The 2015 season is officially in the books for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It was quite a debut season for the Huskers, filled with plenty of highs, lows, and heartbreak. Nebraska overcame an infuriating 3-6 start in which 5 of their losses were by 5 points or less to finish strong, going 3-1 in their final four games with upsets over Michigan State and UCLA. Now its time to look forward to 2016, so sit back and enjoy my Way to Early prediction for the 2016 Huskers.
Projected Depth Chart (*-returning starter)
Nebraska goes into 2016 having to answer two very important personnel questions. One, how are the Cornhuskers going to restock an offensive line that loses four senior starters? And two, how are the Huskers going to replace star defensive tackle Maliek Collins? Collins held a young and hobbled defense together during the first half of the season.
Offense
*QB: 1-Tommy Armstrong: Sr., 2- Patrick O’Brien: Fr.
RB: 1- Devine Ozigbo: So., 2- Mikale Wilbon: So.
*TE: 1- Cethan Carter: Sr., 2- Matt Snyder: rFr.
*WR: 1- Brandon Reilly: Sr., 2- Lane Hovey: Jr.
WR: 1- Stanley Morgan: So., 2- Alonzo Moore: Sr.
*WR: 1- Jordan Westerkamp: Sr., 2- Demornay Pierson-El: Jr.
LT: 1- David Knevel: Jr., 2- Christian Gaylord: rFr.
LG: 1- D.J. Foster: So., 2- John Raridon: Fr.
C: 1- Dylan Utter: Sr., 2- Paul Thurston: Sr.
RG: 1- Jalin Barnett: rFr., 2- Tanner Farmer: So.
*RT: 1- Nick Gates: So., 2- Corey Whitaker: Sr.
Defense
*DE: 1-Greg McMullen: Sr., 2- Daishon Neal: rFr.
*DT: 1-Vincent Valentine: Sr., 2- Carlos Davis: rFr.
DT: 1-Kevin Maurice: Sr., 2- Kahlil Davis: rFr.
DE: 1-Freedom Akinmoladun: So., 2- Ross Dzuris: Sr.
*LB: 1-Dedrick Young: So., 2- Marcus Newby: Jr.
*LB: 1-Josh Banderas: Sr., 2- Tyrin Ferguson: So.
*LB: 1-Michael Rose-Ivey: Sr., 2- Mo Barry: rFr.
*CB: 1-Joshua Kalu: Jr., 2- Aaron Williams: So.
*CB: 1-Chris Jones: Jr., 2- Eric Lee: rFr.
*FS: 1-Nathan Gerry: Sr., 2- Kieron Williams: Jr.
SS: 1- Antonio Reed: So., 2- Marquel Dismukes: Fr.
Special Teams
*PK: Drew Brown: Jr.
*P: Sam Foltz: Sr.
KR/PR: Demornay Pierson-El: Jr.
Schedule
Game 1: Fresno State
Nebraska starts their season with a much easier matchup than last season’s opener against BYU. Fresno State has struggled mightily since Derek Carr left to resurrect the Oakland Raiders, and head coach Tim Deruyter is beginning to feel the heat. Junior Zack Greenlee is the quarterback for the Bulldogs, but he will be learning a new offensive system with former offensive coordinator Dave Schramm being fired earlier this month. Fresno State will be better than they were during their 3-9 2015 campaign, but they will not be good enough to keep up with the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska: 45
Fresno State: 20
Game 2: Wyoming
Former Nebraska assistant Craig Bohl will be making his homecoming in 2016, as he brings his Wyoming Cowboys into Lincoln. Bohl gained fame for turning North Dakota State into one of the greatest dynasties in FCS history, but he has struggled mightily to bring the same results to Laramie. Wyoming has a star running back in Brian Hill (1,631 rushing yards), but little else. Nebraska cruises to another win against a Mountain West bottom feeder.
Nebraska: 38
Wyoming: 14
Game 3: Oregon
This is the big one for Nebraska. The Huskers haven’t faced a non-conference opponent of this caliber since their two game series against Virginia Tech in 2008 and 2009. Oregon got off to a shaky start in 2015, starting the season 3-3, but have won six straight heading into the Alamo Bowl against TCU. Oregon will need to replace star quarterback Vernon Adams and offensive coordinator Scott Frost while also replacing the majority of their front seven on defense. Oregon is once again dipping into the FCS ranks for their quarterback, as former Montana State star Dakota Prukop announced his transfer to Oregon and will be eligible for spring ball. Add in the fact that Oregon still has superstar running back Royce Freeman (1,706 rushing yards, 14 TDs) and Oregon just has a bit too much talent for the Huskers.
Oregon: 41
Nebraska: 31
Game 4: at Northwestern
This game should mean a little extra for the Cornhuskers, as Nebraska gave away this season’s game against Northwestern, losing 30-28 on a day when the 1995 Nebraska football team was honored. Northwestern rode the legs of sophomore running back Justin Jackson (1,344 rushing yards) and a fantastic defense to a shocking 10-2 season heading into the Outback bowl against Tennessee. Northwestern returns Jackson and freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson, but loses six starters from their defense and loses the majority of their receiving corps. Nebraska wins a close one.
