That felt like a bowl win.

[zeek55]

This win is cathartic after last year.

Had center stage to ourselves in week 0 with everyone watching, and we took down Nebraska when everyone (well the usual media circus and their fans) was basically expecting Nebraska to roll over us was something special.

Bajakian had the offensive moving like back in the Auburn Citrus Bowl game (obviously this Nebraska team wasn't as talented as that Auburn team but still). 500+ yards. Hilinski was great. Hull and Porter were a great duo. Offensive line provided protection.

Anderson hire has just looked better and better every year.

I know it's just a week 0 game against Nebraska which may fire its coach at the end of this year, but man our fanbase needed that. Feels so good to get a W like this one.

Incredible for the team to start the season like that; happy for the players and Fitz.

 

[Alan Smithee]

This win is cathartic after last year.

Had center stage to ourselves in week 0 with everyone watching, and we took down Nebraska when everyone (well the usual media circus and their fans) was basically expecting Nebraska to roll over us was something special.

Bajakian had the offensive moving like back in the Auburn Citrus Bowl game (obviously this Nebraska team wasn't as talented as that Auburn team but still). 500+ yards. Hilinski was great. Hull and Porter were a great duo. Offensive line provided protection.

Anderson hire has just looked better and better every year.

I know it's just a week 0 game against Nebraska which may fire its coach at the end of this year, but man our fanbase needed that. Feels so good to get a W like this one.

Incredible for the team to start the season like that; happy for the players and Fitz.

We’re on a path to a year-over-year improvement of 52 ppg.

 

[villox]

This was better than a bowl. This felt like winning a conference championship. Super fun fan experience, great stadium, free drinks and food(!!!), with a win to top it all off. I hadn’t really been looking forward to this for some reason but I had a blast.

 

[Rebel II]

This win is cathartic after last year.

Had center stage to ourselves in week 0 with everyone watching, and we took down Nebraska when everyone (well the usual media circus and their fans) was basically expecting Nebraska to roll over us was something special.

Bajakian had the offensive moving like back in the Auburn Citrus Bowl game (obviously this Nebraska team wasn't as talented as that Auburn team but still). 500+ yards. Hilinski was great. Hull and Porter were a great duo. Offensive line provided protection.

Anderson hire has just looked better and better every year.

I know it's just a week 0 game against Nebraska which may fire its coach at the end of this year, but man our fanbase needed that. Feels so good to get a W like this one.

Incredible for the team to start the season like that; happy for the players and Fitz.

They may have more talent than Auburn!!! It was a great win over a a team with a 7.5 wins prediction.

 

[DaCat]

They may have more talent than Auburn!!! It was a great win over a a team with a 7.5 wins prediction.

The Neb fans pre-game made it sound like they were national title contenders.

 

[zeek55]

This was better than a bowl. This felt like winning a conference championship. Super fun fan experience, great stadium, free drinks and food(!!!), with a win to top it all off. I hadn’t really been looking forward to this for some reason but I had a blast.

Super happy for the fans that made the trip; sounds perfect.

 

[NJcatsfan]

It felt exactly like a bowl win & a meaningful one, at that. Big crowd. Large, boisterous fan contingents from both sides (we absolutely had more people in Dublin than we’ve had at some US bowl games). The host city rolling out the red carpet. Designated bars for each school. Both bands. Big trophy presentation at the end. Bowl win vibes are strong. And it’s not even week 1! Very very fun. So glad I attended.

btw: NU football remains undefeated all-time abroad

 

[kaTNap]

The Neb fans pre-game made it sound like they were national title contenders.

Well, they are Kirk Herbstreit's pick to win the West. :-0

 

[zeek55]

It felt exactly like a bowl win & a meaningful one, at that. Big crowd. Large, boisterous fan contingents from both sides (we absolutely had more people in Dublin than we’ve had at some US bowl games). The host city rolling out the red carpet. Designated bars for each school. Both bands. Big trophy presentation at the end. Bowl win vibes are strong. And it’s not even week 1! Very very fun. So glad I attended.

btw: NU football remains undefeated all-time abroad

Yep, it had all the elements of a big bowl game: The showcase week 0 game in Ireland with very little competition (Illinois, FSU, UNC, Vandy playing overmatched opponents though FAMU gave some fight), on FOX with no other major tv competition and with the huge crowd.

Kevin Warren was there too as part of the trophy presentation; he typically only attends the biggest non-conference games (like Oregon-Ohio State last year) or games that have a lot of TV meaning as far as conference games.

Felt like an early season men's basketball tournament in a lot of ways but a lot more unique since we had the showcase spot entirely to ourselves.

Obviously, the rest of the season will determine how we feel about this team, but that's one heck of a way to start the season. I can understand why there's people advocating for more of a "week 0 bowl season" lineup as the playoff eventually expands.

 

[Titanium999]

This was better than a bowl. This felt like winning a conference championship. Super fun fan experience, great stadium, free drinks and food(!!!), with a win to top it all off. I hadn’t really been looking forward to this for some reason but I had a blast.

Agreed! Great win 🥇

 

[hdhntr1]

Yep, it had all the elements of a big bowl game: The showcase week 0 game in Ireland with very little competition (Illinois, FSU, UNC, Vandy playing overmatched opponents though FAMU gave some fight), on FOX with no other major tv competition and with the huge crowd.

Kevin Warren was there too as part of the trophy presentation; he typically only attends the biggest non-conference games (like Oregon-Ohio State last year) or games that have a lot of TV meaning as far as conference games.

Felt like an early season men's basketball tournament in a lot of ways but a lot more unique since we had the showcase spot entirely to ourselves.

Obviously, the rest of the season will determine how we feel about this team, but that's one heck of a way to start the season. I can understand why there's people advocating for more of a "week 0 bowl season" lineup as the playoff eventually expands.

Except that this was a conference game

 

[zeek55]

Except that this was a conference game

Yeah, it's an unusual situation to have the game be a meaningful conference/division game. Normally only non-conference games are like this; the various week 1 kickoff neutral site games or the week 0 Hawaii games.

 

[FanatiCat]

Very much as valuable as a bowl win, and maybe even more.

• Some lower bowls you get the sense one team isn’t that motivated, or has guys opting out, or coaches that have already left for other jobs. Not the case here.
• Being the only Power 5 conference game and on national TV, the coverage and visibility we’re bowl-like.
• We had to be absolutely motivated like for a bowl or championship, to get last season off our back.
• Nebraska was clearly motivated (at least Frost was) because this was a make or break game. If they can’t take care of NU who they beat by 50 points only 10 months ago, how are they going to compete in the West against Wisconsin, Iowa etc? They’re already 0-1 conference, and they have Oklahoma non conf. So they are going to need to need at least 4 B1G wins to make a bowl. Scott Frost has not yet won 4 B1G games in a season. He has not beaten a ranked team at Nebraska.
  

 

[MotownMedilldo]

Very much as valuable as a bowl win, and maybe even more.

• Some lower bowls you get the sense one team isn’t that motivated, or has guys opting out, or coaches that have already left for other jobs. Not the case here.
• Being the only Power 5 conference game and on national TV, the coverage and visibility we’re bowl-like.
• We had to be absolutely motivated like for a bowl or championship, to get last season off our back.
• Nebraska was clearly motivated (at least Frost was) because this was a make or break game. If they can’t take care of NU who they beat by 50 points only 10 months ago, how are they going to compete in the West against Wisconsin, Iowa etc? They’re already 0-1 conference, and they have Oklahoma non conf. So they are going to need to need at least 4 B1G wins to make a bowl. Scott Frost has not yet won 4 B1G games in a season. He has not beaten a ranked team at Nebraska.

I'd also add the variable of Fitz playing in front of his extended family from Ireland along with the pressure of being an ambassador for the game for the local fans. What special memories he and his family made on their two trips to Dublin this year.

 

[SmellyCat]

I have to admit, I was skeptical of this. Giving up a home game. Going all the way to where no one cares about American (or NU) football. Felt like folly. Boy was I wrong.

 

[zeek55]

Very much as valuable as a bowl win, and maybe even more.

• Some lower bowls you get the sense one team isn’t that motivated, or has guys opting out, or coaches that have already left for other jobs. Not the case here.
• Being the only Power 5 conference game and on national TV, the coverage and visibility we’re bowl-like.
• We had to be absolutely motivated like for a bowl or championship, to get last season off our back.
• Nebraska was clearly motivated (at least Frost was) because this was a make or break game. If they can’t take care of NU who they beat by 50 points only 10 months ago, how are they going to compete in the West against Wisconsin, Iowa etc? They’re already 0-1 conference, and they have Oklahoma non conf. So they are going to need to need at least 4 B1G wins to make a bowl. Scott Frost has not yet won 4 B1G games in a season. He has not beaten a ranked team at Nebraska.

