Week One: Southern Miss versus Nebraska

Southern Miss at Nebraska: This is an opening day matchup facing off Conference USA's Southern Miss who went 12-2 last fall versus the Big Ten's Nebraska who went 9-4 in a somewhat disappointing first year in the Big Ten. Nebraska is currently ranked #17 nationally in the preseason rankings with Southern Miss being unranked.

Offense: The Nebraska Cornhuskers are a traditional running team with the option as their main form of offense until recently. The Cornhuskers now go with a more pro-set including an I-formation and using a power run game to score points. The Cornhuskers were the 15th ranked rushing attack in the nation last fall with 217 yards per game on the ground. Nebraska averaged 4.6 yards per carry and found the end zone 31 times on the ground during the 2011 season. The Cornhusker passing game was a struggle last fall with Nebraska only gaining 162 yards in the air per game. The Cornhuskers found the end zone in the air 13 times but threw 8 interceptions during the same time. The 66th overall offensive ranking for the Cornhuskers was a bit of a letdown as well as the inability to score with Nebraska averaging 29.2 points per game, good for 50th nationally. The Southern Miss Golden Eagles were one of the most efficient offenses in the nation in 2011. The Golden Eagles ran the ball with authority putting up 205 yards on the ground per game with a lofty 5.2 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns on the season. The Southern Miss passing game added another 256 yards per game in the air for Southern Miss with 32 passing touchdowns and only 12 interceptions on the season. The 461 yards per game by the Golden Eagles ranked them 17th nationally while ranking 14th nationally in scoring with 36.9 points per game. Nebraska gets the advantage due to the significant losses to the Southern Miss offense from 2011 to 2012. EDGE: Nebraska

Defense: The Cornhusker defense finally make some steps toward being the "Blackshirts" of the past with a defensive effort that ranked them 37th nationally with 350 yards per game allowed last fall. The Cornhuskers were still lacking at stopping the run with opponents averaging 4.0 yards per carry for 158 yards per game and 23 touchdowns in 13 games. The pass defense was better with Nebraska holding opposing offenses to only 192 yards per game in the air last fall. Opponents found the end zone in the air 16 times but the Cornhusker defense picked off 10 passes and forced 18 overall turnovers on the season. The Cornhuskers gave up 23.4 points per game ranking them 42nd nationally in 2011. Southern Miss played some excellent defense in 2011 ending the season as the 29th ranked defense in the nation last fall, giving up only 343 yards per game on the season. The Golden Eagle run defense gave up a miniscule 3.3 yards per carry for 118 yards per game and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2011. The pass defense faced some of the top passing attacks in the nation and came away giving up only 224 yards per game with 14 passing touchdowns allowed but 19 interceptions forced. The Golden Eagles forced 28 turnovers on the season. Southern Miss was 26th nationally in the all important scoring defense giving up 20.8 points per game last fall. EDGE: Push

Coaching: Bo Pelini is the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and is entering his 5th season as the head coach of the Cornhuskers. Pelini started coaching in 1991 as a graduate assistant for Iowa before moving to Cardinal Mooney HS, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and LSU before ending up back at Nebraska but this time as head coach. Pelini is 39-16 in his 4+ seasons as head coach of the Cornhuskers with a 3-2 bowl record (coached the bowl game in 2003 as interim head coach) and three top 25 finishes. Ellis Johnson is the head coach of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and is entering his first season as head coach. Johnson started coaching in 1975 with the Citadel before moving to Gaffney HS, Spartanburg HS, the Citadel again, Gardner- Webb, Appalachian State, East Carolina, Southern Miss, Alabama, Clemson, Alabama again, the Citadel again, and Mississippi State before getting the head coaching job at Southern Miss. This is Johnson's third head coaching job after stints at Gardner-Webb (5-6) and The Citadel (12-22). EDGE: Nebraska

This is the 4th overall meeting between the two school with Nebraska holding a 2-1 record over Southern Miss in the previous two meetings. The last meeting was in 2004 with Southern Miss winning 21-17 over the Cornhuskers.

Southern Miss should be a good team in 2012 but will struggle to find their niche with new players all over the field including the quarterback position and a new head coach this fall. The Golden Eagles were a bit of surprise in 2011 with a 12-2 record but will struggle to meet those lofty expectations with three games versus preseason top 25 teams and a very tricky road trip to WKU on September 22nd. 8-4 with another bowl berth is the most likely scenario although the Golden Eagles could easily be 1-5 after a very tough start to the season.