Through the first two games leading up to Saturday’s match-up against the Northern Illinois Huskies, the Husker offense was still searching for an identity that they could hang their hat on. While modern spread offenses are ubiquitously associated with 00, 10, 11, or 20 personnel, head coach Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Troy Walters implemented a gameplan that was heavier in personnel to jump start the Huskers’ inside running game - 12 personnel (1 back, 2 tight ends). Out of 65 total offensive snaps on Saturday night, 27 of them (41%) were from 12 personnel.
The extensive use of 12 personnel provides the Husker offense with many pre-snap advantages and drastically alters how a defense can defend the offense.