The strength of our schedule

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C-4

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All the way through October it looks extremely weak as only UCLA poses a real threat. There is no reason we shouldn't be 6-1/7-0 throughout the first half of the schedule. I have a problem with the second half of the schedule, however. Without any bye weeks, we are asked to go to back-to-back-to-back-etc. versus Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn St., Iowa, and Ohio St./Wisconsin. That is an extremely back loaded schedule with absolutely no cup cake teams or bye weeks. This considered, why is this schedule considered very weak?

Sat, Aug 31 Wyoming Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Sep 07 Southern Miss Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Sep 14 UCLA Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Sep 21 South Dakota State Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Oct 05 Illinois * Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Oct 12 Purdue * at West Lafayette, Ind. TBA

Sat, Oct 26 Minnesota * at Minneapolis, Minn. TBA

Sat, Nov 02 Northwestern * Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Nov 09 Michigan * at Ann Arbor, Mich. TBA

Sat, Nov 16 Michigan State * Memorial Stadium TBA

Sat, Nov 23 Penn State * at State College, Pa. TBA

Sat, Nov 30 Iowa * Memorial Stadium TBA

 
You would like to think that by the time the tougher part of our schedule comes around, we should be playing our best ball of the season.

 
I was thinking the same thing earlier. Some are saying our schedule is "weak," but I vehemently disagree.

We have three teams scheduled in the Top-25, playing the one away at one of the most difficult venues in CFB.

For comparison:

  • Alabama plays two ranked teams.
  • OSU plays three ranked teams. #23 Wisconsin instead of #21 UCLA.
  • Oregon plays three ranked teams.
  • Clemson plays three ranked teams.
  • Texas plays three ranked teams.
  • Oklahoma plays three ranked teams.

Seems like we have an average schedule or everyone's is weak by their own standards.

 
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I think the "weak" discussion is in the context of our last two schedules. Compared to those this is a weaker schedule, with no regular-season games against Wiscy or OSU.

The reality is that this schedule will be as strong as our defense makes it. If they hit the ground running we should be undefeated or a one-loss team when we head to Ann Arbor. If they play up to potential - heck, even last year's potential - we should have no more than two losses in the regular season between UCLA, at Michigan and at Penn State.

I wouldn't count on getting to Indianapolis just yet. We have such huge question marks on defense that we need to worry about even the weaker teams first.

 
What knapp said. The noncons are pretty much a wash for all three years but swapping Wiscy and tOSU for Illiois and Purdue makes it relatively much easier than the previous two seasons. However, that does not necessarily mean it is an "easy" schedule, just easy as it's likely to ever be in the B1G.

 
I'm going to go with a REALLY bold prediction at this point. I say we trounce UCLA by 4 TDs and throw ourselves into the national title hunt.

 
Yeah what knapp said, and I don't think it helped Michigan and Michigan State had down years in 2012. They'll need to show some significant improvement to strengthen our schedule. If they're not any better then who else could we possibly point to for quality wins? UCLA? Okay, maybe. Northwestern? That's cute. Penn State? TBD.

If nothing else, Michigan State is almost certain to have a better record just based on their schedule.

 
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HuskerShark said:
I'm going to go with a REALLY bold prediction at this point. I say we trounce UCLA by 4 TDs and throw ourselves into the national title hunt.
Click to expand...
Last years game was odd, I really think this year will also be a pretty easy Husker win. I don't know what the line will be but I could see it being over 8

They actually play a pretty tough Nevada team to start the year.

 
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