Nebraska Football 2019 season preview: Best and worst-case scenarios

There is plenty of excitement surrounding Nebraska football entering the 2019 season and here are the Huskers best and worst-case scenarios.

The past two seasons haven’t been very fun for Nebraska football fans as they have suffered through back-to-back 4-8 campaigns. Yet, you wouldn’t know it with the optimism that is permeating out of Lincoln.

While the Huskers do have some losses to deal with, such as the graduation of Stanley Morgan Jr.,  Devine Ozigbo and multiple starters on the offensive line, the offense should by dynamite in 2019 with Adrian Martinez playing quarterback and Scott Frost dialing up the plays.

Nebraska football averaged 456 yards of total offense, even if it managed just 30 points a game. However, the defense, which allowed 31 points a game, was a much bigger issue and that’s where much of the improvement will need to happen.

Luke Gifford, Ben Stille, Aaron Williams and Tre Neal are just some of the key defenders that won’t be back in 2019. Yet, the Huskers do bring back Mo Barry, Dicaprio Bootle, Lamar Jackson, JoJo Domann and some others.

Darrion Daniels, a defensive tackle, transferred from Oklahoma State to play alongside his brother, Damion Daniels. He may have been drafted if he declared after last season and should make a big impact on the team’s run defense. Four-star freshmen such as Ty Robinson, Noa Pola-Gates and Nick Henrich should also help at defensive end, safety and inside linebacker respectively.

There are reinforcements coming on offense too. Wandale Robinson, who chose Nebraska football over Kentucky, despite being the No. 1 player there, has seen snaps at wideout and running back. He was an all-purpose guy in high school and should be the same way in Lincoln, under Frost.

The controversy surrounding Maurice Washington doesn’t help matters at running back, but JUCO transfer Dedrick Mills, a former starter at Georgia Tech, should fill the void left by Ozigbo.

At any rate, Nebraska should be one of the most intriguing teams in the Big Ten and with that in mind, here is a look at the Huskers best and worst-case scenarios for 2019.

Nebraska football best-case scenario

• Aug. 31 vs South Alabama — W
• Sept. 7 at Colorado — W
• Sept. 14 vs Northern Illinois — W
• Sept. 21 at Illinois — W
• Sept. 28 vs Ohio State — W
• Oct. 5 vs Northwestern — W
• Oct. 12 at Minnesota — W
• Oct.  26 vs Indiana — W
• Nov. 2 at Purdue — L
• Nov. 16 vs Wisconsin — W
• Nov. 23 at Maryland — W
• Nov. 29 vs Iowa — W

Record: (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)

When you look at the Huskers schedule, it’s nothing if manageable. The road game at Colorado in Week 2 should be a challenge, as well as a home slate that includes games at Memorial Stadium against Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa.

That gives Nebraska a golden opportunity to win the Big Ten West division. Road games at Minnesota and Purdue will be tougher than some expect and the Huskers will drop a game at some point. The road game against the Boilermakers could be it. But, it’s possible for the Huskers to get to double-digit wins, especially with a signature win early.

Beating Ohio State would a huge deal for this program and that game Sept. 28 will be electric. If the Huskers beat Colorado, there will be lots of hype leading into that matchup and the Big Red faithful will respond. Martinez will too and out-duels Justin Fields in the upset win. However, despite winning the west, I don’t see Nebraska beating Michigan for the Big Ten championship. Still, after two straight 4-8 seasons, a New Year’s Six Bowl or anything close would be huge.

Nebraska football worst-case scenario

• Aug. 31 vs South Alabama — W
• Sept. 7 at Colorado — L
• Sept. 14 vs Northern Illinois — W
• Sept. 21 at Illinois — W
• Sept. 28 vs Ohio State — L
• Oct. 5 vs Northwestern — W
• Oct. 12 at Minnesota — W
• Oct. 26 vs Indiana — W
• Nov. 2 at Purdue — L
• Nov. 16 vs Wisconsin — L
• Nov. 23 at Maryland — W
• Nov. 29 vs Iowa — W

Record: 8-4 (6-3)

Even the worst-case scenario looks much better for Nebraska. Losing at Colorado early in the season would stall the momentum and make the Ohio State game less appealing nationally. Failing to score that first big win against Colorado, the Huskers fall short again versus the Buckeyes in a tight one.

Nebraska will rebound after that, but again, I don’t see them getting past Purdue on the road. And under this scenario, the Huskers drop out of the Big Ten West race following a loss at home to Wisconsin in mid-November.

The Badgers are being overlooked a little heading into 2019 and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them crank out nine or 10 wins with Jonathan Taylor leading the show again. He is another legitimate Heisman candidate and would need a big day to upend Nebraska.

Yet, even in the worst-case scenario, the Huskers are going to end the reign of terror put forth by Iowa over the past few years. Truthfully, Nebraska hasn’t won the rivalry game since Bo Pelini was fired. The Hawkeyes won on a last-second field goal in 2019, but this year, the curse of Pelini ends. Nebraska finally wins a “big” game, which will make 8-4 feel like a helluva record.