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2015 record: 6-7

Returning starters: 14

Nebraska couldn't have gone in a more different direction with its coaching search after the 2014 season than replacing the fiery Bo Pelini with mild-mannered Mike Riley. The longtime Oregon State coach has long been considered one of the nicest guys in college football, but that reputation can only go so far with a program that's used to winning.

His debut season didn't go well, but it did end on a high note, with the Cornhuskers upsetting UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl. With the nucleus of that team back and combined with more of Riley's recruits, the second year could be when this abnormal leadership change produces results.

That's assuming Nebraska can improve on defense, where it was atrocious in 2015. The deficiencies were across the board but most notably against the pass, as it ranked 122nd in FBS.

"Nebraska hasn’t stabilized its defense regularly since joining the Big Ten in 2011," wrote TodaysU.com's Dustin Schutte, who noted the losses of linemen Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine following their junior year. "There is a need for an accelerated learning curve, though, meaning the newbies will have to adjust quickly along the front lines."

The Huskers are more experienced in the secondary, though, which should help improve the performance as long as the line can follow suit. And Nebraska doesn't need to do much better to have that translate into wins, not when quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., receiver Jordan Westerkamp and running back Terrell Newby are all back. So, too, is dynamic athlete De'Mornay Pierson-El, and if he can return to form after an injury-plagued 2015, it will provide a major boost.

If Nebraska can make waves this season, it will be doing so by winning on the road. Its five league away games are all against 2015 bowl teams, including Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin.