Nebraska coach Scott Frost has one of the most important games of his coaching life on Saturday. The Cornhuskers are now just 7-point favorites against Illinois, a team that has endured its own struggles and will be breaking in a new head coach.

To understand the importance of these 60 minutes for Frost, one must first understand just how disappointing the last three years have been. Since arriving from Central Florida, Frost is 12-20 with Nebraska. To put that in further perspective, he won more games in his final season with the Knights than he has thus far in Lincoln.

The marriage between coach and program seemed, frankly, perfect at the onset. Frost, a legendary player for the program and state, felt like the appropriate savior arriving at the perfect time.

The results have been wildly disappointing. Inconsistent quarterback play, subpar defense and the inability to recruit and develop are the catalysts of these struggles, although it’s difficult to pinpoint a single source of failure. It simply has not worked.

I hate to overstate the importance of one game, but this feels like a program on the brink. And with the NCAA investigating Nebraska and Frost for the improper use of analysts and workouts that shouldn’t have taken place, the stakes are even greater.

Here are some other observations on the upcoming college football season:

Although I have touted Georgia all offseason, the potential absences the Bulldogs could have against Clemson are plenty concerning. “Potential” is the keyword because we don’t know much else. What we do know is that tight end-turned-wideout, Arik Gilbert, the team’s massive offseason acquisition, is away from the program for personal reasons.

We also know tight end Darnell Washington, a massive piece of the offense, is dealing with a foot injury that makes his availability hazy. Tykee Smith, a promising defensive back who came over from West Virginia, is dealing with a foot injury as well. While not necessarily back-breaking losses if they are out Week 1, anything less than full strength is less than ideal. Clemson is still -3.5.

 I am curious to see what a reported alliance between the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 looks like. This, of course, is a direct counter to the SEC’s move of adding Texas and Oklahoma. And while I love the idea of more regulated out-of-conference scheduling, this feels more like posturing than anything else. Still, details are coming soon.

C.J. Stroud indeed will be the starting quarterback at Ohio State, as many expected. Despite only playing in limited instances last year while backing up Justin Fields, Stroud is tied for fourth in Heisman odds. Ryan Day really is a quarterback whisperer, and I don’t expect a massive drop-off at the position despite how gifted Fields was.

A point spread I find fascinating in Week 1? BYU -11.5 at Arizona. I know BYU was excellent last season, but to be laying that many points on the road to a Pac-12 team — particularly one that just lost Zach Wilson to the Jets — is intriguing. The offensive line was also gutted, which could make for an interesting debut. Arizona is in shambles, but this might be too many points.