Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
#9/#8 Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-2, 2-0)
When: October 7, 2017 | 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Where: Memorial Stadium (85,458) | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Westwood One Radio (Ted Emrich, Al Groh)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 81) | XM (Ch. 81)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com
=====================================
Nebraska returns to Lincoln for a difficult two-game homestand at Memorial Stadium, beginning with a Saturday night matchup against No. 9 Wisconsin. The Big Ten West Division showdown is set for shortly after 7 p.m. CT, with national television coverage on BTN and radio coverage on the IMG Husker Sports Network.
The Huskers come into the game with a 3-2 record and a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten Conference following a 28-6 win against Illinois last Friday. The Huskers continued to play outstanding defense in the victory, holding Illinois to just two field goals and 199 total yards. The Blackshirt defense has allowed just 23 points in its past 14 quarters of football. The Husker offense also excelled at Illinois, scoring touchdowns on all three of its first half possessions.
Wisconsin will bring a perfect 4-0 record and a 1-0 mark in Big Ten play to Lincoln. The Badgers opened conference play with a 33-24 victory over Northwestern on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. Coach Paul Chryst's squad is ranked ninth in the Associated Press Poll this week and No. 8 according to the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Badgers feature a balanced offensive attack, averaging 233 yards on the ground and 226 yards per game through the air. Wisconsin also features one of the Big Ten's top defenses, allowing just 13.5 points and 247.0 yards per game.
Numbers to Know
5 - The combined margin of victory in the two Nebraska-Wisconsin meetings in Lincoln since 2012. Nebraska defeated the Badgers 30-27 in 2012, before Wisconsin won 23-21 at Memorial Stadium in 2015 on a field goal with four seconds to play.
20- Nebraska has won 20 consecutive night games at Memorial Stadium. Included in that stretch is a 2012 win over Wisconsin. The Huskers are 46-5 all-time in night games at Lincoln.
7 - The Nebraska defense has gone seven quarters without allowing an opponent touchdown, totaling more than 115 minutes of game action. NU has allowed just two offensive touchdowns in its last 14 quarters of football.
Series History
Nebraska and Wisconsin are playing for the Freedom Trophy for their fourth season in 2017. The trophy debuted in 2014 when the schools started competing in the Big Ten West Division and meeting each season.
Nebraska and Wisconsin have met six times since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, with the Badgers holding a 5-1 advantage in that time frame. The teams have split two games in Lincoln since joining the Big Ten. Wisconsin leads the overall series 7-4, while the Huskers lead overall in games played in Lincoln, 3-1.
1901 - Wisconsin 18, Nebraska 0 (Milwaukee)
1965 - #2 Nebraska 37, Wisconsin 0 (Lincoln)
1966 - #7 Nebraska 31, Wisconsin 3 (Madison)
1973 - #2 Nebraska 20, Wisconsin 16 (Lincoln)
1974 - Wisconsin 21, #4 Nebraska 20 (Madison)
2011 - #7 Wisconsin 48, #8 Nebraska 17 (Madison)
2012 - #22 Nebraska 30, Wisconsin 27 (Lincoln)
2012 - Wisconsin 70, #14 Nebraska 31 (Indianapolis)
2014 - #22 Wisconsin 59, #11 Nebraska 24 (Madison)
2015 - Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 21 (Lincoln)
2016 - #11 Wisconsin 23, #7 Nebraska 17 (OT) (Madison)
Riley, Chryst Share Long History
Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley and Wisconsin head man Paul Chryst are both in their third seasons at their respective schools, but have a long history.
Chryst worked for Riley on two different occasions at Oregon State, and was also on Riley's staff with the World League's San Antonio Riders.
Chryst served as the Beavers' offensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004 when Riley returned to Corvallis. Chryst was also on the OSU staff in 1997 and 1998 as an assistant coach. The two first worked together in 1991 and 1992 when Chryst was an offensive assistant on Riley's San Antonio staff.
Nebraska, Wisconsin Ties
The ties between Riley and Chryst are far from the only Nebraska-Wisconsin connections.
- Nebraska Interim Director of Athletics Dave Rimington served as a graduate assistant coach at Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez. Rimington was on the Wisconsin staff in the early 1990s, helping the Badgers to the 1993 Rose Bowl. Rimington earned a master's degree in international business from Wisconsin in 1992.
- Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and is a former Blackshirt. Alvarez lettered as a linebacker for Coach Bob Devaney's Huskers from 1965 to 1967.
- Wisconsin assistants Ted Gilmore (2005 to 2010) and Joe Rudolph (2007) both spent time on the Nebraska coaching staff.
