Leaving the conference? Nebraska releases a statement surrounding their Big Ten controversy

The Huskers have been making headlines over the past few days

The University of Nebraska has been the subject of Big Ten news immediately following the cancellation of the fall sports calendar. Nebraska football Head Coach Scott Frost immediately made it clear that his team was going to attempt to play regardless of a Big Ten decision, quickly leading to wild speculation about the plans for the university to play games this fall. Would they change conferences (again)? Should they be allowed in the Big Ten after such comments?

Following the comments by Frost, many analysts, including ESPN analyst and former Michigan star Desmond Howard had choice words for the program. 

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren then made it clear that the Huskers were not allowed to play outside the conference, unless of course they planned to leave.

All of the events culminated today in a statement from Nebraska’s President and Chancellor:

For now, it looks as though Nebraska and Frost will remain committed to the Big Ten, but this saga looks like it has not ended just yet.

Desmond Howard has some choice words for Nebraska

Earlier today on ESPN’s Get Up, former Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan, Desmond Howard, had a few choice words on the rumors of Nebras…

Earlier today on ESPN’s Get Up, former Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan, Desmond Howard, had a few choice words on the rumors of Nebraska wanting to leave the Big Ten.

This comes after Nebraska head coach, Scott Frost, stated in his press conference that Nebraska wants to play this season no matter what and that the Cornhuskers will look elsewhere to play if the Big Ten cancels. The press conference did occur before the postponement of the fall sports season from the Big Ten, but it still looks like a strong possibility that Nebraska may leave to play in another conference.

Nebraska recently joined the Big Ten in 2011 and has previously played in the Big 12 Conference, who are still planning to play football in the fall. The Big 12 would likely be the Conference that Nebraska would move to if they do decide to leave the Big Ten.

BadgersWire will continue to update you as this situation in the Badgers division of the Big Ten West develops.

Nebraska has not reached out to the Big 12 to schedule games

The quick thing to do after the Big Ten announced a cancelation of fall sports was to throw Nebraska into the Big 12, SEC or ACC. 

The quick thing to do after the Big Ten announced a cancelation of fall sports was to throw Nebraska into the Big 12, SEC or ACC.

The former Big 12 member made strong comments the last two days in regards to trying to play a football in the fall of 2020. It was met with pushback from the Big Ten and its members, but the thought was compelling.

According to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby during a conference call with the media Wednesday, he said that Nebraska has not reached out in any former regarding to play Big 12 schools.

Nebraska left for the Big Ten from the Big 12 in 2011. The Cornhuskers had long been rivals of Oklahoma and Texas. Nebraska played in the last Big 12 Championship game before it stopped in 2010, losing to Oklahoma.

The Big 12 released its conference schedule on Wednesday after officially announcing they were still pushing towards a fall season. The Sooners announced they will start the 2020 fall season on Sept. 12 against Missouri State.

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Why Nebraska trying to play outside the Big Ten in 2020 is probably a pipe dream

Before the Big Ten postponed football, Scott Frost said Nebraska is “prepared to look for other options.”

Nebraska football coach Scott Frost was one of several coaches publicly urging conferences to carry on with the 2020 season, despite the known and unknown health risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. And he said Monday that if the Cornhuskers can’t play this season with the Big Ten, “we’re prepared to look for other options.”

But Frost didn’t get his wish. Tuesday, the Big Ten announced Tuesday that it postponed fall sports, including football, and it hopes to put something together for the spring.

The Pac-12 also bowed out of a fall season, but the rest of the Power 5 conferences — the SEC, ACC and Big 12 — currently are still moving forward.

So does this mean Frost and the Cornhuskers would seriously try to play outside the Big Ten if it meant they could play football in the fall? Here’s what Frost said Monday:

“We want to play a Big Ten schedule. I hope that’s what happens. Our university’s committed to playing no matter what. No matter what that looks like and how that looks. We want to play no matter who it is or where it is.

“So we’ll see how all those chips fall. We certainly hope it’s in the Big Ten. If it isn’t, I think we’re prepared to look for other options.”

And when the Big Ten announced the postponement of fall sports, Frost, athletic director Bill Moos and other university officials said in a statement that they’re “very disappointed” by the conference, adding:

“We will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the situation as it emerges. We hope it may be possible for our student athletes to have the opportunity to compete.”

That sort of sounds like Nebraska is still open to other options.

With a notable new and temporary exception with Notre Dame and the ACC, schools can’t be in a conference and be an independent, and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said as much when asked about the idea of Nebraska exploring other options. Via Yahoo Sports:

When Warren was asked specifically by Yahoo Sports if Nebraska could play college football this fall, he gave an answer that would make his hardline predecessor nod with approval.

“No,” he said, firmly. “Not and be a member of the Big Ten Conference.”

More from Warren about Nebraska following the Big Ten’s decision, via ESPN:

“We have 14 schools in the Big Ten conference. I appreciate the passion of all of our schools. I didn’t expect all of our coaches to be ecstatic that the decision was made, so I understand they’re passionate. … My expectation is that when you’re in a conference, you can’t be in a conference and be an independent. That’s where we are. I expect for our 14 members to go forward together.”

