The team was coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

No spring scrimmage game was played prior to the season, as it was canceled due to weather concerns and player conflicts.

The 2013 meeting was scheduled to be played at Southern Miss, but the game was moved to Lincoln as an attempt to earn more money.

The third game of the season brought the Huskers home to Lincoln to face Arkansas State, led by head coach Gus Malzahn, for the second time in history.

During the first half of the game Pelini began feeling ill. At halftime he was sent to a local hospital for a series of precautionary tests that ultimately revealed no major health concerns.

Defensive coordinator John Papuchis took over head coaching duties in the second half in Pelini's absence.

[7] The fourth and final game before conference play paired the Huskers against Idaho St. for their first meeting in history.

This game also was marked as "The Quick and The Red" as both schools went against tradition and wore alternate uniforms created by Adidas.

[10] The Huskers traveled to Columbus to face Ohio State, who were playing their first season under new head coach Urban Meyer.

This was the Huskers first visit to East Lansing since spoiling Nick Saban's first game, a 50–10 Nebraska win in 1995.