Nebraska vs Michigan: Whose Future Is Brighter, Brady Hoke or Bo Pelini?

With a win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday afternoon, the Michigan Wolverines move into second place in the Big Ten Legends Division behind rival Michigan State.

On the year, Nebraska drops to 8-3 and won't be making a third consecutive trip to a conference title game. As for Michigan, the Wolverines finally appear to be back on the rise.

In hindsight—Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska.

This is the first year for Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, and 'Huskers head coach Bo Pelini is in his fourth, although Nebraska is in his only head coaching gig thus far. Michigan is Hoke's third.

In comparing their recent history and potential future, which coach has the brighter outlook moving forward?

Let's work a case for each guy and then check out the answer at the end.

Brady Hoke

The Michigan Wolverines 2011 campaign marks the ninth season for new head coach Brady Hoke. Based on their current 9-2 record, and after demolishing Nebraska 45-17, it's a safe bet that Hoke has college football's winningest program headed back to national prominence.

And it's also clear the Michigan made the right decision in hiring Hoke. For starters, Hoke has had legit success prior to coming to Michigan.

His first gig was at his Alma Mater Ball State. There he led the Cardinals all the way to the No. 12 ranking in 2008 (his sixth year), a 12-2 record and a No. 22 final ranking.

The two years spent at San Diego State were quick, but effective.

After his second season, the Aztecs finished 9-4 and won the Poinsettia Bowl over Navy. So, Brady Hoke made two mid-major college football programs extremely relevant.

Now add in what he's been able to do for Michigan when inheriting a team (as opposed to recruiting), and it's remarkable. Just imagine how well Hoke can do when he's given even more time and years to recruit and build.

If he can make Ball State and San Diego State relevant, there is no ceiling at The University of Michigan.

Bo Pelini

When Bo Pelini was hired at Nebraska in 2008, he was taking over a program that was in dire straits, to say the least.

The previous coach—Bill Callahan—basically ruined one of college football's most traditional programs and left Pelini to pick up the pieces.

Needless to say, Pelini responded wonderfully.

In both 2009 and 2010, Pelini led Nebraska to a Big 12 North Division title and a trip to the Big 12 title game. He may have failed twice against Texas and Oklahoma in consecutive seasons, but the Cornhuskers had a combined record of 20-8 to increase from a 9-4 year in 2008 (his first).

So it was apparent that the Cornhuskers hired the right guy for his first gig as the man in charge. The 2011 season also had high expectations now that Nebraska had moved into the Big Ten.

However, the Cornhuskers have fallen to 8-3 and are out of contention to win the Big Ten Legends Division and the conference. All three losses have come in the Big Ten—two were blowouts (48-17 at Wisconsin and 45-17 at Michigan).

On top of that, Nebraska lost a home game to mediocre Northwestern 28-25, that essentially ruined their season. And until Nebraska proves they can beat legitimate Big Ten opponents on a more consistent basis, the 'Huskers will be wishing they were still a part of the much weaker Big 12.

Coach Pelini has his hands full with increased expectations.

Brighter Future? Brady Hoke

Michigan's Brady Hoke gets the nod of Nebraska's Bo Pelini because he has more experience as a head coach. He also dominated his counterpart in every facet of their game on Saturday.

Hoke went through some rough years while at Ball State—most notably his first four seasons—as the Cardinals didn't post a winning record from 2003-2006.

Even his first season at San Diego State was a losing effort of 4-8.

As for Pelini, he's had the luxury of being a part of a program that is much easier to recruit in comparison to Ball State or San Diego State. Hoke had to build a program from the ground up, where Pelini just had to revitalize an already solid program that needed a coach.

That is where the major difference lies.

Brady Hoke has been through tough times, continued to build and eventually responded. Now at Michigan, everything he learned from the previous eight seasons is taking over and rebuilding the Wolverines is going to be that much easier.

On the contrary, Pelini has yet to suffer through a mediocre or below average season. Hoke went through a total of five in his first eight years. Pelini hasn't even been through one.

So when Nebraska does have a down year (and they will), the way Pelini responds the following seasons will be very telling. And even then, Hoke will be far ahead—he's already been there and done that, so to speak. 

Follow  John Rozum on  Twitter @ Sportswriter27.