Imagine if we would have lost to Wisconsin and this loss would have kept us out of a bowl…..

December 3
#6 USC 94, California Baptist 52
#7 Maryland 87, Mount St. Mary's 52
#25 Nebraska 69, Lindenwood 48
Minnesota 90, North Florida 44

Standings
Minnesota (10-0)
Maryland (9-0)
Iowa (8-0)
Michigan State (8-0)
UCLA (8-0)
Ohio State (7-0)
Penn State (8-1)
Nebraska (7-1)
Illinois (7-1)
Michigan (7-1)
USC (7-1)
Washington (7-2)
Wisconsin (7-2)
Oregon (6-2)
Indiana (5-3)
Rutgers (5-3)
Purdue (4-3)
Northwestern (3-3)

Games for Wednesday, December 4
Maine at Purdue (6:00 PM - BTN+)
Southern Indiana at Indiana (6:00 PM - BTN+)
DePaul at Northwestern (7:00 PM - BTN+)
Washington State at Oregon (9:00 PM - BTN+)

Next Nebraska Game - Sunday, December 8
Minnesota at #25 Nebraska (1:00 PM - BTN)

December 10
#5 USC 89, Fresno State 40
#11 Ohio State 80, Ball State 48

Standings
1. Nebraska (8-1, 1-0)
1. Indiana (7-3, 1-0)
1. Maryland (10-0, 1-0)
1. Michigan (8-1, 1-0)
1. Ohio State (9-0, 1-0)
1. UCLA (9-0, 1-0)
1. USC (9-1, 1-0)
1. Wisconsin (8-2, 1-0)
9. Iowa (8-1, 0-0)
9. Michigan State (9-0, 0-0)
11. Illinois (7-2, 0-1)
11. Minnesota (10-1, 0-1)
11. Northwestern (4-4, 0-1)
11. Oregon (7-3, 0-1)
11. Penn State (8-2, 0-1)
11. Purdue (5-4, 0-1)
11. Rutgers (5-4, 0-1)
11. Washington (7-3, 0-1)

Games for Wednesday, December 11
Fairleigh Dickinson at Rutgers (6:00 PM - BTN+)
Penn State at Providence (6:00 PM)
Wisconsin at Butler (6:00 PM)
Tarleton State at #24 Nebraska (7:00 PM - BTN+)
Jackson State at Minnesota (7:00 PM - BTN+)
#18 Iowa State at #21 Iowa (8:00 PM - FS1)

Post-2017 all sort of feels like the same terrible timeline, but 2021 and 2024 were probably the 2 most disappointing seasons for me during this time

2021 - Very experienced defense led by a veteran DL (Stille, D Daniels, G Nelson). Play everyone close, several 1 score losses, and end up 5-7.
2024 - Good D led by T Rob, Hutmacher, Butler. Again play everyone close (minus IU) and underperform, 6-6.

Both of these seasons we had the talent to win 9 games. Make a couple plays against Illinois, Iowa, and either USC/UCLA and we're all ecstatic about the future of the program. Just an extremely disappointing missed opportunity for the program.

This off-season will be career defining for Rhule... Will he makes some necessary changes in staff (cough... Foley, McQuire), hit the portal hard, and get Dylan a couple more playmakers?
Or will he take the Frost approach... Double down on his process, ie "I know where this is going", not make changes on under-performing staff (Chinander - Foley), phone it in on recruiting, etc.

I'm hopeful based on how Rhule has approached things so far with the Holgerson hire he is taking the proactive approach. I'm also hopeful that Dylan's mid-season struggles will pay dividends for his growth next year. But we need a new ST and WR coach, and we need 1-2 more elite recruiters who can pull guys from the portal every year if we are going to be truly successful in the B1G.

December 20
1790 - Samuel Slater builds the nation's first cotton mill at Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

1803 - The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France for approximately $15 million.

1860 - South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.

1946 - The classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life" premiered at the Globe Theater in New York City.

1968 - Author John Steinbeck dies at age 66.

1986 - Three Black men were attacked by a group of white youth in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens in New York City, resulting in the death of one of the men, Michael Griffith.

1987 - More than 4,300 people were killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collided with the tanker Vector off Mindoro Island.

1989 - The United States launched Operation Just Cause and invades Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.

1996 - Astronomer Carl Sagan died at age 62.

2019 - President Donald Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act into law, which established a new branch of the military, the United States Space Force.

Birthdays
22 - Isabella Ferreira (actress)
27 - Anok Yai (model)
30 - DaniLeigh (singer)
34 - JoJo (singer)
40 - Bob Morley (actor)
41 - Jonah Hill (actor)
58 - Chris Robinson (singer)
70 - Michael Badalucco (actor)
70 - Sandra Cisneros (actress)
76 - Alan Parsons (musician)
78 - Dick Wolf (television producer)
79 - Peter Criss (musician)

============================

Today in Sports History - December 20

1921 - The American League votes to return the World Series to a best-of-seven format while the National League votes for best-of-nine; Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis casts the tie-breaking vote in favor of best-of-seven.

1925 - The Chicago Cardinals win the NFL championship and the Pottsville Maroons are suspended for having played an unsanctioned game.

1946 - Sugar Ray Robinson was crowned welterweight champion at Madison Square Garden.

1966 - The NBA granted a franchise to Seattle.

1973 - Henri Richard (Montreal Canadiens) scored his 1,000th point.

1983 - Guy Lafleur (Montreal Canadiens) became the 10th NHL player to score 500 goals.

1985 - Denis Potvin became the highest defenseman scorer when he got his 916th point.

1985 - Sportscaster Howard Cosell retires from television sports after 20 years with ABC.

1991 - The NHL approves the expansion franchises Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.

1998 - Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers) became the first NFL player to throw at least 30 touchdown passes for five seasons.

November 28
#3 Gonzaga 89, #14 Indiana 73
#13 Purdue 71, North Carolina State 61
Illinois 90, #19 Arkansas 77
Wichita State 68, Minnesota 66 (OT)
Washington 73, Colorado State 67
Butler 71, Northwestern 69
St. Mary's 71, USC 36

Standings
Oregon (7-0)
Wisconsin (7-0)
Illinois (6-1)
Iowa (6-1)
Maryland (6-1)
Michigan (6-1)
Penn State (6-1)
Purdue (6-1)
UCLA (6-1)
Nebraska (5-1)
Ohio State (5-1)
Washington (5-1)
Michigan State (6-2)
Minnesota (5-2)
Northwestern (5-2)
Rutgers (5-2)
USC (5-2)
Indiana (4-2)

Games for Friday, November 29
#14 Indiana vs. Providence (at Bahamas) (10:00 AM - ESPN2)
Minnesota vs. Wake Forest (at Lake Buena Vista, FL) (12:00 PM - ESPN2)
Pittsburgh at Ohio State (1:30 PM - Peacock)
Washington vs. Santa Clara (at Palm Springs, CA) (3:30 PM)
#13 Purdue vs. #23 Mississippi (at San Diego) (5:00 PM)
Northwestern vs. UNLV (at Tempe, AZ) (6:00 PM)

Next Nebraska Game - Sunday, December 1
North Florida at Nebraska (3:00 PM - BTN)

Which loss was more pathetic?

The 8 turnover 9-7 loss vs Iowa State in 2009 with a slapnut backup QB?

Or holding a crapshow 2024 Iowa team to 5 first downs and 49 yards rushing with a slapnut QB?

Please Trev just make this happen. Our coaching options are horrible. He’d bring more talent and buzz here that would bring us out of this medically induced coma.

1. Most Pivotal- Can they get IMPACT players out of the portal. They must get real weapons. No average starters or place fillers. Our portal players on offense are merely capable stand-ins who can't catch balls that aren't right on them. Can't waste Portal schollies on stand-ins. It's why we're 6-6

2. Relieve the right coaches of their duties. No reassignment. Satt, McGuire, Barthel, and Thomas need to be given nice recxomendations to their bosses in the MAC next year. Need guys who are going somewhere. Schemers and grinders who are dare I Say: "Gorilla Minded." Average coaches. Its why we're 6-6.

3. Honest and Accurate player evaluation. Gotta cut 50 guys. Most will move on their own. But Mason Wald is still secretly on this football team somewhere. Its ias much a science as it is an art. Player evaluation. Its why we're 6-6.'

December 4
Purdue 60, Maine 51
Indiana 67, Southern Indiana 63
Northwestern 64, DePaul 56
Oregon 85, Washington State 70

Standings
Minnesota (10-0)
Maryland (9-0)
Iowa (8-0)
Michigan State (8-0)
UCLA (8-0)
Ohio State (7-0)
Penn State (8-1)
Nebraska (7-1)
Illinois (7-1)
Michigan (7-1)
USC (7-1)
Oregon (7-2)
Washington (7-2)
Wisconsin (7-2)
Indiana (6-3)
Purdue (5-3)
Rutgers (5-3)
Northwestern (4-3)

Games for Saturday, December 7
Indiana at Penn State (12:00 PM - BTN+)
#7 Maryland at Purdue (1:00 PM - BTN+)
#6 USC at Oregon (3:00 PM - BTN)
#17 Iowa vs. Tennessee (at Brooklyn, NY) (6:00 PM - FOX)

Next Nebraska Game - Sunday, December 8
Minnesota at #25 Nebraska (1:00 PM - BTN)

For a year two rebuild year under Rhule, I am disappointed with lack of overall progress.
Looking at 2024 results, games 1-3 went as expected, Illinois was a disappointment, Purdue Rutgers showed promise, Indiana much better than all expected, Ohio State was positive, both CA teams disappointing, WI brought life back into the program and Iowa cannot be described
So for a net gain of one victory over 2023 doesn’t seem like much progress

I remember reading his interest in the Huskers last offseason….he’s a nice player.

Mobile, good passer, competitive gamer type of QB.

December 7
#6 USC 66, Oregon 53
#7 Maryland 78, Purdue 69
Tennessee 78, #17 Iowa 68
Indiana 75, Penn State 60

Standings
1. Indiana (7-3, 1-0)
1. Maryland (10-0, 1-0)
1. USC (8-1, 1-0)
4. Nebraska (7-1, 0-0)
4. Illinois (7-1, 0-0)
4. Iowa (8-1, 0-0)
4. Michigan (7-1, 0-0)
4. Michigan State (8-0, 0-0)
4. Minnesota (10-0, 0-0)
4. Northwestern (4-3, 0-0)
4. Ohio State (7-0, 0-0)
4. UCLA (8-0, 0-0)
4. Washington (7-2, 0-0)
4. Wisconsin (7-2, 0-0)
15. Oregon (7-3, 0-1)
15. Penn State (8-2, 0-1)
15. Purdue (5-4, 0-1)
15. Rutgers (5-3, 0-0)

Games for Sunday, December 8
Northwestern at #23 Michigan (1:00 PM - BTN+)
DePaul at #24 Michigan State (1:00 PM - BTN+)
Minnesota at #25 Nebraska (1:00 PM - BTN)
Rutgers at Wisconsin (2:00 PM - BTN+)
#21 Illinois at #12 Ohio State (3:00 PM - BTN)
#1 UCLA at Washington (4:00 PM - BTN+)