Nebraska Football 2012: Huskers Complete First of Six Tests, Michigan Next

Coming off the debacle in Columbus, Nebraska could have folded, could have thrown in the towel. But they didn't. Bo Pelini proclaimed that the Huskers must win the next six games or else the season would be lost.

And the season was almost lost this last weekend in Evanston. Nebraska faced off against Northwestern, a team that upset them at home last year. The Huskers came out sluggish in the first half, committing numerous turnovers and stupid mistakes. And when the game was on the line, when Nebraska faced adversity and had their backs up against the wall, they responded. Taylor Martinez led the offense to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and eked out the win in front of an audience that was a majority of Husker fans.

It could be said Nebraska beat two teams last Saturday: Northwestern and themselves.

While the sloppiness in Evanston will have fans and beat writers talking all week, the only thing that really matters in the "W."

Now Nebraska must move on from the emotional victory and look ahead to what appears to be their toughest test in the gauntlet thrown down by Bo.

The Michigan Wolverines come into Lincoln riding a wave of momentum after snapping a four year losing streak to in-state rival Michigan State. 

Much has been made about the Blackshirts' ineptitude against dual-threat quarterbacks and Michigan happens to have one of the best known dual-threat quarterbacks in college football. And much like Nebraska's offense and Taylor Martinez, the Wolverines live and die by Denard Robinson. 

Make no mistake about it: this is not the 2009 defense. Denard and Michigan will get their yards, probably even some touchdowns. But if the Blackshirts can limit drives and if the offense avoids turnovers, Nebraska will win this game.

It may not be pretty, but all that matters is the victory. That's what it comes down to at the end of the day. Notching that second "W" of six in the gauntlet.

Do that and the Huskers will hold all the cards. They will still control their destiny. And they can then prepare to do it all over again the next week.