Nebraska Football: 5 bold predictions for Huskers in November 2017
By Shawn Ekwall
Nebraska football hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in 2017, but the month of November could be a big one for the Cornhuskers.
It’s been a disappointing season in Lincoln. Mike Riley‘s crew hasn’t come close to living up to preseason expectations. What will the final month of the season reveal? Can Nebraska football reach a bowl game? Will Riley survive and get a fourth season?
Nebraska enters November at 4-4 overall, and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Husker fans had high hopes entering Riley’s third season. However, it’s been a bumpy ride in Lincoln. It all started with giving up 42 first-half points in a loss at Oregon on Sept. 9. The following week a 21-17 home loss to Northern Illinois stunned the proud fan base. Inconsistency and injuries have plagued progress. Confidence has been missing.
Can the Huskers turn things around over the final month. Outside of a Nov. 18 trip to Penn State, the schedule is manageable. Nebraska hosts Northwestern on Saturday in what amounts to a big game for both teams. Bowl eligibility and positioning are on the line. Nebraska needs two more wins to become bowl-eligible.
Riley is on the proverbial hot seat. He needs wins to keep his job. New Athletic Director, Bill Moos is watching the football program like a hawk. What he sees over the final month — progress within the program or not — will determine whether or not Riley sees a fourth year in Lincoln. Getting to seven wins may do the trick.
Quarterback Tanner Lee is starting to display signs of being an elite quarterback. His game-winning touchdown drive that rallied the Huskers over Purdue 25-24 on Saturday was a thing of beauty. Nebraska will need Lee to be at his best to finish the season strong. Riley likes what he sees from the junior signal-caller. He put up a career-high 431 passing yards and was 32-of-50 for the game.
How will November shake out in Lincoln? Here are five predictions for Nebraska over the final month of the season.