Bouncing around the Big Ten: Nebraska looks to rebound against North Dakota

With Week 1 looming and soccer proper on the horizon, the Mitchell Republic sports activities employees is looking at Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota’s upcoming contests, in addition to a glimpse at the remainder of the Large Ten and some video games that may fly a bit underneath the radar to look out for round faculty soccer every week within the first version of the web-only Bouncing across the Large Ten.

Right here’s what to keep watch over as faculty soccer season will get going.

Led by linebacker Jack Campbell, Iowa completed 10-4 final season (7-2 in Large Ten play) because the protection cast the group’s hard-nosed id.

The Hawkeyes held opponents to a mean of 19.2 factors per sport en path to the Large Ten West title. Over the previous 5 years, the Hawkeyes have been one in every of simply two defenses in faculty soccer to permit 30 or extra factors in lower than 10 p.c of its video games.

Campbell, named the preseason Large Ten Defensive Participant of the Yr, will once more be headlining the protection after main the nation with 143 tackles, the fifth-most in a season in program historical past.

He must be prepared if he needs to make issues simple for the offense led by quarterback Spencer Petras, who threw for 1,half of one mile with 10 touchdowns and 9 interceptions final season. Iowa is about to host SDSU at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Nebraska will look to bounce again from a demoralizing season-opening loss to Northwestern when it hosts North Dakota on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers, who have been hoping for a breakthrough season underneath fifth-year coach Scott Frost, fell aside within the second half in opposition to the Wildcats in a Large Ten sport in Dublin, Eire, and misplaced 31-28.

Northwestern scored two touchdowns within the closing 24:37 to deal the Cornhuskers their seventh straight loss courting to final season.

The Cornhuskers are the primary major-conference group within the AP Ballot period, which matches again to 1936, to drop seven straight contests by single digits, in response to ESPN Stats and Info.

“We have simply misplaced too many shut video games,” Frost mentioned. “These guys want one thing to consider in. We have to consider in ourselves as a group. I feel they do.”

Casey Thompson went 25-for-42 for 355 yards and a landing with two interceptions, each of which occurred within the fourth quarter that derailed any hopes of a comeback. Anthony Grant had 19 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns and Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda had 4 catches for 120 yards and a rating.

Defensively, the Cornhuskers allowed 528 yards of whole offense, together with 314 by means of the air, in opposition to a Northwestern group that Nebraska defeated 56-7 final 12 months.

Nebraska hopes a turnaround from final 12 months’s 3-9 season — its fourth straight shedding season underneath Frost — will begin with a win over North Dakota, an FCS faculty that received two of its closing three video games final 12 months to complete 5-6.

As Minnesota goals for a profitable 2022 season, the Golden Gophers are getting a blast from the previous.

Dealing with former coach Jerry Kill for the primary time since he left this system in 2015, Minnesota opens in opposition to his New Mexico State squad on Thursday evening in Minneapolis.

Minnesota is a heavy favourite, due to star working again Mohamed Ibrahim (3,003 speeding yards, 33 touchdowns in 28 profession video games), quarterback Tanner Morgan (8,072 yards, 56 touchdowns, 27 interceptions in 42 video games) and 6 returning starters from a protection that allowed a mean of 17.3 factors throughout its 9-4 2021 season.

There may be intrigue aplenty with the return of Kill, who went 29-29 — 0-3 in bowl video games — throughout four-plus seasons at Minnesota earlier than leaving in 2015 on account of his epilepsy considerations.

Kill was not blissful when the college fired his assistant and successor Tracy Claeys amid turmoil throughout the program. Or present Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck, who mentioned he needed to “rebuild” the Gophers program after taking up in 2017.

New Mexico State (0-1) should rebound from Saturday’s 23-12 house loss versus Nevada. The Aggies managed 303 whole yards, whereas committing 5 turnovers and eight penalties. Receiver Kordell David caught seven passes for 56 yards and a landing.

In 2018, Ibrahim ran for 101 yards throughout Minnesota’s 48-10 victory over New Mexico State, which has misplaced 18 straight highway video games. Kickoff is about for 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Saturday, Aug. 27

Northwestern 31, Nebraska 28

Illinois 38, Wyoming 6

Thursday, Sept. 1

Penn State at Purdue, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

Western Michigan at Michigan State, 6 p.m.

Illinois at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Buffalo at Maryland, 11 a.m.

Colorado State at Michigan, 11 a.m.

Rutgers at Boston School, 11 a.m.

Illinois State at No. 18 Wisconsin, 6 p.m.

No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State, 6:30 p.m.

Three FBS video games it is best to tune into this weekend:

No. 7 Utah at Florida — 6 p.m. Saturday — If the Utes need to show they’re actual contenders for the School Soccer Playoff, they’ll need to win in opposition to an SEC foe in Week 1, which is rarely a simple activity, particularly at The Swamp.

West Virginia at No. 17 Pitt — 6 p.m. Thursday — No Kenny Pickett for the Panthers this 12 months, as an alternative Kedon Slovis will lead Pitt into the Yard Brawl, and who doesn’t love Week 1 rivalry sport?

No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas — 2:30 p.m. Saturday — Cincinnati misplaced a ton of expertise to the NFL Draft after it was the primary Group of 5 group to make the CFP final 12 months, and it will get a tricky highway draw in opposition to a formidable SEC opponent to check each groups Week 1.

Notice: This report was compiled partially by means of previews from Subject Stage Media.