Clearly, Nebraska objected to the Big Ten postponing its season, but to try to leave the conference would be a particularly costly decision for the Cornhuskers. As the most profitable conference, the Big Ten had $781.5 million in revenue last year, which led to a payout of about $55.6 million to most of the schools, including Nebraska, USA TODAY Sports reported.

And, for what it’s worth, if Nebraska hypothetically tried to leave the Big Ten and join another conference for this season, returning to the Big 12 is the obvious choice. But Monday, according to the Austin American-Statesman‘s Kirk Bohls, that idea was news to the Big 12.

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By bashing Big Ten, Nebraska forgets that it isn’t 1995 anymore

Nebraska shows that the reputation it thinks it deserves and actually deserves aren’t exactly close to each other.

Nebraska used to be the big bad boy of college football, pushing everyone around with the legend Tom Osbourne in charge and Tommy Frazier pushing six Florida Gators out of the way as if they were small bugs on his way to the end zone.

Those days were close to 25 years ago and, frankly, Nebraska has been mostly a footnote in college football since.

You can’t tell the Cornhuskers that, though. They obviously still think NBC is a must-see on Thursday nights and Alanis Morissette is on top of the charts per the statement they put out on Tuesday.

“We are disappointed in the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall football season, as we have been and continue to be ready to play.

Safety comes first. Based on the conversations with our medical experts, we continue to strongly believe the absolute safest place for our student athletes is within the rigorous safety protocols, testing procedures, and the structure and support provided by Husker Athletics.

We will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the situation as it emerges. We hope it may be possible for our student athletes to have the opportunity to compete.”

In short, get bent Big Ten.

This message was approved by Chancellor Ronnie Green, President Ted Carter, athletic director Bill Moos and, of course, head football coach Scott Frost.

They have the arrogance afforded to Alabama with the winning percentage of Maryland. In the last three season, the Huskers have went 3-6 in the Big Ten, the conference they just begged to join after 2010. Of course, the move never made sense. Nebraska, with the exception of one year, hasn’t been exactly competitive. Its last conference championship? 1999, 21 years ago coming in the Big 12.

Frost has never been one to keep quiet, though, especially following him leading UCF to an undefeated season in the “almighty” American Athletic Conference, claiming a national title.

Prior to last season, everyone was falling for the spiel that Frost was telling about Nebraska being back. For some odd reason, the media picked the Huskers to win the Big Ten West.

A loss to poor Colorado in Week 2 kind of quieted those return of the glory days back in Lincoln.

What the leaders of Nebraska just did was throw a pile of manure at a conference that did what it thought was in the best interests of all of its programs, coaches and players and then lit it on fire while yelling, “We never liked you anyway!” Frost and company basically became a 12-year-old boy getting dumped by his middle school crush.

Back in 1995, this sort of ploy might have worked, them wanting to play in the SEC or, gasp, the Big 12 that they were so quick to leave for a younger, hot girlfriend in the Big Ten, but this isn’t 1995 and the Cornhuskers are mediocre at best. As Paul Finebaum so eloquently put it, Nebraska would be a piñata in the SEC.

But why would Greg Sankey and the powers in the SEC even open the door a little bit to this bunch? It is apparent that they think they are the end all and be all of the game despite, you know, not being successful as of late. When was the last time you thought to yourself, “Man, when is the Nebraska game this week? Wow, I wish I could watch them every week in the SEC.”

Never. That is the last time.

Frost was the quarterback back when the Cornhuskers meant something to college football and can’t see that times have changed. The game has left them in the dust and the once-powerful program now celebrates getting to a bowl game, a scenario once though ludicrous.

But sure, the Big Ten is the real loser here, right? I don’t see how the conference can survive without the 4-8 and 5-7 seasons with no bowl revenue that Frost has led them to in the past two seasons.

I’m sure Kevin Warren along with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are just shaking in their boots. If I’m the Big Ten, I’m saying sayonara to the children of the corn.

Know your role, Nebraska. And that’s not anywhere near the top anymore. The 1990s are over. Your powerhouse brand went the way of Beanie Babies.

REPORT: Iowa Football cancels today’s practices as reports of season cancellation become all but official

There was initially speculation that Iowa and Nebraska may try to play in other conferences, but this morning it was also reported that I…

This morning, the Dan Patrick Show reported that the Big Ten presidents and chancellors have voted to not play the 2020 season because of growing concerns about COVID-19. In his tweet, Patrick stated that 12 of the 14 teams in Big Ten voted against having the season with the teams voting in favor being Iowa and Nebraska.

Orion Sang of the Detroit Free Press has also reported this morning that the season will be canceled for the Big Ten, and in his report, he indicated that the announcement to officially cancel the season will be sometime tomorrow.

There was initially speculation that Iowa and Nebraska may try to play in other conferences, but this morning it was also reported that Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has canceled the 11am practice for today. This is an indicator of what we already know, that there will be no more football played in the Big Ten this season.

The announcement of the cancellation of the Iowa practice also ends any speculation that Iowa will move to another conference or play non-conference games for this season. This leaves Nebraska, a former Big 12 school, the big decision of trying to continue to play games this season.

