Nebraska Completes 2012 Schedule With Idaho State; Play BYU in 2015

by Husker Mike on Feb 23, 2012 12:40 PM CST in 2012 Nebraska Huskers Football

That "TBA" in the Huskers schedule for September 22nd has finally been filled with (sit down) Idaho State. Not Boise State. Not even Idaho. Idaho State. The Bengals, a division 1-AA school, went 2-9 last season and lost 56-3 to BYU and 64-21 to Washington State. Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings rated Idaho State #205 last season. If you were ever looking a definition of a "bodybag" game, this would be it. In 2009, Oklahoma defeated Idaho State 64-0 in a rainstorm, outgaining the Bengals 564-44.

But considering the rest of Nebraska's non-conference schedule, a patsy 1-AA opponent makes sense. Nebraska opens the season with Southern Miss (12-2 last season, ranked #24 by Sagarin) on September 1st. Then the Huskers travel to UCLA (6-8, ranked #66 by Sagarin) to play at the Rose Bowl on September 8th. Arkansas State (10-3, ranked #67 by Sagarin) returns to Lincoln on September 15th. All three played in bowl games last season, and while none are "top tier" programs, Nebraska's played worse foes. Heck, if UCLA would have had a winning record last season, people would likely be talking about how tough this schedule would be.

But Nebraska needed to find an opponent for 2012, and they found one at this somewhat late date. Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald noted that defending 1-AA national champion North Dakota State (14-1, ranked #37 by Sagarin) has an open date that week, but I'd argue that the risk of playing a really good and motivated 1-AA opponent isn't worth the reward. (Still 1-AA.)

It is what it is. Hopefully it's a chance to clear the bench and give everybody who's not redshirting or injured a lot of quality playing time. And let's be honest, with Wisconsin and Ohio State coming up the next two weeks on the schedule, it's probably a really bad week to play a team like the Bison.

Several other games were announced today as well. Carl Pelini's Florida Atlantic team comes to Lincoln to open the 2014 schedule. That season still has an open date on September 6th before the Huskers visit Fresno State on September 13th and play Miami in Lincoln (FINALLY) on September 20th. BYU will come to Lincoln to open the 2015 season on September 5th. That's a great pickup, and apparently comes without a return trip to Provo. I'm sure Nebraska is going to have to pay the Cougars some serious money for this, but it's a welcome matchup for both fans and television. (Prime time on ABC or ESPN, in all likelihood!) South Alabama was announced today as well; they'll come to Lincoln on September 12th. South Alabama went 6-4 in 1-AA last season, but is moving up to 1-A and will play in the Sun Belt Conference. On September 19th, the Huskers travel to Miami then on September 26th, Southern Miss comes to Lincoln.

BYU, Southern Miss, and Miami in the non-conference schedule in 2015? That's a great schedule!

South Alabama will also play in Lincoln to open the 2019 season on August 31st. That's a long way out.

All told, some solid pickups on the schedule. I'll forgive the Idaho State game, all things considered, for this season...but I'll probably still grumble on game week about it, just the same.

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BYU and the return trip.

Not sure how much $$ Nebraska is paying BYU, but they apparently want to get some history started with Nebraska. Maybe a sign of good will?

https://twitter.com/#!/McMurphyCBS/status/172733719734517762

“BYU AD Tom Holmoe said he wants to establish a “long term relationship” with Nebraska, but no word of a return game."

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by Aaron Musfeldt on Feb 23, 2012 12:47 PM CST reply actions

There may be a gentlemen's agreement...

…and possibly have a home-and-home down the line.

It also may be part of an arrangement with other sports, especially basketball, where the Cougars play as an independent and need games.

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by Husker Mike on Feb 23, 2012 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

Would love to see Nebraska in Provo

Some history — BYU used a one-and-done game with Texas and added a home-home after that. Hopefully we see something like that here with Nebraska. Send the venerable Tom Osborne our love!

Also, it appears some of this came about because Tom Holmoe (BYU AD) and Bo Pelini coached together with the 49ers. (Here and here)

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by Brett Hein on Feb 23, 2012 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

Spring is here!

FOOTBAWL SHALT DELIVER US FROM THE DULDRUMS OF DEEPEST WINTER INTO THE LOVING EMBRACE OF SPRING PRACTICES AND ETERNAL HOPE.

Only to come crashing down like the house of Usher come late fall.

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Feb 23, 2012 2:16 PM CST reply actions

Not

impressed with the Idaho State game but the rest seem to look good on paper.

by Huzkerfan on Feb 23, 2012 8:31 PM CST reply actions

Sounds like we tried to get NDSU (FCS top dogs) but they thought Colorado State was enough of a challenge.

I’m not sure we’d do our program any favors setting up a murderer’s row.

Also, I’m really tired of Boise State being brought up. We talked to them about a game. They still wanted to be paid like a mid-major ($1 million) WHILE being treated like a top shelf program (which they earned the last couple of seasons).

Can’t have it both ways.

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Feb 23, 2012 8:41 PM CST up reply actions

Would have

liked to have seen North Dakota State but I guess everyone schedules a cupcake. You just can’t lose that game. It can send your program downward in a hurry if you do. I think that Michigan losing to App. St. was something they never fully recovered from till Hoke got there. A loss to an opponent like that can sting for years.

by Huzkerfan on Feb 24, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

That's the thing - we're trying to schedule stiff competition but teams like NDSU sent us away.

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Feb 24, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions

NDSU

might be the best D-II, or whatever they are calling it these days, school in the nation. But saying that scheduling them is trying to schedule stiff competition is a stretch in my mind. Stiff competition to me is an out of conference game against an Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, or someone like that. To me it looks like they were trying to schedule a game thought they could win and still look decent on paper for the BCS. Every school is guilty of this because you can’t afford an early season loss because more than likely you will drop one in conference play and that puts you out of title contention. Unless you play in the SEC and then you have an outside shot with two losses if the stars line up right as it did for LSU a few years back.

by Huzkerfan on Feb 25, 2012 9:20 AM CST up reply actions

You just explained the problem.

Nebraska is acting within the bounds of the current atmosphere. They’re doing themselves no favors scheduling Georgia or Alabama in addition to the rest of their schedule.

And you’re assuming those schools want to schedule Nebraska on top of the rest of their schedule. Again, I’m guessing quite a few teams are above NDSU and their FCS colleagues (D1-AA, by the way – no more D2 schools according to Pelini) on our wishlist but if they keep saying no, what are you going to do?

I think Nebraska has a good approach to their scheduling. Cupcake games allow for a second spring game, almost, assuming the team plays like they should. Presumably these cupcake games should give you both a win and playing time for your untested youth.

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Feb 25, 2012 10:24 AM CST up reply actions