The new Nebraska football schedule brings mixed emotions.
The NCAA Board of Governors sat on their thumbs and decided to let each Collegiate Division take the decision into their own hands about how to proceed with Fall Sports, early this morning.
Close to 8 a.m. CT the Big Ten Conference released a newly revised conference-only schedule for each school, It includes a tenth game that is a non-divisional crossover match-up.
The Cornhuskers’ original schedule before the tenth conference game already had me uneasy going into the potential 2020 season. But now, I could see Nebraska entering the bye week during week seven with a 2-4. record The schedule is notably top-heavy.
In my mind, the Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren probably thought, “Let’s load up everyone’s schedule earlier on in the season to cash in on a sizable amount of TV revenue while giving the fans rivalry match-ups. For all we know, these games might not be played later in the season.”
Let’s face it; no one knows when the season will start or if it will be cut short due to rising cases around campuses with the conference. From that standpoint, it makes perfect sense as to why the schedules are set up the way they are.
2020 B1G Football Schedule#GBR x #TheGoodLife pic.twitter.com/p3QNRCw0fO
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) August 5, 2020
Luckily for the ‘Skers, they get the privilege of heading on the road, week one, to New Jersey, a coronavirus hotspot, to face off against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. By that time, if at least a minimal number of visiting fans are allowed in the stadium, Husker fans might want to consider purchasing their hazmat suits NOW.
My favorite tweet I saw today regarding the new schedule came from Omaha World-Herald writer Dirk Chatelain.
B1G scheduler: “Geez, what school is desperate enough for football that can we send them to Rutgers on Sept 5 — in the middle of a massive outbreak — and they wouldn’t say ‘The hell with this; football is important but not THAT important?’”
— Dirk Chatelain (@dirkchatelain) August 5, 2020
B1G intern: “Hmmm....Nebraska?”
Bill Moos himself would second that comment. I’m sure of it!
Out of all the games on the revised schedule, I’m most excited for the week three contest against Wisconsin. They are always that measuring stick game, for how I gauge, how Nebraska will fare with others in the West.
Not to belittle the games against Iowa or Minnesota, but before we can beat those teams, we need to overcome a bigger hurdle and take down the Badgers. Here is to hoping we will be at least 3-3 going into week seven. I know it is just a potential schedule, but I’m excited as all heck to see how it plays out!