As this news continues to spread, other Big Ten schools, like Wisconsin, will most likely cancel their practices until the official announcement comes from the Big Ten office. It is really unfortunate that this is the way the season will end for a promising Wisconsin team, but a highlight of this dark time is that it allowed players to start making drastic moves in being able to unite and represent themselves.

REPORT: A majority of Big Ten presidents vote against a fall season as two schools push to play

The conference has voted against a fall season

After a night filled with news that was trending towards a cancelled fall season, and a meeting last night between Big Ten presidents and chancellors, the Big Ten leaders have reportedly held a vote on whether or not they are in favor of playing college football this fall.

According to longtime talk radio host Dan Patrick, the Big Ten has voted against having the fall season with 12 of the 14 leaders in favor of cancellation.

The two schools that are in favor of playing were Iowa and Nebraska, per Dan Patrick.

We are expecting news of this vote tomorrow, as the Big Ten gets set to make an official announcement. It is clear that the Big Ten is now taking the lead on cancelling first, which many believe would create a power conference domino effect that leads to widespread cancellation of a fall football season.

Two Big Ten Teams Against Canceling Season

During his national radio show this morning the famed radio host dropped news that the Big Ten has 12 teams that want to cancel the season and two that want to play.

What a weekend and what a busy day as we catch up around the world of college football.

We’ll start today with news from the Big Ten that has just been broken by Dan Patrick.

During his national radio show this morning the famed radio host dropped news that the Big Ten has 12 teams that want to cancel the season and two that want to play.

The two that want in are Iowa and Nebraska.

That leaves the other 12 in the conference: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers and Wisconsin as the detractors.

Who knows if the cancellation will be made official today or if it will happen later this week, but it certainly feel like it’s a matter of time and that time is drawing near.

Notre Dame makes top six for prized tight end

Notre Dame knows a thing or two about tight ends. Monday saw them make the cut for another much desired tight end prospect.

Tight End U doesn’t really ever rebuild at the position, they just sort of reload.  The talent at the position speaks for itself at Notre Dame and the Irish may be closer to landing their next at the position.

Erik Olsen of Heritage (Littleton, ColoradO) released his top six schools on Monday and included was Notre Dame.

Olsen is listed as a three-star recruit on 247Sports and a top 20 tight end nationwide per their composite rankings.

Olsen also listed Colorado, Nebraska, Stanford, UCLA and Washington in his top six.

Notre Dame already has a commitment from tight end Cane Berrong in their 2021 class.

Notre Dame’s current list of commitments has their class ranked 11th nationally by 247Sports.

College Football News Preview 2020: Nebraska Cornhuskers

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Nebraska Cornhuskers season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Nebraska Cornhuskers season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Nebraska Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 5-7 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Scott Frost, 3rd year, 9-15
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 73
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 93
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 42

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Nebraska Cornhuskers Offense 3 Things To Know

When is this whole offense thing going to kick in? It scored 34 fewer points than the 2018 version, it finished an okay fifth in the Big Ten overall, and it actually ran well – going for over 200 yards per game – but it wasn’t a differentiating factor.

It needs a jolt of confidence. It needs to know it can close out games and come through in the clutch. That comes with experience, and that comes with getting almost the entire starting group back … sort of.


CFN in 60 Video: Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview
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Good freaking luck trying to figure out the Nebraska receiving corps. Leading receiver JD Spielman left the team for personal reasons. The hope is that he’ll be back – and he’s the main man if and when it his – but it’s been a strange and murky situation since he left in early March.

Wan’Dale Robinson could grow into a good, veteran No. 1 target if Spielman isn’t back, and he’ll need to be that with the freshmen about to take over. With all the receiver talent coming in, five wideouts hit the transfer portal. Fortunately, the young guys should be fantastic.

6-4, 225-pound JUCO transfer Omar Manning and star freshman Zavier Betts will soon be the stars of the show, Marcus Fleming will be a factor, and Alante Brown can fly.

Now they need Adrian Martinez to grow into the type of quarterback who can make them all blow up.

Noah Vedral is now at Rutgers, and Andrew Bunch is transferring out. That leaves Luke McCaffrey as the main backup behind Martinez, who has been fine, but hardly the program-changing talent to make the Scott Frost offensive machine go. When he’s on, he can take over a game by himself. Now he has to be on a whole lot more.

Don’t get too caught up in the numbers when it comes to the Husker O line – it was fine. Martinez takes sacks because he runs a whole lot – Nebraska was last in the Big Ten in tackles for loss allowed – but the front five does need to be more consistent for the ground game. All five starters are expected back around all-star senior Brenden Jaimes at left tackle.

Martinez is the team’s most dangerous runner, but former Georgia Tech star Dedrick Mills led the way with 745 yards and ten touchdowns. He’s the featured back, receiver Wan’Dale Robinson will get his share of carries – he finished third on the team in rushing yards.

However, Robinson might be needed more at his day job as a top target, and Maurice Washington transferred out. The job is open for a No. 2  back, with redshirt freshman Rahmir Johnson and new recruit Sevion Morrison getting the longest looks.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Nebraska Cornhuskers Defense 3 Things To Know