Nebraska: 24
Northwestern: 17
Game 5: Illinois
Of all of Nebraska’s losses in 2015, their 14-13 loss to Illinois probably hurts the most. Illinois will be entering year two under Bill Cubit, who replaced fired coach Tim Beckman prior to the 2015 season, and will also return star quarterback Wes Lunt. Illinois loses star receiver Geronimo Allison and running back Josh Ferguson, so expect Nebraska’s defense to dominate this one.
Nebraska: 28
Illinois: 10
Game 6: at Indiana
Kevin Wilson has done a heck of a job of morphing this Indiana team into a physical running team that can play with anybody. The Hoosiers continued their steady climb to respectability with a bowl berth in the Pinstripe bowl against Duke. The Hoosiers lost the game 44-41, but found a star in sophomore running back Devine Redding. The Hoosiers will need Redding to be great in 2016, because the Hoosiers lose all Big 10 running back Jordan Howard as well as star linemen Jason Spriggs and Darius Latham. Indiana will keep things close, but Nebraska pulls off a close one against the Hoosiers.
Nebraska: 30
Indiana: 27
Game 7: Purdue
In 2015 the Cornhuskers lost seven games, but no game pissed off Husker fans quite as much as their 55-45 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers. The Boilermakers have two nice young players to build around in quarterback David Blough and running back Markell Jones, but the Boilermakers have still won only six games in the past three years. Nebraska crushes Purdue and gets some revenge for last season’s embarrassment.
Nebraska: 42
Purdue: 7
Game 8: at Wisconsin
No stadium has caused Husker fans as much misery as Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers crushed Nebraska 48-17 in 2011 to spoil Nebraska’s first ever Big 10 game. In 2014 Wisconsin embarrassed Nebraska 59-24, a game that was the final straw in Bo Pelini’s tumultuous reign at NU. In 2016, Wisconsin will finally have to start a quarterback other than Joel Stave, a four year starter who will likely be replaced by 5th year senior Bart Houston. Wisconsin returns a solid backfield and a young offensive line that started four freshmen will be more experienced. The offense will need to be better, since their stellar defense will be losing four starters, including star players Mike Caputo and Joe Schobert. This game will be another 60 minute slugfest just like 2015, the only difference will be that Nebraska’s pulls out the victory.
Nebraska: 20
Wisconsin: 17
Game 9: at Ohio State
Ohio State will be losing a ton of talent from their 2015 squad, as Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliot, and Vonn Bell are all expected to declare for the NFL draft after the Fiesta Bowl. The scary thing is that Ohio State will have little drop off, as Sam Hubbard, Malik Hooker, and Antonio Williams are all more than capable of replacing them. Ohio State will once again be one of the most talented teams in the country in 2016, only this time they won’t have an idiotic quarterback controversy distracting the team all season. J.T. Barrett leads the Buckeyes to an impressive victory.
Ohio State: 44
Nebraska: 21
Game 10: Minnesota
The five dollar bits of broken chair trophy will once again be up for grabs in 2016, as the Gophers look to take back the trophy from Nebraska. Minnesota looks poised for a rebuilding year, as their offensive line and secondary have to replace several starters. Minnesota keeps it close for three quarters, but Nebraska pulls away late for the victory.
Nebraska: 27
Minnesota: 14
Game 11: Maryland
Maryland was a complete mess in 2015, both on the field and in the administrative offices. New head coach D.J. Durkin has a big job to do in 2016 to bring Maryland out of the dark ages of the Randy Edsall era. Durkin will get the team turned around, but not in year 1. Nebraska rolls over the Terrapins to move into a big season finale against Iowa.
Nebraska: 31
Maryland: 14
Game 12: at Iowa
Nebraska and Iowa will meet for the fifth season in a row, but this is the first time that both will be playing for the right to go to the Big 10 championship game. Iowa loses some great players from their 2015 squad, but they will still have star quarterback C.J. Beathard and the majority of their tremendous defense will be returning as well. Nebraska and Iowa will have yet another 60 minute slugfest, but the home field advantage will be just enough to give Iowa the victory and drop the Huskers to 9-3.
Iowa: 21
Nebraska: 16
Bowl Game: Outback Bowl vs. Florida
Nebraska makes its return to New Years in a matchup with the Florida Gators and their tremendous defense. Florida will need Treon Harris to improve in year two under Jim McElwain for the Gators offense to match its elite defense, and Treon will have help from the likes of Kelvin Taylor, Antonio Calloway, and Brandon Powell. Nebraska’s defense will keep things close, but Florida ekes out the victory in a tight defensive battle.
Florida: 17
Nebraska: 13
Final Record: 9-4 (7-2)
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