With spring football in the books and summer workouts about to begin, it seems a good time to take a look at where the teams on Nebraska’s 2008 schedule stand.

Some are coming out of spring ball full of confidence, some are scratching their heads, and some maybe aren’t the cupcakes a person might think. Western Michigan and its senior-dominated bunch might fit that description.

What’s certain is Nebraska’s schedule is full of tough assignments. Just consider that four of NU’s 12 games are against teams that finished ranked in the top 10 last season (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech).

And then there’s Texas Tech; another trip to Lubbock, a place of horror for Nebraska on its last visit.

Here's a look at Nebraska’s upcoming foes.

Western Michigan

Aug. 30, Lincoln

The background: Coach Bill Cubit’s Broncos are a senior-laden group familiar with going into big venues and shocking people. Just ask Iowa, which lost to Western Michigan 28-19 in Iowa City on Senior Day last fall. Virginia also knows. In 2006, the MAC school from Kalamazoo went to Virginia and won, making a bowl game that season.

Coming out of spring: Western Michigan left spring camp with positive vibes about its wide receivers. The leader is 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior Jamarko Simmons (84 catches, 970 yards last season), but he’s got some talent around him in sophomores Jordan White and Juan Nunez. And according to the Kalamazoo Gazette, coaches have “gushed” about quarterback Tim Hiller’s improvement, though he isn’t that mobile. The Broncos run a spread offense similar to Kansas and Missouri. WMU has a new defensive coordinator (Steve Morrison), but returns 11 starters, with nine of them seniors.

Quotable: “I fell in love with the offense in terms of the way they highlight certain playmakers,” receiver Doug Wiggins, a transfer from Miami, told the Gazette. “I love the way Coach Cubit is a mastermind of getting people the ball in certain positions.”

San Jose State

Sept. 6, Lincoln

The background: It wasn’t so long ago that some faculty at San Jose State wanted the football program ended because of lack of interest and minimal resources. But the program hung around and the Spartans even made a bowl in 2006. Last year wasn’t so pleasant for the WAC school. The Spartans took BCS bowl-qualifying Hawaii to overtime in 2007, but also lost at Kansas State by 20 points and at Arizona State by 42. SJSU is coached by Dick Tomey, former Arizona coach.

Coming out of spring: The Spartans have issues at quarterback. There are three guys fighting to win the starting job, but none of them shined in the team’s spring game, which featured three lost fumbles, an interception and five sacks. Kevin Jurovich is a good receiver (1,183 yards last year) but the offense still scored less than seven points four times last year. The Spartans are also trying to figure out how to replace linebacker Matt Castelo, and improve a punting game that was the worst in the country last year.

Quotable: “I had opportunities to leave San Jose State (over the winter), and I didn’t even consider it carefully,” Tomey told the San Jose Mercury.

New Mexico State

Sept. 13, Lincoln

The background: Coached by Hal Mumme, who formerly was at Kentucky, the Aggies are coming off a 4-9 year in which the defense struggled mightily. The unit gave up 36.2 points a game and only had 14 takeaways. The Aggies lost 51-17 to San Jose State last season. NMSU hasn’t been to a bowl game since 1960. 

Coming out of spring: The Aggies are pass-happy, which means they’re expecting huge things out of quarterback Chase Holbrook (3,866 passing yards last year). Holbrook has found this spring he’s got some weapons, particularly at receiver, where there is a bevy of guys who can fly. But will the Aggies stop anybody? It was back to the drawing board this spring with new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, who likes to use a 3-3-5 scheme and sometimes unconventional blitz packages.

Quotable: “We’re learning to play hard,” Mumme told the Las Cruces Sun-News. “You can’t accomplish everything in the spring, but we got our defense implemented to the point where we can go into the summer and know where we need to improve.”

Virginia Tech

Sept. 27, Lincoln

The background: Frank Beamer’s team is coming off an Orange Bowl loss to Kansas. The Hokies are always great on special teams (“Beamer ball”) and almost always one of the better defenses in the country, last year ranking third in total defense. But they lose seven starters, including cornerback Brandon Flowers, who declared early for the NFL Draft.