Yeah the exposure piece of this is what's really interesting.

Obviously it was only the first game of the Big Ten schedule, but a showcase stage like that is just hard to get beyond being a team in the hunt for the division where the games have national/regional relevance (or a conference championship game).

And it's just a unique situation where it was the only "big" game of the weekend given it was the only game involving 2 Power conference teams (and a conference game at that).

Winning on a stage like that is a great way to flush the 2021 season and completely change the narrative around Northwestern football. Nebraska was probably hoping for a jump start to their season like that, but obviously we're the side that took it.

 

[Noah121]

It's kind of funny: Nebraska played a similar conference game in Tokyo 30 years ago, against the other purple Wildcats (Kansas State). However, it was in November instead of Week 0, and of course that Husker team was well-coached and dominant.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

This win is cathartic after last year.

Had center stage to ourselves in week 0 with everyone watching, and we took down Nebraska when everyone (well the usual media circus and their fans) was basically expecting Nebraska to roll over us was something special.

Bajakian had the offensive moving like back in the Auburn Citrus Bowl game (obviously this Nebraska team wasn't as talented as that Auburn team but still). 500+ yards. Hilinski was great. Hull and Porter were a great duo. Offensive line provided protection.

Anderson hire has just looked better and better every year.

I know it's just a week 0 game against Nebraska which may fire its coach at the end of this year, but man our fanbase needed that. Feels so good to get a W like this one.

Incredible for the team to start the season like that; happy for the players and Fitz.

NW has a bowl game in their r future. On the other hand THAT was the bowl game for Frosty’s team.

 

[MotownMedilldo]

NW has a bowl game in their r future. On the other hand THAT was the bowl game for Frosty’s team.

As much as this would make me chuckle, I hope the last part is wrong and Nebraska has a good season to help our strength of schedule.

 

[SmellyCat]

It's funny. There was some Nebraska fan here last week who thought Nebraska would be in the top 10 at some point this year. I suppose it could still happen (they'd have to beat Oklahoma though), but they just don't look like a team that will blow people out this year. Would be nice if this were like the Stanford game in 2015, when both NU and Stanford went on to have a good year.

 

[zeek55]

It's funny. There was some Nebraska fan here last week who thought Nebraska would be in the top 10 at some point this year. I suppose it could still happen (they'd have to beat Oklahoma though), but they just don't look like a team that will blow people out this year. Would be nice if this were like the Stanford game in 2015, when both NU and Stanford went on to have a good year.

Yeah, I think the prevailing sentiment that I've seen is that Northwestern was significantly better than expected and that Nebraska wasn't that bad but wasn't effective in the trenches and defensively has a lot of questionmarks.

This wasn't a matchup of teams that look like they'll finish with 3 wins apiece.

 

[StreamCat]

Except that this was a conference game

My glass is full while yours is half empty and leaking on your pants in an embarrassing spot.

 

[NJCat]

As much as this would make me chuckle, I hope the last part is wrong and Nebraska has a good season to help our strength of schedule.

With games against OSU, PSU, Wisconsin and Iowa NU will have a plenty strong schedule regardless of what UN-L does the rest f the season......

 

[FanatiCat]

If UNL is actually pretty decent, then it means we’re pretty good hopefully. Also, their schedule outside of Oklahoma is not that strong so they could pick up several Ws. Hopefully pick off some common division foes later in the year.

 

[DarthCat]

I have to admit, I was skeptical of this. Giving up a home game. Going all the way to where no one cares about American (or NU) football. Felt like folly. Boy was I wrong.

Agreed. I was very down on this idea. Hope in addition to this W, we look back as this being the springboard to a great season.

 

[hdhntr1]

I

It's funny. There was some Nebraska fan here last week who thought Nebraska would be in the top 10 at some point this year. I suppose it could still happen (they'd have to beat Oklahoma though), but they just don't look like a team that will blow people out this year. Would be nice if this were like the Stanford game in 2015, when both NU and Stanford went on to have a good year.

f they do they will have to do it early in games as id looks like they still cannot play 60 minutes