Huskers, Badgers Have Recent History of Late-Game Drama
The two most recent meetings between Nebraska and Wisconsin have provided for dramatic finishes.
- Wisconsin escaped the 2015 game in Lincoln with a 23-21 victory after connecting on a field goal in the game's final seconds. Nebraska had taken the lead in the final four minutes of the contest, before losing in the waning seconds. That loss was one of four games in 2015 Nebraska lost on the opponent's final play or in overtime.
- Last season, No. 7 Nebraska lost a 23-17 overtime decision to the 11th-ranked Badgers in Madison. The Huskers rallied from a 17-7 fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra session, but the Badgers prevailed in overtime.
-The two most recent matchups between Nebraska and Wisconsin in Lincoln (2012, 2015) have been decided by a total of five points.
Riley Hopes for Continued Success vs. Ranked Opponents
Nebraska will likely face back-to-back ranked teams in its next two games. Wisconsin is ranked ninth in the Associated Press Poll heading into this week's game. Ohio State will visit Memorial Stadium on Oct. 14 and is currently ranked No. 10th in the country.
- Mike Riley-coached teams have 16 wins over ranked teams in his 17 seasons as a college coach, 14 at Oregon State and Husker wins over Michigan State in 2015 and Oregon in 2016.
- The 2015 win over No. 6 Michigan State marked the sixth Top-10 opponent a Riley-coached team defeated since 2006. The win was Nebraska's first over a top-10 opponent since October of 2011.
Riley vs. Ranked Teams
1998 - #16 Oregon (W 44-41 2OT)
2005 - #18 California (W 23-20)
2006 - #3 USC (W 33-31)
2006 - #24 Hawaii (W 35-32)
2007 - #2 California (W 31-28)
2007 - #16 Oregon (W 38-31 2OT)
2008 - #1 USC (W 27-21)
2008 - #19 Pittsburgh (W 3-0)
2009 - #23 California (W 31-14)
2010 - #9 Arizona (W 29-27)
2010 - #20 USC (W 36-7)
2012 - #13 Wisconsin (W 10-7)
2012 - #19 UCLA (W 27-20)
2014 - #7 Arizona State (W 35-27)
2015 - #6 Michigan State (W 39-38)
2016 - #22 Oregon (W 35-32)
Huskers Look to Defeat Top 10 Foe in Lincoln
The opportunity against a Top 10 opponent at Memorial Stadium is not a new occasion for Nebraska.
- The win over No. 6 Michigan State in 2015 was Nebraska's first over a Top 10 opponent since a 24-3 victory over No. 9 Michigan State in 2011
- An unranked Nebraska team has defeated a Top 10 foe three times in school history, most recently the 2015 win over Michigan State
- Nebraska has won six of its past nine matchups against ranked teams at Memorial Stadium dating back to 2009.
- Nebraska has won three of its past four games at Memorial Stadium against Top 10 opponents dating back to 2010
- The Huskers are 3-2 against ranked Big Ten opponents at Memorial Stadium since 2011.
Recent Nebraska Home Games vs. Nationally-Ranked Opponents
2009 - #20 Oklahoma (W 10-3)
2010 - #7 Missouri (W 31-17)
2011 - #9 Michigan State (W 24-3)
2012 - #20 Michigan (W 23-9)
2013 - #16 UCLA (L 21-41)
2013 - #14 Michigan State (L 28-41)
2015 - #6 Michigan State (W 39-38)
2015 - #3 Iowa (L 20-28)
2016 - #22 Oregon (W 35-32)
Nebraska Looks to Extend Prime-Time Home Dominance
Memorial Stadium is always a tough environment for visiting teams in Lincoln. That is never more true than in night games at Memorial Stadium.
The Huskers have won 20 straight home night games in Lincoln. NU is 46-5 all-time in Memorial Stadium night games. Included in the 20-game home night win streak was a 30-27 win over Wisconsin in 2012.
- The Huskers' dominance at night in Lincoln has been impressive, as 33 of the home night wins have been by at least 13 points
- Nebraska's five losses in home night games have all come against teams that won at least 10 games in that season (Washington, 1991; Texas, 2002; USC, 2007; Virginia Tech and Missouri, 2008).
- Nebraska is 1-0 in home night games this season, defeating Arkansas State 43-36 in the season opener
- Nebraska's most recent loss in a night game at Memorial Stadium came against No. 4 Missouri in 2008
Nebraska to Honor 1997 National Title Team
Nebraska will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1997 national championship team this weekend, including a Friday night banquet and recognition on the field on Saturday
- The 1997 Huskers (13-0) won the fifth national championship in school history and third in a four-year span. Nebraska was voted No. 1 in the coaches' poll, while Michigan (12-0) was voted No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.
