***Official don’t buy any bullshit they try selling you, offseason thread***

[TampaBaySkers]

I say Rhule follows his year three trend and we go 9-3

 

[huskerj12]

With this shit trash schedule, anything less than a solid Bo Pelini would be a catastrophe IMO

we GOTTA get a Bo

 

[Baron Winnebago]

we GOTTA get a Bo

Sadly, I've watched us shit in our pants so many times with easy schedules that I just don't believe we will get to December streak free

 

[huskerj12]

Sadly, I've watched us shit in our pants so many times with easy schedules that I just don't believe we will get to December streak free

I always enjoy throwing on some random old games on Youtube this time of year, I watched the 2014 Miami game the other day, and they mentioned that Bo was something like 20-3 in November during his career. Wtf. It feels like we've bottomed out every November for the entire post-TO era.

 

[vailhusker]

Shot down by Russian anti-aircraft fire over Crimea. RIP.

 

[Mavsker]

we GOTTA get a Bo

I hear he's available

 

[Jim14510]

I say Rhule follows his year three trend and we go 9-3

I'm hoping for this. The closer we get the more I think we're going to be disappointed.

 

[SlumpBuster]

I hear he's available

Haha, I might legit stop watching if he was hired.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

7-5 ain’t cutting it in year 3 with a WAY better overall roster than year 2 plus an easier schedule. The floor for me is 8-9 wins before the bowl game, and I’m leaning more and more by the day that the floor for me is 9.

I don't disagree, but I don't make predictions based on what cuts it and what doesn't. I make predictions based on history and PTSD.

Until this program allows me to forget PTSD.

 

[RedTillDead]

What if I told you they were all close losses?

Wouldn’t matter to me if they are 1 point loss or a 14 point loss, a loss is a loss anyway you slice it IMO.

 

[SlumpBuster]

Wouldn’t matter to me if they are 1 point loss or a 14 point loss, a loss is a loss anyway you slice it IMO.

But what about moral victories?

 

[Quint]

With this shit trash schedule, anything less than a solid Bo Pelini would be a catastrophe IMO

I understand the sentiment, but when we’re saying ‘Trash Schedule’, what are we comparing it to? We haven’t been much in the win/loss column for a long time.

Sure, we took a small step forward last year, but even the ‘garbage’ teams on our schedule gave us fits.

IMO we need to win 8 to take another step forward, and as much as I want to talk myself into ‘we have a better roster’, ‘better coaching staff’, etc. like the talking heads are spouting, there are actually a lot of unknowns and this TEAM still hasn’t done it and has to prove it. Add the fact that nothing in college football is static and other schools and staffs have the exact same goal as we do. Be better than last year, and some will actually do just that. Someone will take a step up making the ‘Trash Schedule’ less trashy. If it’s a couple of teams that improve.

Looking at the schedule, three teams (Michigan, USC and Penn State) all have better talent on paper than we do. Recent history for this program means those are likely losses. 9-3. Add to that couple of teams with decent talent taking a step up, or playing way over their heads (Cockeye, UCLA) and maybe we split those and we’re 8-4. Three other teams have legit talent and I’ve heard noise about all three of them making a move (Cincinnati, Maryland and Michigan State), so how do we fare in those games? 2-1 puts us at 7-5 and a one game improvement over last year’s regular season.

I write all that to say I think this is our ‘Put up or Shut up’ year, because to date we really haven’t proven dick. Beat those teams we’ve somehow found a way to lose to in recent years, don’t drop one to an up and comer with good talent, and bury the three genuinely bad football teams on the schedule and finish 9-3. That’s a nice step forward, schedule be damned. Finish 8-4 and I’m not pissed off, but my thoughts on this team will be confirmed.

We’re not there until we prove we’re there.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I understand the sentiment, but when we’re saying ‘Trash Schedule’, what are we comparing it to? We haven’t been much in the win/loss column for a long time.

Sure, we took a small step forward last year, but even the ‘garbage’ teams on our schedule gave us fits.

IMO we need to win 8 to take another step forward, and as much as I want to talk myself into ‘we have a better roster’, ‘better coaching staff’, etc. like the talking heads are spouting, there are actually a lot of unknowns and this TEAM still hasn’t done it and has to prove it. Add the fact that nothing in college football is static and other schools and staffs have the exact same goal as we do. Be better than last year, and some will actually do just that. Someone will take a step up making the ‘Trash Schedule’ less trashy. If it’s a couple of teams that improve.

Looking at the schedule, three teams (Michigan, USC and Penn State) all have better talent on paper than we do. Recent history for this program means those are likely losses. 9-3. Add to that couple of teams with decent talent taking a step up, or playing way over their heads (Cockeye, UCLA) and maybe we split those and we’re 8-4. Three other teams have legit talent and I’ve heard noise about all three of them making a move (Cincinnati, Maryland and Michigan State), so how do we fare in those games? 2-1 puts us at 7-5 and a one game improvement over last year’s regular season.

I write all that to say I think this is our ‘Put up or Shut up’ year, because to date we really haven’t proven dick. Beat those teams we’ve somehow found a way to lose to in recent years, don’t drop one to an up and comer with good talent, and bury the three genuinely bad football teams on the schedule and finish 9-3. That’s a nice step forward, schedule be damned. Finish 8-4 and I’m not pissed off, but my thoughts on this team will be confirmed.

We’re not there until we prove we’re there.

I'm comparing to the widely held belief that nebraska has one of if not the easiest schedule in the conference. Like I said later, nebraska has been sucking ass with relatively easy schedules for a long time so it's always possible it continues.

