Scott Frost is back at Nebraska, and the excitement level in Lincoln is off the charts.
The Huskers already sold out their April 21 spring game after Frost, who led the program to its last national championship as a quarterback in 1997, took the job in December. The former Husker quarterback led UCF to an undefeated season in 2017, and is the dynamic presence the Huskers have needed on the sideline since joining the Big Ten.
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The rebuild won't be easy. Nebraska is coming off a 4-8 season and bottomed out in the Big Ten West. The Huskers haven't won 10 games in a season since 2012, and aren't ranked in Sporting News' updated way-too-early top 25. But Nebraska can work its way into the spotlight with a fast start.
A closer look at the Huskers heading into 2018:
Nebraska football schedule 2018
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| April 21 | Red-White Spring Game | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Sept. 1 | vs. Akron | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Sept. 8 | vs. Colorado | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Sept. 15 | vs. Troy | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Sept. 22 | at No. 17 Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Sept. 29 | vs. Purdue | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Oct. 6 | at No. 6 Wisconsin | Madison, Wisc. |
| Oct. 13 | at Northwestern | Evanston, Ill. |
| Oct. 20 | vs. Minnesota | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Oct. 27 | Bye | Off |
| Nov. 3 | at No. 4 Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Nov. 10 | vs. Illinois | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Nov. 17 | vs. No. 16 Michigan State | Lincoln, Neb. |
| Nov. 23 | at Iowa (Friday) | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Dec. 1 | Big Ten championship | Indianapolis |
Nebraska football recruiting 2018
Nebraska's recruiting class ranked No. 22 in 247Sports' 2018 Composite rankings, ranking fourth in the Big Ten. Dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez (Clovis West, Calif.) is the highest-ranked early enrollee, and Frost was able to bring in four-star running back Maurice Washington (Trinity Christian, Cedar Hill, Texas) and the No. 1 prospect in the state in tight end Cameron Jurgens (Beatrice, Beatrice, Neb.) on National Signing Day.
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Nebraska football roster 2018
Nebraska's roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.
| No. | Name | Pos. | Year |
| 1 | Tyjon Lindsey | WR | So. |
| 2 | Tony Butler | DB | So. |
| 4 | Avery Anderson | DB | Jr. |
| 4 | Jaevon McQuitty | WR | R-Fr. |
| 5 | Dedrick Young II | LB | Sr. |
| 6 | Eric Lee Jr. | DB | Jr. |
| 7 | Mohamed Barry | LB | Jr. |
| 8 | Stanley Morgan Jr. | WR | Sr. |
| 9 | DaiShon Neal | DL | Jr. |
| 9 | Keyan Williams | WR | Sr. |
| 10 | JD Spielman | WR | So. |
| 11 | Austin Allen | TE | R-Fr. |
| 12 | Luke Gifford | LB | Sr. |
| 12 | Patrick O'Brien | QB | So. |
| 13 | JoJo Domann | DB | So. |
| 14 | Tristan Gebbia | QB | R-Fr. |
| 14 | Avery Roberts | LB | So. |
| 16 | Andrew Bunch | QB | So. |
| 16 | Ethan Cox | DB | R-Fr. |
| 17 | Sedrick King | LB | Sr. |
| 18 | Guy Thomas | LB | R-Fr. |
| 18 | Tre Bryant | IB | Jr. |
| 19 | Marquel Dismuke | DB | So. |
| 21 | Lamar Jackson | DB | Jr. |
| 21 | Mikale Wilbon | IB | Sr. |
| 22 | Alex Davis | LB | Jr. |
| 22 | Devine Ozigbo | IB | Sr. |
| 23 | Dicaprio Bootle | DB | So. |
| 23 | Austin Rose | FB | Sr. |
| 24 | Sean Lambert | RB | So. |
| 24 | Aaron Williams | DB | Sr. |
| 25 | Antonio Reed | DB | Sr. |
| 28 | Eli Sullivan | DB | So. |
| 29 | Ben Miles | FB | R-Fr. |
| 30 | Quayshon Alexander | LB | So. |
| 30 | Bo Kitrell | TE | Sr. |
| 31 | Collin Miller | LB | So. |
| 31 | Kade Warner | WR | R-Fr. |