Coming out of spring: There are concerns at linebacker. And what about running back? Anyone want to play? The Hokies had some tough losses this spring at that position. Branden Ore, the team’s leading rusher last year, was kicked off the team. Jahre Cheeseman broke a leg and Kenny Lewis tore the labrum in his shoulder. The Hokies only ranked 82nd in the country in rushing last year.  Tech’s quarterback situation still is up in the air. Senior Sean Glennon (passer) last year split time with Tyrod Taylor (scrambler). Seems like it could be more of the same this fall.

Quotable: “We’ve got two really good quarterbacks,” Beamer told local media. “What we’re going to do with them will continue into the fall.”

Missouri

Oct. 4, Lincoln

The background: Expectations are overflowing for Missouri this year, coming off a Big 12 North Division title and a dominating Cotton Bowl win against Arkansas. Gary Pinkel’s team could very likely start the season ranked in the top five, certainly the top 10.

Coming out of spring: The Tigers already know what they have at quarterback in Chase Daniel, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year. But they began to figure out this spring who might replace Tony Temple at running back — freshman De’Vion Moore and sophomore Derrick Washington emerged as leading candidates. It was a tough spring at linebacker. Starter Van Alexander tore a knee ligament and Sean Weatherspoon had to have surgery. Connel Davis quit the team. Marquis Booker was dismissed. The O-line also loses four of its top 10 guys from last year, so there is a question mark about the depth there. 

Quotable: “Last year, we were picked by the media to win the division. We did OK and passed that test,” Pinkel told ESPN.com. “Now, it’s whether you come back and do it again and meet and reach your potential.”

Texas Tech

Oct. 11, Lubbock, Texas

The background: Mike Leach’s Red Raiders are coming off a 9-4 season and are considered by some to be a top-10 team this year. Often good, but rarely great, Texas Tech is hoping this is the year it takes the next step and challenges for the Big 12 South title.

Coming out of spring: Quarterback Graham Harrell (5,705 yards passing) and receiver Michael Crabtree (1,962 yards receiving) are going to get their yards and points. They might even get some Heisman consideration, too. But it’s the improvement of Tech’s defense, led by coordinator Ruffin McNeill, that has Red Raider fans giddy about what could come in 2008. McNeill has simplified the defensive schemes and the kids have responded. “It doesn’t mean that I won’t coach them up,” McNeill told ESPN.com. “But we backed off and eliminated some of the thinking and reading they were doing and just let them play.”

Quotable: “I think this is the year we break through,” Crabtree told ESPN. “It’s the year I plan on doing it. We’ve got everybody back on offense, and the defense is going to be better. The goal is to go undefeated.”

Iowa State

Oct. 18, Ames, Iowa

The background: Though the Cyclones went just 3-9 last year, they improved quite a bit as the season progressed and have their fans optimistic about the abilities of coach Gene Chizik.

Coming out of spring: There’s still uncertainty at quarterback — a battle between Austen Arnaud and Omaha North grad Phillip Bates, who has done very well picking up the offense. The Cyclones are in desperate need of playmakers. J.J. Bass, Alexander Hamilton and Jason Scales give ISU hope at running back. But the receiver spot remains a big question mark.

Quotable: “There are many growing pains ahead,” Chizik told USA Today. “I feel athletically, we are still a little bit off where we need to be. We need to put together solid recruiting classes over and over (and then) you eventually claw your way to being competitive with some of the upper-echelon teams in this league.”

Baylor

Oct. 25, Lincoln

The background: It’s a new era with Art Briles taking over as coach. It’s a tall order. The Bears are still the only team in the league not to make a bowl trip since the start of the Big 12 Conference.

Coming out of spring: The Bears aren’t sure yet who will be taking snaps. Senior Kirby Freeman, a  transfer from Miami, didn’t dazzle this spring, leaving the race for the No. 1 QB spot up in the air.  He is being pushed by returning starter Blake Syzmanski. The Bears are optimistic about their O-line, with four players returning. They’ll be doing a lot of pass blocking under Briles, who loved to throw it all over the place as the coach at Houston. On defense, senior defensive tackle Vincent Rhodes had a strong camp and could be one of the team’s standouts.

Quotable: “I can do all these things and say all these things, but we need to win football games,” Briles told local media. “Y’all are winning in basketball, and you’re outstanding in track and field, and baseball has been to the World Series. We need to win football games.”

Oklahoma

Nov. 1, Norman, Okla.

The background: The Sooners again are among the favorites to contend for the national title. But recent bowl struggles have some Sooner fans anxious despite an 11-win season in 2007.

