Act I: Evaluating Nebraska's first four opponents post-spring

The Huskers only have about a 20% chance of going 4-0 to start the season, but that's not that bad compared to what's to come. There's opportunity in September.

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

For the fifth time in the past six¹ season openers, we have a chance to learn something real about Nebraska right out of the gates. No foregone conclusions here, which used to be something of a tradition in college football. The Huskers will once again face a power-conference opponent, at a neutral site, and what that lacks in guaranteed good vibes it makes up for in meaningful information.

It was a strangely newsy week from this intentionally limited point of view with two of the Huskers’ first four opponents the source of significant (for the offseason) developments recently.

That meshed nicely with my intention to preview the first act of Nebraska’s 12-game, regular-season schedule this week anyway.

So, let’s dive in with an early look at Cincinnati, Akron, Houston Christian and Michigan based on what we learned in the spring.