The process will include a new league opponent on a weekly basis

“If anything, the Big 12 was harder to match all these different formations and all these different spreads,” junior linebacker Will Compton said. “…In the Big Ten, you don’t get that as much.”

But the focus still falls on Martinez, who remains an elusive and fascinating character in the Nebraska football landscape.

Here’s a sampling from Martinez’s full answers as the Huskers prepared for the season:

On how his passing had improved: “Umm, I’d say pretty much about the same.”

On how balanced the offense will be: “Pretty balanced.”

On the Big Ten’s reigning offensive player of the year, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson: “He’s a great athlete.”

“That’s just Taylor for you,” said senior wide receiver Brandon Kinnie, who played at Grandview. “He doesn’t dislike people. He doesn’t dislike fans. But he’s just a kind of low-key guy. The MJ-808? He doesn’t care about all that stuff.”

Kinnie and Martinez say the Huskers have talked openly about winning the Big Ten title in their first season, and they will find out fairly quickly whether they stack up to their new rivals. Nebraska will travel to Madison on Oct. 1 to play No. 11 Wisconsin in the Huskers’ Big Ten opener.

“That isn’t what we talk about on a daily basis,” Pelini said of the title aspirations. “It’s what can you do today. It’s about the process. They understand that.”

Once conference season begins, the process will include a new league opponent on a weekly basis. The Huskers will play host to Ohio State and travel to Michigan, and Martinez will eventually get the opportunity to meet Paterno, too. The Huskers travel to Penn State on Nov. 12.

“I’ll just play my game and see what you guys say about me and what fans say,” Martinez said. “… I’ll just try to do my best.”