Nebraska Football: 3 make-or-break games for Huskers in 2021

Northwestern

Pat Fitzgerald gets as much out of his talent as any coach in the country and you have to wonder how many games Nebraska football could win with a coach like that?

That’s harsh criticism of Scott Frost but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Now, were those expectations too high? Probably. This program needed to be rebuilt from the ground up and while I truly believe Frost is making progress and is right the guy for the job, at some point, you have to prove it on the field.

An early home game against Northwestern will be the perfect opportunity to notch a big win. The Wildcats won the Big Ten West last year but Nebraska has let some opportunities slip away over the years, which is why it has lost three of four to the Wildcats.

Frost is 1-2 against Northwestern and falling to 1-3 would be brutal. And the schedule isn’t easy. If Nebraska can beat Fordham, Buffalo, Illinois, and Purdue, it still needs two wins out of the following games: At Michigan State, vs Northwestern, vs Michigan, at Minnesota, vs Ohio State, at Wisconsin and vs Iowa.

Unless the Huskers can find a way to win at Minnesota or Michigan State, Northwestern is a game that’s needed for bowl eligibility. And since it’s at home, it’s a winnable game and one that would finally give fans some hope about progress.