Coming out of spring: The Sooners tried out the no-huddle offense this spring, though there were minor worries when quarterback Sam Bradford tossed three picks in the spring game. Jermaine Gresham has emerged as a potential superstar at tight end and Juaquin Iglesias is the main threat at receiver. The defense is counting on Ryan Reynolds to replace Curtis Lofton, last year’s Big 12 defensive player of the year, at middle linebacker. The secondary — despite losing Reggie Smith, D.J. Wolfe and Marcus Walker — wowed OU coaches this spring, giving a boost to a defense coming off an embarrassing showing in the bowl game against West Virginia.

Quotable: “We’ve won the national championship before, and it didn’t have anything to do with the next year, and we’ve lost it and it didn’t have anything to do with the next year,” Bob Stoops told local media. “Different team, new players, coaches change here and there. So, in the end, you’ve got to go earn it again.”

Kansas

Nov. 8, Lincoln

The background: Coming off arguably the best season in school history — 12-1 and an Orange Bowl victory — the Jayhawks are hoping to show they weren’t a one-year wonder. For those wishing Kansas will just kindly go away and worry about only basketball again, the Jayhawks return 15 starters and enough key ingredients (see quarterback Todd Reesing) to once again be a major player in the race for the Big 12 North title.

Coming out of spring: The KU defense continued to impress. At the conclusion of spring ball, coach Mark Mangino said the unit has the chance to be “a pretty doggone good defense again.” But there are questions on the offensive line (Anthony Collins was a great offensive tackle and he’s gone) and KU lost the likes of wide receiver Marcus Henry, tight end Derek Fine and running back Brandon McAnderson. The Jayhawks are also looking for a replacement for cornerback and playmaker Aqib Talib, though chances of finding someone who can match all that Talib did for the team is remote.

Quotable: “We worked harder this offseason, definitely, than the past offseasons that I’ve been here,” sophomore running back Jake Sharp said. “Everybody is buying into what we’re doing here. There’s no, ‘Why are we doing this?’ We’re doing this because we’re the Orange Bowl champs.”

Kansas State

Nov. 15, Manhattan, Kan.

The background: The seat is starting to get hotter for coach Ron Prince, who has defeated Texas a couple of times, but has little else to show so far. KSU’s 73-31 loss to a struggling Nebraska team last year sure didn’t help his cause. After a 5-7 campaign, it’s a huge year for him to show he can get the program going in the right direction. Every win is critical for him, which might explain why KSU replaced Fresno State with Montana State on its schedule.

Coming out of spring: KSU reportedly has joined the list of conference teams working on the no-huddle offense. Prince told the Topeka Capital-Journal his team adopted a “Cold War mentality.” If that means more offense, Wildcat fans are all for it after sitting through a 3-0 spring game. The two teams had just 204 total yards and the quarterbacks (projected starter Josh Freeman one of them) were 10-of-28 passing. K-State is a hard team to peg even after the spring. Twelve junior-college signees are coming in this fall and will likely shake up the depth chart significantly.

Quotable: “You don’t go out and play the way we played at the end of last year and feel like things can go on status quo,” Prince told the Capital-Journal. “I wasn’t pleased with it all. It wasn’t acceptable, and I’m not going to tolerate it.”

Colorado

Nov. 28, Lincoln

The background: A 6-7 season might not seem so hot. But considering Colorado went 2-10 with a loss to Montana State the year before, CU fans are optimistic coach Dan Hawkins has the team on the right path.

Coming out of spring: Despite facing a couple of challengers, it appears the coach’s son, Cody Hawkins, has a firm grasp on the No. 1 quarterback spot. The Buffs also tried out some no-huddle offense this spring and saw Patrick Devenny, formerly a quarterback, emerge as a possible playmaker at tight end. Some depth on the offensive line also was found. But the guy Colorado fans are probably most excited about wasn’t even present during spring workouts. Running back Darrell Scott, a much-hyped recruit, is hopeful of earning the starting spot when he arrives in the fall. There are some question marks on the defensive line. A feared pass rusher did not develop during spring ball.

Quotable: “On defense, we’re going to be special,” senior defensive tackle George Hypolite told the Boulder Daily Camera. “If we can bear down and do what we’re supposed to do and stay in our gaps, we can be a special defense.”

Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 473-7439.