they are returning fewer starters than any team in the Big Ten. Yet, it's impossible now to not expect this game to go down to the wire. Because the odds are, Fitzgerald will out-coach Frost -- so we need to hope our talent overcomes that.
Michigan
Heading into the season for the third consecutive year with a new starting QB. Coming off a disastrous season. Coming into Lincoln with fans back in the stadium. Has finished 19th and unranked the past two seasons. I would have thought year four of Frost could beat teams like that. But now, no, odds are likely against us.
Minnesota
Purdue
Why did we lose to Minnesota last season, considering their top WR opted out just prior to that game and they came into Lincoln with over 30 players out due to Covid? Were they more talented and deeper than Nebraska? Or was Frost out-coached? Remember, Minnesota came into Lincoln last season with a losing record -- and hadn't been able to play the two weeks prior due to Covid. The Gophers limped into Lincoln and boom.
There should be no debate about whether or not we can beat Purdue, right?
Ohio State
In Lincoln. Sure, even if Frost had lived up to expectations, we'd likely be the underdog. But now I tend to think we're hoping we avoid getting blown out.
Southeastern Louisiana
Not worth discussing that team.
Wisconsin
Iowa
I'm certain most felt by now, Frost's teams would be better than Iowa and at least on par with Wisconsin. That hasn't happened yet. The possibility of extending long losing streaks with one or both of these is very real.
That's a schedule to win no less than 8-9 games -- if we got what we expected from Frost -- and what he told us as fans -- upon his hire. I'll bet there were some expecting we'd be competing for the Big Ten title and maybe a playoff berth by year four. 13-0 at UCF had everyone believing 9 wins would be a given soon -- with the possibility for much more.
The 2021 schedule is a bear because we've been falling far below expectations for too long now. The fact that we're hoping we can come up with 6 or 7 wins and believing that may be a huge chore is due largely to the fact that we are nowhere near what you'd expect from any coach Nebraska hired going into his 4th season.
When you aren't good, the opponents become more challenging and the schedule becomes more difficult.
Illinois
Buffalo
Oklahoma
Michigan State
If Frost had been who we thought he was upon hiring, we'd be thinking 3-1 at worst to start -- and with an explosive offense similar to what we saw at UCF potentially capable of beating OU.
Now, there's at least a bit of concern with Illinois, a MAC school, and Michigan State -- because Mel Tucker had Frost's number when coaching CU.
Northwestern
Certainly a very well coached team. However, they are returning fewer starters than any team in the Big Ten. Yet, it's impossible now to not expect this game to go down to the wire. Because the odds are, Fitzgerald will out-coach Frost -- so we need to hope our talent overcomes that.
Michigan
Heading into the season for the third consecutive year with a new starting QB. Coming off a disastrous season. Coming into Lincoln with fans back in the stadium. Has finished 19th and unranked the past two seasons. I would have thought year four of Frost could beat teams like that. But now, no, odds are likely against us.
Minnesota
Purdue
Why did we lose to Minnesota last season, considering their top WR opted out just prior to that game and they came into Lincoln with over 30 players out due to Covid? Were they more talented and deeper than Nebraska? Or was Frost out-coached? Remember, Minnesota came into Lincoln last season with a losing record -- and hadn't been able to play the two weeks prior due to Covid. The Gophers limped into Lincoln and boom.
There should be no debate about whether or not we can beat Purdue, right?
Ohio State
In Lincoln. Sure, even if Frost had lived up to expectations, we'd likely be the underdog. But now I tend to think we're hoping we avoid getting blown out.
Southeastern Louisiana
Not worth discussing that team.
Wisconsin
Iowa
I'm certain most felt by now, Frost's teams would be better than Iowa and at least on par with Wisconsin. That hasn't happened yet. The possibility of extending long losing streaks with one or both of these is very real.
That's a schedule to win no less than 8-9 games -- if we got what we expected from Frost -- and what he told us as fans -- upon his hire. I'll bet there were some expecting we'd be competing for the Big Ten title and maybe a playoff berth by year four. 13-0 at UCF had everyone believing 9 wins would be a given soon -- with the possibility for much more.
The 2021 schedule is a bear because we've been falling far below expectations for too long now. The fact that we're hoping we can come up with 6 or 7 wins and believing that may be a huge chore is due largely to the fact that we are nowhere near what you'd expect from any coach Nebraska hired going into his 4th season.
When you aren't good, the opponents become more challenging and the schedule becomes more difficult.
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