Afterthoughts on Michigan and the state of the Big Ten

Husker Football
1

With only 13 of 18 Big Ten teams in action yesterday, we got an incomplete reading on the state of Big Ten football, but I think it was good enough to draw several conclusions.

Nebraska is better than last year, but not yet an elite team. Any team with a decent OL and running backs is gonna burn the Huskers in the running game, the question is if the Huskers can match them on the scoreboard. Yesterday, with no points from the first two drives and one turnover, the Huskers couldn’t match Michigan, but they made it close enough that they’re not totally eliminated from the playoffs yet, at least mathematically. Raiola was sacked 7 times, he needs to speed up his internal clock and be thankful that Oklahoma isn’t on the schedule this year, they had 10 sacks against Auburn, a rude homecoming for their former QB.

Nebraska’s running game got a C from the LJS crew, talk about grade inflation! I think the coaches knew their running game was not up to handling Michigan’s DL, that’s why they tried that garbage pass play on 4th down on the first drive. Ah, for the days when Nebraska’s offense was largely “We’re running up the middle, try to stop us!”.

Wisconsin is another team that needs a running game to be competitive, and Luke Fickell doesn’t have one, which is why he’s on the hot seat in Madison. Well, a 15-15 record isn’t helping, either. They were thoroughly manhandled by Maryland, and the Terps are, like Nebraska, another good but not elite team this year, which will make that road game interesting.

And speaking of manhandling, Illinois is lucky that Indiana didn’t hang 80 points on them yesterday. Don’t know if they’ve got staying power for future years, but the Hoosiers will be a factor in the Big Ten conference race again this year.

If you stayed up late to watch the MSU-USC game, it was a story that kept looking for a different ending. But in the end, USC won by two touchdowns. MSU’s defense will be a challenge for the Huskers in two weeks. If USC can survive the gauntlet of their next 3 games (at Illinois, Michigan and at Notre Dame) the Huskers will have another shot at beating a ranked team before the trip to Happy Valley.

The Huskers may be favored in their next 4 games, though I would not be surprised if the MSU and Maryland games are close to pick-em’s.

2

So far I have been right about the Huskers. I am not saying I am always right because I don’t even want to admit all the times I have been wrong. With that said I thought the first four games would go about like they have.

I figured Cincinnati and the Huskers were about even. Houston Christian and Akron were terrible and the Huskers should handle both of them easily, which they did. I also figured Michigan would beat the Huskers by ten points or less. If the Hail Mary isn’t counted it was a ten point loss. I understand the Hail Mary has to be counted as it is part of the game but that is totally a toss up play.

I don’t want to take the time to comment on every facet of the game but if that defense doesn’t doesn’t shape up it will be a long season.

I was going somewhere after the game yesterday and I was listening to the post game talk on the radio in the car. The one announcer, not sure who it was, stated Michigan won because they have better players. I pretty much agree with him.

John Papenhagen

3

Finally, I was able to watch a recording of the Huskers/Wolverine game. I was really hoping we could pull out a win against Michigan and, before the game, thought we had a pretty good chance. We’re certainly better than last year’s team but if 2024 was “average,” than we’re “average-plus” so far this year.

Michigan doesn’t have a great team but they’re good. And, truthfully, better than us right now. The final score looks better than the game was. We’ve got some gifted skill players but until we get both lines up above just average, we’re going to struggle.

On the positive side, the Husker didn’t quit, didn’t have too many egregious penalties or stupid mistakes. Whether the Hail Mary at the end of the first half was skill or luck doesn’t matter…. we’re due up for some good luck. I thought the boys played a fairly good game but just weren’t good enough to beat Michigan. Hopefully, the young team can learn from this game, improve by the end of the season and stay together in 2026. I hate seeing our talented players get plucked in the transfer portal.

The most depressing non-Husker game last week was watching Indiana take apart Illinois. I’m not an Illinois fan but don’t like Kirk Cignetti’s arrogance, even if he does back it up. Ugh.

Scott Buffington

4

I dunno, I’d take Cignetti over Bielema any day! And having grown up in Illinois and gone to Northwestern I always enjoy seeing Illinois thumped.