Nebraska football: Ranking the 2018 Huskers’ opponents

The Nebraska football team has an unexpected rivalry with the Purdue Boilermakers. Illinois was an embarrassing loss for Mike Riley. So was Purdue.

Last year the Cornhuskers managed to defeat Purdue 25-24. This year, with the game in Lincoln and the Huskers hopefully being a much better fundamental team, it should be a bit easier.

On the one hand, Purdue returns almost its entire offense. That wasn’t an offense that was all that great.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Football

For one thing, it seems like the Boilermakers are always trying to settle on a quarterback. If they do finally settle on one, it’s possible that an air attack that ranked 46th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten could be quite a bit better.

They’re going to need to find a rushing attack though too. Like the Huskers, Purdue couldn’t really settle on a go-to rusher. Markell Jones split time with DJ Knox.

Both backs ran over 500 yards but they combined for just three rushing touchdowns. Knox is gone but Jones is back. If he can’t carry the load, they’re likely not going to do much better than their 83rd ranked rushing attack in 2017.

Purdue’s ticket to a bowl game last year was punched by a defense that was 24th in the country in points allowed. It was also 29th against the run.

While it was a bit more porous against passing offense, it finished 52nd in the country. Only four starters return on that defense. Expect a step back there. That should be enough for the Huskers to get another conference win.