Nebraska linebacker JoJo Domann knows that Nebraska has the toughest schedule in the B1G this season. But he’s not afraid of the challenges that face the Huskers on the field, instead he views them as an opportunity.

“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Domann said, according to Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald on Tuesday.

From the first kickoff, the Huskers are faced with an incredible challenge. They’ll open the season on the road against No. 6 Ohio State before returning home to host No. 19 Wisconsin. Nebraska will then get a slight break with a road trip to Northwestern before returning to Lincoln to play No. 10 Penn State.

In the first four games, the Huskers will face three ranked opponents. With Iowa and Minnesota on the scheduled later in the year, they’ll play five teams that started the year in the initial Associated Press Top 25 in the preseason.

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said this is what Husker football is supposed to be about.

“We didn’t come to Nebraska to play a bunch of games that didn’t matter,” he said.

Nebraska has been attempting to crawl out of mediocrity in the B1G, though, and what better way to prove it? Scott Frost and his team will have multiple opportunities to prove the program is headed in the right direction, even if the end result isn’t a winning record at the end of the year.

To be successful in 2020, Nebraska’s defense must get better, particularly up front.

“Our front sevem, we have to win the box to allow the game to open up,” Domann said.

Last season, Nebraska’s defense ranked 11th in the B1G against the run, allowing  188.1 yards per game. It also struggled to keep teams out of the end zone, allowing 27.8 points per contest, also ranking 11th in the conference.

Domann ended the 2019 season with a solid stat line, totaling 52 tackles with 9 stops for loss, 6 pass break-ups and 2 forced fumbles. But it’s going to take more than just a strong individual effort from Domann for the Huskers to accomplish their goals this year.

Even with the league’s most difficult schedule, the Huskers are prepared for the challenge.