| 32 | Tanner Hass | RB | So. |
| 32 | Pernell Jefferson | LB | So. |
| 33 | Dylan Reynolds | WR | R-Fr. |
| 33 | Jaylin Bradley | RB | So. |
| 33 | Willie Hampton | LB | R-Fr. |
| 35 | Caleb Lightbourn | P | Jr. |
| 36 | Christian Banker | WR | R-Fr. |
| 36 | Spencer Jordan | LB | So. |
| 36 | Reid Karel | DB | Jr. |
| 37 | Wyatt Mazour | IB | Jr. |
| 38 | Damian Jackson | DL | R-Fr. |
| 39 | Bradley Bunner | DB | R-Fr. |
| 39 | Cole Frahm | PK | R-Fr. |
| 40 | Grant Jordan | LB | So. |
| 40 | Brandon Robbins | WR | R-Fr. |
| 42 | Chad Alioth Jr. | WR | R-Fr. |
| 42 | Cody Liske | LB | R-Fr. |
| 42 | Jeremiah Stovall | DB | Jr. |
| 44 | Mick Stoltenberg | DL | Sr. |
| 45 | Ty Chaffin | WR | So. |
| 47 | Branden Hohenstein | TE | So. |
| 47 | Matt Jarzynka | DL | Sr. |
| 48 | Johnny Richard | WR | So. |
| 49 | Austin Hemphill | FB | Jr. |
| 50 | John Raridon | OL | So. |
| 52 | Andrew Ward | LB | R-Fr. |
| 54 | Jordan Ober | LS | Sr. |
| 55 | Jordan Paup | DL | R-Fr. |
| 55 | Chris Walker | OL | R-Fr. |
| 56 | Boe Wilson | OL | So. |
| 57 | Jacob Weinmaster | LB | Jr. |
| 59 | Jake Kitten | OL | So. |
| 61 | Bryan Brokop | OL | So. |
| 62 | Cole Conrad | OL | Sr. |
| 63 | Tanner Farmer | OL | Sr. |
| 65 | Christian Gaylord | OL | Jr. |
| 66 | Hunter Miller | OL | R-Fr. |
| 67 | Jerald Foster | OL | Sr. |
| 70 | Matt Sichterman | OL | R-Fr. |
| 71 | Matt Farniok | OL | So. |
| 73 | Broc Bando | OL | R-Fr. |
| 74 | Jalin Barnett | OL | Jr. |
| 75 | Fyn Anderson | DL | Jr. |
| 75 | Trent Hixson | OL | R-Fr. |
| 76 | Brenden Jaimes | OL | So. |
| 76 | Dylan Owen | DL | Sr. |
| 79 | Michael Decker | OL | Jr. |
| 82 | Kurt Rafdal | TE | R-Fr. |
| 83 | Bryan Reimers | WR | Sr. |
| 84 | David Engelhaupt | TE | So. |
| 85 | Matt Snyder | TE | Jr. |
| 86 | Jack Stoll | TE | So. |
| 87 | Conor Young | WR | Jr. |
| 90 | Ben Lingenfelter | DL | R-Fr. |
| 90 | Jackson Walker | P | Sr. |
| 91 | Freedom Akinmoladun | DL | Sr. |
| 92 | Chase Urbach | LS | Jr. |
| 93 | Damion Daniels | TE | R-Jr. |
| 94 | Khalil Davis | DL | Jr. |
| 95 | Ben Stille | LB | So. |
| 96 | Carlos Davis | DL | Jr. |
| 97 | Deontre Thomas | DL | So. |
| 98 | Isaac Armstrong | P | Jr. |
| 99 | Peyton Newell | DL | Sr. |
What to watch in 2018
1. Who is the quarterback?
Tanner Lee is gone, meaning there's a three-way race for the starting quarterback job. Sophomore Patrick O'Brien battled Lee for the starting job last season, and this time redshirt-freshman Tristan Gebbia and Martinez will be in the hunt. Noah Vedral transferred from UCF but won't be eligible until next season. McKenzie Milton emerged as a star quarterback under Frost at UCF, but it took a season of experience before the breakout performance in 2017. Patience will be required from whoever starts.
2. Will the Blackshirts return?
While Frost was the quarterback for the national championship team in 1997, those teams were just as renowned for their defense. Erik Chinander is Nebraska's third defensive coordinator in three seasons. He's a former Iowa offensive lineman and was the defensive coordinator at UCF. Keep an eye on how Chinander develops the linebackers around Dedrick Young, who had 80 tackles last season. Senior safeties Aaron Williams and Antonio Reed also will be valuable in the transition.
3. How will Frost manage the hype?
The hype is real about Frost, given he flipped UCF from 0-12 to 13-0 in just two seasons. Nebraska could add another contender to a loaded Big Ten, but the first season features crossover games against Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State. The Huskers also travel to Wisconsin and Northwestern. Four of the first five games are at home, however, so Nebraska is set up for a fast start. Frost will be a top storyline in 2018; it's about sustaining that momentum through future seasons. That's what will make Nebraska a contender again.