After the disappointing run by the men’s basketball team it’ll be nice to see the football team take the field with some kind of measured level of anticipated success. The doldrums of underperforming Nebraska sports is about to be over as the Huskers football team takes another run at their Big 12 rivals.

With a final record of 18-12 the best Nebraska can really hope for is an invite to the NIT. In all honesty, while a NCAA Tournament berth is always nice it probably would’ve meant a one-and-done scenario for the Cornhuskers. If they get into the NIT it’s really anyone’s ball game and they might have at least a slim chance at making a run and playing some more games.

With a record of 16-9 the Cornhuskers find themselves in 7th place in the Big 12 and on the outside looking in for the tournament. Their 3 and 6 road record is partly to blame but the Big 12 has three twenty win teams at this point with two more knocking on the door.

Nebraska just doesn’t quite have the talent necessary to compete in the conference right now. Maybe in a few years, with some successful recruiting, that can change but in the meantime I think we’ll all have to continue using basketball season as a means to keep our minds occupied until football gets underway.

Two of their standouts losses came to the Sun Devils and Oklahoma. Arizona gave Nebraska a twenty point drubbing at their place back in the first week of December. The Oklahoma game, still fresh on everyone’s minds, ended up as a double-digit defeat as Nebraska couldn’t hang with Griffin and one of the top teams in the nation.

Highlight wins so far include crushing affairs against Kansas State, Alabama State and Florida A&M. A lot of Nebraska’s wins have come over admittedly weaker competition which might hurt the team’s chances of making the Tournament in March if their final win-loss record is questionable.

Despite what could have been a game-changing fumble that was overturned by replay, Nebraska managed to sneak out of the Gator Bowl with a win over Clemson.

Congrats to Bo Pelini and his staff, as well as the players on this year’s team, for going 9-4 and winning a bowl game. Joe Ganz deserves special attention for putting up sensational numbers all year and not getting the recognition he should have thanks to other Big 12 quarterbacks who drew more of the national spotlight.

Alex Henery kicked the field goal of his life to help put Colorado away at the finish. The win was fun and fantastic to watch but keep in mind, as Nebraska heads into bowl season during Bo’s first year as head coach, that Colorado came into the game 18 point underdogs.

Nebraska put up huge points in this game. Their total of 56 was spiked by 21 point second and fourth quarters. They were firing on all cylinders offensively with a solid running and passing attack. This was a very nice win as the team comes closer to the end of the year.

Next week’s matchup is at home against under .500 Colorado.

Ganz threw for over 300 yards against Kansas and Helu Jr. had over 100 yards on the ground as Nebraska continues to put forward a balanced offensive attack this year. Unfortunately, the defense gave up a ton of yards as well. That’s a weakness this team will need to address. Hopefully they come up with a solution sooner rather than later.

Next week it’s the Cornhuskers against the Kansas State Wildcats.