Can the Huskers Contend for a National Title?

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

I acknowledge that a national title is steep expectations for Bo Pelini's second year, but lets look at the facts:

On the defensive front, Nebraska has four players with significant experience returning, highlighted by Ndamukong Suh.  Suh, a potential first-round draft pick, passed up instant millionaire money to return to Nebraska for his senior year. 

Joining Suh on the inside will be Baker Steinkuhler, who has significant experience.  At defensive end will be returning starter Pierre Allan. Also, returning from a broken leg at the start of last year, will be Barry Turner. 

The Huskers won't be too deep on the defensive front but they will have significant experience.  At linebacker, Phillip Dillard is returning in the middle, but right now he is behind some younger players.  It adds up to the fact that you may see three new faces at linebacker this year for the Huskers.  The secondary should be much improved with everyone returning, highlighted by safety Larry Asante.

Offensively, the Huskers have three lineman returning, including center Jacob Hickman. With the lightning-and-thunder duo of Helu and Castillo returning at running back the running game should be the centerpiece of the Husker offense. 

The question marks offensively lie at quarterback.  Zac Lee emerged from spring ball with the keys to the offense, but he is inexperienced, notching only three games of playing time and completing just one pass.  The backup LaTravis Washington is even more inexperienced, having moved from linebacker to quarterback just this spring. 

Wide receiver is also a question mark, with the top-two receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson leaving last year.  Menelik Holt and Niles Paul show promise, but no one else on the squad has any experience.

Schedule-wise, this is how it looks: Nebraska has two tune-up games before they travel to Blacksburg.  If we can escape Blacksburg with a win, I believe we will be 8-0 when Oklahoma comes to town; with the rivalry, all bets are off.  If we can find some way to beat Oklahoma, then we very well might be undefeated at season's end. 

Now there are several trap games to worry about between Virginia Tech and Oklahoma: The first is the conference opener at Missouri. The tigers have lost more talent than anyone but they will still be respectable.  Next is a home game against Texas Tech.  That one should be a win, with Tech losing Harell and Crabtree, but you can never count out Mike Leach. 

Then there's a game at Baylor.  The Bears are on the rise and may very well make a Bowl game this year.  After Oklahoma, there are also games at Kansas and at Colorado to worry about. 

The Huskers should be able to go undefeated against all North opponents.  If we win the games we're supposed to and maybe pull an upset or two, we could be right in the hunt for not just a Big 12, but also a National Title.

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