The No. 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers open a pivotal 2014 season by hosting the Florida Atlantic Owls at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with television coverage available on the Big Ten Network.
How to watch FAU vs. Nebraska: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more
Nebraska goes for its 29th consecutive season-opening win against the Florida Atlantic Owls Saturday. Here’s how to see it.
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014 campaign could finally be the breakthrough season that Husker fans have been waiting for. While longtime starting quarterback Taylor Martinez finally graduated after a senior season hampered by injury, the offense returns its top passer, Tommy Armstrong, Jr., and the top four rushers from a unit that finished 19th nationally in rushing yards per game. If the Nebraska offense can build a new line from a group of returnees with just 16 career starts between them, the Huskers could score some points. On defense, Nebraska is rebuilding the defensive front around all-conference end Randy Gregory, but an experienced corps of linebackers should help.
Saturday's game had been originally scheduled as a battle of siblings, with Nebraska's Bo Pelini facing off against his brother Carl Pelini's Owls. But Carl was shown the door in bizarre fashion midway through the 2013 season, and FAU hired former Wisconsin and Arkansas assistant Charlie Partridge as his replacement this offseason. Do-everything quarterback Jaquez Johnson returns, as do four starters from a lockdown defensive backfield.
How to witness
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, BTN
Radio: Nebraska: KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln and KFAB 1110 AM in Omaha. FAU: ESPN 106.3.
Online streaming: BTN2Go
The numbers
Rankings and records: Nebraska enters the season ranked No. 22 in the Coaches Poll and the Associated Press poll. Florida Atlantic is unranked.
Vegas: Nebraska is a 24-point favorite, with the over/under total set at 51.
Weather forecast: There is a chance of storms in Lincoln Saturday, with highs in the mid-80s.
Three names to know
Bo Pelini, head coach, Nebraska: It’s tough to talk about Nebraska’s offseason without mentioning Pelini, who was left for dead after another four-loss season and a minor meltdown during the season-ending loss to Iowa. Despite calls for their coach’s termination from fans and media, the Nebraska administration stood by the seventh-year head coach. Pelini returned the favor by launching a goodwill tour, cracking wise with his Twitter doppelganger, pulling pranks on his team and generally acting like a fun guy. Of course, no amount of fun antics can replace winning, and Nebraska fans are desperate for the much-anticipated step back into the national spotlight.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska: With Braxton Miller sidelined by injury, Abdullah becomes one of the favorites for Big Ten Player of the Year, and rightfully so. The senior running back ran 254 times in 2013 for nearly 1,600 yards and eight touchdowns. Nebraska loses leading receiver Quincy Enunwa and can't be too confident in Armstrong's ability to win games with his arm, so Abdullah's ability to move the chains could make or break Nebraska's season.
Jaquez Johnson, QB, FAU: In his first season as a starter, Johnson was a streaky passer -- he threw for fewer than 100 yards in four games and broke the 300-yard mark twice -- but his more than 2,600 yards of total offense and 22 total touchdowns were enough to lead FAU in passing and rushing. He was essentially the entire offense. Partridge rehired Carl Pelini’s offensive coordinator, so look for much of the same.
Two things at stake
Nebraska has not lost an opener since dropping the first game of 1985 to Florida State. That game was also the last time that Nebraska lost a home opener.
Florida Atlantic, which follows Saturday’s trip to Lincoln with a visit to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 6, is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since the school started playing football in 2001. The Owls are 0-12 all-time against opponents ranked in the Top 25.
Further reading
Corn Nation brings you all the Nebraska news and notes. For information on FAU and the rest of the FBS’ mid-majors, head over to Underdog Dynasty.
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