- The 1997 season marked Tom Osborne's final season on the Husker sideline, as the Hall-of-Fame coach capped his career with a 42-17 win over No. 3 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl
- Nebraska's senior class capped a remarkable run with its 1997 national title. In their four seasons, the Husker seniors compiled a 49-2 record with three undefeated national championship seasons.
13 Numbers on NU's 13-0 1997 Season
255 - Head Coach Tom Osborne capped his Hall of Fame career in 1997 with his third national title, finishing his 25-year career with 255 victories
60 - Nebraska's 1997 season culminated a five-year run that saw the Huskers post a 60-3 record and win three national championships
30 - NU's average margin of victory in its 13 wins, including eight victories of 28 points or more
513.7 - Nebraska's total offense per game average, which ranked first in the country
392.7 - Nebraska ranked first in the nation by averaging 392.7 yards rushing per game. NU ran for at least 335 yards in all 13 games
47.1 - Nebraska led the nation in scoring, averaging better than 47 points per game. The Huskers scored at least 42 points eight times in 1997
17 - Nebraska had 17 individual 100-yard rushing games in 1997, including 12 by I-back Ahman Green
1,000 - Senior quarterback Scott Frost topped 1,000 yards both rushing and passing and was the first Husker to accomplish that feat in a single season
44 - The Nebraska defense recorded 44 sacks during the season, including eight games with at least four sacks of opposing quarterbacks
257.3 - Nebraska allowed opponents 257.3 yards of total offense per game to rank fifth nationally in total defense. The Huskers held eight opponents to 260 or fewer yards
73.4 - The Blackshirts allowed opponents to rush for an average of 73.4 yards per game and ranked third in the nation in rush defense. Five opponents gained less than 50 yards rushing in 1997.
3 - Nebraska had three first-team All-Americans in 1997 -- offensive guard Aaron Taylor, defensive tackle Jason Peter and defensive end Grant Wistrom. I-back Ahman Green earned second-team All-America honors.
2 - Senior Grant Wistrom and junior Joel Makovicka earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during the 1997 season
About Wisconsin Football
Wisconsin is in its 129th season of football and just 12 wins shy of recording the 700th win in program history. The Badgers have won 14 Big Ten Conference titles, including their most recent title which came with a win over Nebraska in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin has appeared in four of the first six Big Ten Championship Games, including representing the West Division twice in the last three seasons. The Badgers rank ninth nationally with 161 wins since 2000 and ninth with 75 wins since 2010.
First Season: 1889
Conference Titles: 14
Bowl Record: 14-14
All-Time Record: 688-489-53
National Titles: None
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium
About 2017 Wisconsin Football
Schedule (4-0, 1-0)
Utah State (W 59-10)
Florida Atlantic (W 31-14)
at BYU (W 40-6)
Northwestern (W 33-24)
at Nebraska
Purdue
Maryland
at Illinois
at Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
at Minnesota
No. 9 Wisconsin (4-0) opened its Big Ten season with a 33-24 victory over Northwestern last Saturday. Offensively, Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten and 24th nationally in rushing (233.8 yards per game). The Badgers have also been efficient in the passing game, ranking second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in both completion percentage (66%) and yards per completion (14.8), while leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth nationally in passing efficiency (174.60). UW also leads the Big Ten and is fifth nationally in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 34:48 per game. Aiding the Badgers' time of possession dominance has been third-down efficiency, as Wisconsin converts 51 percent of its third downs offensively (No. 7 nationally) and allows opponents to convert only 26 percent of their third downs (10th nationally). Wisconsin also ranks in the Top 25 nationally in scoring offense (22nd) and scoring defense (8th).
Alex Hornibrook is in his second season as Wisconsin's starting quarterback. He has thrown for 898 yards and nine touchdowns, matching his total from 2016. He also leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency (176.8). In the run game, true freshman Jonathan Taylor leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th nationally with 129.5 yards per game.
Defensively, Wisconsin ranks seventh nationally in first downs allowed. The Badgers boast the nation's No. 4 total defense, allowing only 247.0 yards per game. Individually, D'Cota Dixon leads the team with 27 tackles, while Garret Dooley is the team leader with 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, ranking in the top 15 nationally in each category. T.J. Edwards and Natrell Jamerson are tied for the Big Ten lead with two interceptions, as UW leads the league with seven interceptions as a team.
About Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst
Paul Chryst is in his third year at Wisconsin and sports a record of 25-6 with the Badgers and a Big Ten record of 14-4. This is his 6th year overall as a head coach, after having spent three seasons as the head coach at Pittsburgh. Chryst has an overall coaching record of 44-25. Chryst is a 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin and was a three-time letterwinner as a quarterback for the Badgers. Prior to his head coaching duties at Pittsburgh, Chryst served as an assistant coach at West Virginia (1989-90), Wisconsin-Platteville (1993), Illinois State (1995), Oregon State (1997-98 & 2003-04), and at Wisconsin (2002, 2005-2011). Chryst also served as an assistant coach in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1994) and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders (1996), a year in the World League with the San Antonio Riders (1991-92) and spent three years as an NFL assistant with the San Diego Chargers (1999-01).
Last Meeting: #11 Wisconsin 23, #7 Nebraska 17 (OT) - October 29, 2016
Safety D'Cota Dixon swatted away a Nebraska pass attempt to Stanley Morgan in the end zone on fourth down as Wisconsin survived an overtime scare from Nebraska to win 23-17 in Madison. The Badgers' Dare Ogunbowale scored on an 11-yard run in their possession of overtime and the defense then held up to hand Nebraska their first loss of the season.
Nebraska trailed 17-7 going into the fourth quarter, but scored 10 unanswered points to force the extra period after Drew Brown tied the game on a 35-yard field goal with 3:43 remaining in regulation. Wisconsin had a chance to win in regulation, but Andrew Endicott's 45-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining sailed wide left. Endicott also missed an extra point attempt in the overtime period to give the Huskers a chance at victory before the Badger defense made their stand to close out the game.
Wisconsin outgained Nebraska in the contest 337 yards (114 pass, 223 rush) to 305 yards (153 pass, 152 rush). Both teams committed two turnovers in the game. Nebraska held a 32:15 to 27:45 advantage in time of possession.
Alex Hornibrook was 10-of-16 for 71 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in the win while Bart Houston was 4-of-7 for 43 yards with an INT as well. Dare Ogunbowale had 11 carries for 120 yards and a TD to lead the Badgers on the ground. Corey Clement carried 19 times for 82 yards and Bradrick Shaw saw two carries for 23 yards and a TD. Tight end Troy Fumagalli led receivers with four catches for 48 yards. Robert Wheelwright had five catches for 43 yards and a TD in the win as well.
For Nebraska, Tommy Armstrong was 12-of-31 for 153 yards with 2 INTs. Terrell Newby led the Huskers on the ground with 17 carries for 77 yards. Armstrong added 13 carries for 39 yard and a TD and Devine Ozigbo had 10 carries for 33 yards and a TD. Jordan Westerkamp was the top receiving target with three catches for 62 yards. Stanley Morgan Jr. had five catches for 58 yards in the loss.
#9/#8 Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-2, 2-0)
When: October 7, 2017 | 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Where: Memorial Stadium (85,458) | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Westwood One Radio (Ted Emrich, Al Groh)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 81) | XM (Ch. 81)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com
=====================================
Nebraska returns to Lincoln for a difficult two-game homestand at Memorial Stadium, beginning with a Saturday night matchup against No. 9 Wisconsin. The Big Ten West Division showdown is set for shortly after 7 p.m. CT, with national television coverage on BTN and radio coverage on the IMG Husker Sports Network.
The Huskers come into the game with a 3-2 record and a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten Conference following a 28-6 win against Illinois last Friday. The Huskers continued to play outstanding defense in the victory, holding Illinois to just two field goals and 199 total yards. The Blackshirt defense has allowed just 23 points in its past 14 quarters of football. The Husker offense also excelled at Illinois, scoring touchdowns on all three of its first half possessions.
Wisconsin will bring a perfect 4-0 record and a 1-0 mark in Big Ten play to Lincoln. The Badgers opened conference play with a 33-24 victory over Northwestern on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. Coach Paul Chryst's squad is ranked ninth in the Associated Press Poll this week and No. 8 according to the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Badgers feature a balanced offensive attack, averaging 233 yards on the ground and 226 yards per game through the air. Wisconsin also features one of the Big Ten's top defenses, allowing just 13.5 points and 247.0 yards per game.
Numbers to Know
5 - The combined margin of victory in the two Nebraska-Wisconsin meetings in Lincoln since 2012. Nebraska defeated the Badgers 30-27 in 2012, before Wisconsin won 23-21 at Memorial Stadium in 2015 on a field goal with four seconds to play.
