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Nebraska Football: Three toughest games on 2019 schedule

By Cullen Jekel

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads the team on the field before the game against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats at Memorial Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads the team on the field before the game against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats at Memorial Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Toughest Game No. 2

Week 7 at Minnesota Gophers

What is…what is P.J. Fleck wearing in that picture?

Anyway, this figures to be the toughest road game for the Nebraska Huskers, which bodes well for the season’s lookout. Aside from this trip to face the Gophers, Nebraska travels to Colorado in Week Two, Illinois in Week Four, Purdue in Week 10, and Maryland in Week 13. That’s not too shabby.

But Minnesota is on the rise, just like Nebraska. In two seasons at the helm after coming over from Western Michigan, Fleck is 12-13 with a bowl win.

Last year, the team improved from 5-7 to 6-6, earning said bowl bid. The Gophers return an offense that looks dynamic led by quarterback Tanner Morgan, wide receivers Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman, and running backs Mohamed Ibrahim, Rodney Smith, and Shannon Brooks, the latter two returning from major injuries.

In 2018, the Huskers finally broke through against the Gophers, winning their first game under Frost and snapping a six-game losing streak. Nebraska raced out to a 28-0 lead before watching Minnesota get back within as much as six points before pulling away for a 53-28 victory.

Husker to Step Up: Dedrick Mills, Running Back

A transfer from Georgia Tech who hasn’t played since 2016 when he ran for 771 yards and 12 touchdowns, Mills finally suits up for the Huskers. Alongside sophomore running back Maurice Washington, who ran rushed for 455 yards and three touchdowns while catching 24 passes for 221 yards and another touchdown as a freshman, Mills should keep Minnesota’s defense honest, allowing quarterback Adrian Martinez to take his time to pick apart the secondary.

Gopher to Fear: Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver

A six-foot-two, 210-pound wide receiver, Bateman hauled in 51 receptions for 704 yards and six touchdowns in his freshman season as he built chemistry with Morgan. Along with Johnson, a senior wide receiver, Minnesota will have a passing attack that will give the Huskers’ secondary fits, turning this game into a shootout.

A shootout on the road doesn’t bode well for the Huskers.

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