Could the schedule turn out to be harder than it is on paper? Absolutely. But Rhule has had 3 years to acquire talent and if he's not well passed Maryland, Michigan State, UCLA and Cincinnati in that respect, he's doing something wrong.

At some point the rubber has to meet the road and Nebraska spends too much on football to be in dogfights with the meh of the conference. If they are again this year, rhule ain't it, imo

 

[TalaricoHusker]

 

[Scott Hall]

I always enjoy throwing on some random old games on Youtube this time of year, I watched the 2014 Miami game the other day, and they mentioned that Bo was something like 20-3 in November during his career. Wtf. It feels like we've bottomed out every November for the entire post-TO era.

Went through really quick so this may be off but I counted 18-6 in November 2008-2013. Still way better than I would have expected. These are the losses

2008 away Oklahoma 62-28
2010 away Texas am 9-6
2011 home northwestern 28-25
2011 away Wisconsin 48-17
2013 home Michigan st 41-28
2013 home Cockeye 38-17

 

[huskerj12]

Went through really quick so this may be off but I counted 18-6 in November 2008-2013. Still way better than I would have expected. These are the losses

2008 away Oklahoma 62-28
2010 away Texas am 9-6
2011 home northwestern 28-25
2011 away Wisconsin 48-17
2013 home Michigan st 41-28
2013 home Cockeye 38-17


2013 home vs Michigan state

Thanks for doing actual research haha. But yeah, much better than I would've guessed.

 

[Quint]

I'm comparing to the widely held belief that nebraska has one of if not the easiest schedule in the conference. Like I said later, nebraska has been sucking ass with relatively easy schedules for a long time so it's always possible it continues.

Understand on the ‘easiest schedule’ in the conference metric, but they’re looking at 2024 and considering the teams as static. That’s always the fallacy in ranking schedules pre season. I know I didn’t expect Indiana to be a problem going into ’24, and usually think this is the year Cockeye sucks, but somehow that never happens.

You are absolutely correct in that we’ve shit the bed against less than daunting opposition for a long, long time. That’s part of why I think a big jump is unlikely. We still have a roster full of kids who may be better than previous years, but still haven’t learned how to win yet.

Could the schedule turn out to be harder than it is on paper? Absolutely. But Rhule has had 3 years to acquire talent and if he's not well passed Maryland, Michigan State, UCLA and Cincinnati in that respect, he's doing something wrong.

Agree and I think we are. This is the rub though. Do we go 4-0 against those teams in ’25? I welcome that, but kind of doubt it. I suspect 3-1 is likely and 2-2 would be a big disappointment. Anything less than 3-1 without massive qualifiers and we’re not doing the right things.

At some point the rubber has to meet the road and Nebraska spends too much on football to be in dogfights with the meh of the conference. If they are again this year, rhule ain't it, imo

Well I’ll be the first to say you’re not going to enjoy this fall. I can see another bunch of games we’re in ‘till the end with the four teams listed above and at least Cockeye as well. Now if we’re in a four quarter game with Akron, Northwestern or (gulp) Houston Christian, I’m going to join you in saying Rhule isn’t the guy. I suspect this team could look nearly identical and have anywhere from a 7-5 record to 9-3. One play here, one play there and we’re either ‘There’ or not.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Understand on the ‘easiest schedule’ in the conference metric, but they’re looking at 2024 and considering the teams as static. That’s always the fallacy in ranking schedules pre season. I know I didn’t expect Indiana to be a problem going into ’24, and usually think this is the year Cockeye sucks, but somehow that never happens.

You are absolutely correct in that we’ve shit the bed against less than daunting opposition for a long, long time. That’s part of why I think a big jump is unlikely. We still have a roster full of kids who may be better than previous years, but still haven’t learned how to win yet.


Agree and I think we are. This is the rub though. Do we go 4-0 against those teams in ’25? I welcome that, but kind of doubt it. I suspect 3-1 is likely and 2-2 would be a big disappointment. Anything less than 3-1 without massive qualifiers and we’re not doing the right things.



Well I’ll be the first to say you’re not going to enjoy this fall. I can see another bunch of games we’re in ‘till the end with the four teams listed above and at least Cockeye as well. Now if we’re in a four quarter game with Akron, Northwestern or (gulp) Houston Christian, I’m going to join you in saying Rhule isn’t the guy. I suspect this team could look nearly identical and have anywhere from a 7-5 record to 9-3. One play here, one play there and we’re either ‘There’ or not.

For me personally, I look at the roster and have trouble answering the question why it shouldn't be this year.

On paper with all the appropriate caveats of shit happens during the season, Rhule has: 1. Rectified our biggest issues from last season (offensive game planning/playcalling and special teams). 2. Added high end wide receivers to help his sophomore QB who should, if he's the real deal, make a jump this season, and 3. Is going to roll out a very experienced OL.

The only real question mark is whether the DL can be in the ball park of as good as it was last year.

If there isn't a jump this season, I basically have no faith they'll ever make it under this staff. Indiana is a great example of a team that sucked balls and then suddenly overnight "learned how to win" and capitalized on a soft schedule, so why not us?

 

[mitchmann157]

Went through really quick so this may be off but I counted 18-6 in November 2008-2013. Still way better than I would have expected. These are the losses

2008 away Oklahoma 62-28
2010 away Texas am 9-6
2011 home northwestern 28-25
2011 away Wisconsin 48-17
2013 home Michigan st 41-28
2013 home Cockeye 38-17

No better way to torture yourself than to rewatch the 2010 A&M game. Truly unbelievable we lost that game even with how bad the officiating was.

 

[nja13]

What if I told you they were all close losses?

Well that's different. As long as everyone agrees we're the best 7-5 team in the country and we get a solid moral victory in the bowl game, I could hardly ask for more.