The contrast was startling.

In 2010, Bo Pelini's vision to stifle spread offenses came to fruition with a fast, aggressive, versatile band of hybrids — seven guys, all about 205 pounds, all capable of covering receivers or stuffing a running back.

Up the road, Bret Bielema's vision to run over defenses came to fruition with a massive, impenetrable, punishing offensive line — five guys, all between 315-330 pounds, all between 6-foot-4 and 6-7.

Now they're in the same league and a question begs asking: Those speedsters from Nebraska can't possibly stop those Big Ten bulldozers. Right?

The answer — truth or myth — may determine whether Nebraska can win a Big Ten title.

"To win that conference, your defense had better be extremely tough and hard-nosed in its ability to stop the run," said Tim Brewster, who coached at Minnesota last year. "Power teams are the ones you're going to have to beat. What's Iowa do on offense? They slam the ball at you. What's Wisconsin do on offense? They slam the ball at you."

In the past decade, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan moved toward a spread offense. But Brewster sees all three shifting back to traditional formations. Ohio State, without Terrelle Pryor, will become more traditional to take pressure off the quarterback, too. And new Michigan coach Brady Hoke doesn't hide his intentions of making the Wolverines more physical.

"They are going to try to bludgeon you," Brewster said. "Bludgeon you."

Can the Blackshirts hold their ground? There are real concerns. There also are reasons to believe that perception is overblown.

First, the concerns.

• Nebraska is not accustomed to trench warfare. Big 12 offenses spread the field and generally attack the defensive flanks; Big Ten offenses, at least the good ones, pack the box and generally attack the defensive core.

"The Big 12 is much more of a space conference, where you've got athletic guys," said Brewster, a former Texas assistant. "The running game is much more finesse. In the Big Ten, you're going to see physical, running football teams."

• Unlike 2009, Nebraska didn't consistently stop the run last year. Texas and Oklahoma State had success on the ground. Washington rushed for 268 yards on 52 carries in the Holiday Bowl.

But the notion that NU will get run over like roadkill on the highway is more myth than fact. Two key reasons:

• Big Ten teams don't run the ball nearly as well (or as often) as perception suggests.

The Big Ten hasn't had a single team rank among the nation's top 10 in rushing since 2007 (Illinois). And get this: Nebraska averaged more rushing yards last year than big, bad Wisconsin — the Badgers haven't finished top 10 nationally in rushing offense since 1999.

Iowa's ground game looked darn good against Missouri in the Insight Bowl, but the Hawkeyes last year ranked 70th nationally in rushing.

In 2010, the average Big Ten team ran the ball 38.9 times per game. The average Big 12 team averaged 38.3.

Baylor ran the ball more than Iowa, Oklahoma State more than Penn State, Kansas State more than Ohio State. Perhaps Big Ten teams do run more power and Big 12 teams run more to the perimeter. But it might not be as different as people think.

• Nebraska's defense this year is better equipped to stymie a downhill running game. You're likely to see fewer 205-pound hybrids like DeJon Gomes and Eric Hagg and more 235-pound linebackers like Sean Fisher and Will Compton.

The strength of the 2010 Blackshirts was the secondary. The strength of this Blackshirts unit is the defensive line, anchored by Jared Crick and Baker Steinkuhler in the middle. Nebraska's talent — and depth — up front exceeds any Big Ten rival. At least on paper.

We'll see what happens on Saturdays.

Contact the writer:

402-649-1461, dirk.chatelain@owh.com

twitter.com/dirkchatelain

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