The 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football season, under head coach Mike Riley, presented a mixed bag of results, a transition year marked by both promising moments and frustrating setbacks. Let's delve into the complete schedule, highlighting key games and the overall narrative of the season.
The 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Schedule: A Game-by-Game Look
The season kicked off with high hopes, but the reality of the campaign unfolded in a series of fluctuating performances. Here's a breakdown of each game:
August 29th: vs. BYU (W, 33-28) - The season opener against BYU set the tone for a season full of close contests. Nebraska secured a hard-fought victory, showcasing their resilience but also hinting at the inconsistencies to come.
September 5th: at Miami (FL) (L, 36-33) - A narrow defeat against Miami in a high-scoring affair. This game highlighted Nebraska's offensive capabilities but also exposed defensive vulnerabilities that would plague them throughout the season.
September 12th: vs. Southern Alabama (W, 55-7) - A much-needed dominant performance against a significantly weaker opponent, allowing the team to regain some confidence after the Miami loss.
September 19th: vs. Illinois (W, 31-16) - Building on the previous win, Nebraska secured another victory against an in-conference opponent, showcasing an improving defense and continued offensive firepower.
September 26th: at Wisconsin (L, 23-17) - A close loss against a strong Wisconsin team in a game that displayed Nebraska's competitiveness but ultimately underscored their struggles against top-tier opponents within the Big Ten.
October 3rd: vs. Indiana (W, 48-17) - A decisive win against Indiana provided a much-needed boost of momentum, allowing the team to regain confidence after a tough loss to the Badgers.
October 10th: at Minnesota (L, 34-23) - Another frustrating close defeat against a Big Ten rival. Consistency remained an elusive goal for the Huskers.
October 17th: vs. Purdue (W, 27-14) - A solid win against Purdue provided a much-needed positive outcome in what was proving to be a season of inconsistent performances.
October 24th: at Michigan State (L, 31-24) - A defeat against a strong Michigan State team further solidified the challenges Nebraska faced against the top Big Ten programs.
October 31st: vs. Northwestern (W, 35-21) - A victory against Northwestern brought a much-needed sense of triumph before heading into the final stretch of the season.
November 7th: vs. Iowa (L, 31-29) - A heartbreaking loss against a rival Iowa team in a very close contest. This close loss cemented the inconsistency and frustrations of the season.
November 14th: at Ohio State (L, 62-3) - A significant loss against a dominant Ohio State team, which truly reflected the disparity in performance between the top teams and Nebraska.
November 21st: vs. Maryland (W, 27-24) - A nail-biting victory against Maryland to provide a small measure of triumph in a largely underwhelming season.
November 28th: vs. Penn State (L, 28-17) - The final game of the season ended with a loss against Penn State, concluding a campaign that, despite moments of brilliance, ultimately fell short of expectations.
Analysis of the 2015 Season: A Year of Transition
The 2015 season for Nebraska football served primarily as a transition period under Coach Riley. While flashes of brilliance were evident on both sides of the ball, consistency remained a significant issue. The team showed potential but lacked the overall cohesion and experience to compete consistently against the top teams in the Big Ten. The close losses indicated a team that fought hard but ultimately fell short due to defensive vulnerabilities and occasional offensive inconsistencies.
This season laid the foundation for future development and improvement within the program. The close games showed potential, promising a brighter future with additional experience and refinement.
