Nebraska Football: The Biggest Offseason Storylines for the Cornhuskers

It was quite the end to the 2014-2015 football season for Nebraska. From Bo Pelini being fired to Mike Riley being hired, it's been a whirlwind.

To put a bow on it, the Huskers lost 45-42 in the Holiday Bowl to USC. Needless to say, most Nebraska fans are ready to move forward.

It's going to be an interesting offseason, too. In anticipation of what Riley will bring to the table, Husker fans will have plenty to talk about before September rolls around. If nothing else, it'll help make the time pass more quickly.

So, what are the biggest offseason storylines for Nebraska?

The New Man in Charge

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Mike Riley was arguably going to be a major hot topic during the offseason for Nebraska. As fans start to learn more and more about the new man in charge, there's no way he's not involved in most conversations.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper is a fan. As reported by Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald, Kiper has nothing but good things to say about Riley:

"He gets the most out of his talent and he's produced NFL players. He develops players. He obviously works well with quarterbacks. He's a heck of a football coach. He's a great guy. I think he'll do a very good job. I've always been a huge Mike Riley supporter."

So, what can fans expect from Riley's first season in charge? Will he reach the nine wins former head coach Bo Pelini was always capable of reaching? Will he surpass it? Is it possible for him to reach the Big Ten Championship in 2015?

Those are the topics that will keep Riley's name in most conversations had by Husker fans in the offseason.

The Assistant Coaches

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Mike Riley's staff is coming together. While he'll likely have it finalized sooner than later, fans will spend the offseason wondering about each new face.

What will the group bring to the table? How will each new coach work to develop players? The list of questions will be long.

As of now, here are the names in place, via HailVarsity.com:

• Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf
• Defensive coordinator Mark Banker
• Defensive line coach (and possible co-defensive coordinator) Hank Hughes
• Linebacker coach Trent Bray
• Secondary coach Charlton Warren
• Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh
• Running back coach Reggie Davis
• Defensive assistant Trent Bray
• Special teams coach Bruce Read

There are still some empty spots that need to be filled. Once finalized, the conversation during the offseason will focus on what these men can do for the Nebraska football program.

The group brings experience. Will that translate on the field? 

The Quarterback Position

USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska may have a current starting quarterback, but that doesn't mean it's going to stay that way. If there was only one topic worth discussing for the next several months, it's this one.

Tommy Armstrong's role as the starting quarterback is likely up for grabs. It should be, too, as I pointed out last week.

In that article, there was a poll asking fans who should be the starter in 2015. Of 1,267 votes, 63.2 percent said Johnny Stanton. Armstrong followed with 26.1 percent and Ryker Fyfe finished last with 10.7 percent. It's clear what Husker fans want.

The quarterback position is definitely going to be a debated one this offseason. The annual spring game may shed some light, but it's likely a decision that will not be made until the season rolls around.

That means Husker fans will have plenty of time to debate who is the best fit to lead the Nebraska offense in 2015. 

Finding an Identity

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Mike Riley wants to find the Nebraska offense an identity. That's going to be the first step in figuring out who can be the starting quarterback.

From the sounds of it, developing the identity will be a primary goal for Riley during the offseason, as reported by Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald:

"

We certainly have to establish an identity. And an identity has to be a blend of the system with what the players are comfortable with and good at. I think that's coaching. You take your talent and you make sure it's the right fit for the system — and you adapt the system as best you can to the team.

"

What will that identity look like exactly? "I guess people call it a pro-style because we've huddled and gone underneath center," Riley said, per Nyatawa.

Based on that information, Nebraska fans have all offseason to wonder and discuss how that will look for the Huskers. The answer just might determine who starts at quarterback, too.

The Big Ten

USA TODAY Sports

Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh as its new head coach and the Ohio State Buckeyes are competing for a national championship. That's great for the Big Ten, but also worrisome for Nebraska.

While those two programs fall on the East side of the Big Ten, the Huskers still have a lot to live up to in 2015. That's what makes those two facts so daunting.

The question is now whether or not Nebraska can make a run for it next season. The Huskers finished the 2014-2015 season ranked No. 2 in the West division, per BigTen.org. Can Nebraska finish ahead of Wisconsin in 2015 and battle for the Big Ten title?

It won't be easy. Fans will likely spend the offseason pondering that exact question. Do the Huskers have what it takes to win the Big Ten next season?

Let that be the debate until college football rolls back around.