20- Nebraska has won 20 consecutive night games at Memorial Stadium. Included in that stretch is a 2012 win over Wisconsin. The Huskers are 46-5 all-time in night games at Lincoln.
7 - The Nebraska defense has gone seven quarters without allowing an opponent touchdown, totaling more than 115 minutes of game action. NU has allowed just two offensive touchdowns in its last 14 quarters of football.
Series History
Nebraska and Wisconsin are playing for the Freedom Trophy for their fourth season in 2017. The trophy debuted in 2014 when the schools started competing in the Big Ten West Division and meeting each season.
Nebraska and Wisconsin have met six times since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, with the Badgers holding a 5-1 advantage in that time frame. The teams have split two games in Lincoln since joining the Big Ten. Wisconsin leads the overall series 7-4, while the Huskers lead overall in games played in Lincoln, 3-1.
1901 - Wisconsin 18, Nebraska 0 (Milwaukee)
1965 - #2 Nebraska 37, Wisconsin 0 (Lincoln)
1966 - #7 Nebraska 31, Wisconsin 3 (Madison)
1973 - #2 Nebraska 20, Wisconsin 16 (Lincoln)
1974 - Wisconsin 21, #4 Nebraska 20 (Madison)
2011 - #7 Wisconsin 48, #8 Nebraska 17 (Madison)
2012 - #22 Nebraska 30, Wisconsin 27 (Lincoln)
2012 - Wisconsin 70, #14 Nebraska 31 (Indianapolis)
2014 - #22 Wisconsin 59, #11 Nebraska 24 (Madison)
2015 - Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 21 (Lincoln)
2016 - #11 Wisconsin 23, #7 Nebraska 17 (OT) (Madison)
Riley, Chryst Share Long History
Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley and Wisconsin head man Paul Chryst are both in their third seasons at their respective schools, but have a long history.
Chryst worked for Riley on two different occasions at Oregon State, and was also on Riley's staff with the World League's San Antonio Riders.
Chryst served as the Beavers' offensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004 when Riley returned to Corvallis. Chryst was also on the OSU staff in 1997 and 1998 as an assistant coach. The two first worked together in 1991 and 1992 when Chryst was an offensive assistant on Riley's San Antonio staff.
Nebraska, Wisconsin Ties
The ties between Riley and Chryst are far from the only Nebraska-Wisconsin connections.
- Nebraska Interim Director of Athletics Dave Rimington served as a graduate assistant coach at Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez. Rimington was on the Wisconsin staff in the early 1990s, helping the Badgers to the 1993 Rose Bowl. Rimington earned a master's degree in international business from Wisconsin in 1992.
- Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and is a former Blackshirt. Alvarez lettered as a linebacker for Coach Bob Devaney's Huskers from 1965 to 1967.
- Wisconsin assistants Ted Gilmore (2005 to 2010) and Joe Rudolph (2007) both spent time on the Nebraska coaching staff.
Huskers, Badgers Have Recent History of Late-Game Drama
The two most recent meetings between Nebraska and Wisconsin have provided for dramatic finishes.
- Wisconsin escaped the 2015 game in Lincoln with a 23-21 victory after connecting on a field goal in the game's final seconds. Nebraska had taken the lead in the final four minutes of the contest, before losing in the waning seconds. That loss was one of four games in 2015 Nebraska lost on the opponent's final play or in overtime.
- Last season, No. 7 Nebraska lost a 23-17 overtime decision to the 11th-ranked Badgers in Madison. The Huskers rallied from a 17-7 fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra session, but the Badgers prevailed in overtime.
-The two most recent matchups between Nebraska and Wisconsin in Lincoln (2012, 2015) have been decided by a total of five points.
Riley Hopes for Continued Success vs. Ranked Opponents
Nebraska will likely face back-to-back ranked teams in its next two games. Wisconsin is ranked ninth in the Associated Press Poll heading into this week's game. Ohio State will visit Memorial Stadium on Oct. 14 and is currently ranked No. 10th in the country.
- Mike Riley-coached teams have 16 wins over ranked teams in his 17 seasons as a college coach, 14 at Oregon State and Husker wins over Michigan State in 2015 and Oregon in 2016.
- The 2015 win over No. 6 Michigan State marked the sixth Top-10 opponent a Riley-coached team defeated since 2006. The win was Nebraska's first over a top-10 opponent since October of 2011.
Riley vs. Ranked Teams
1998 - #16 Oregon (W 44-41 2OT)
2005 - #18 California (W 23-20)
2006 - #3 USC (W 33-31)
2006 - #24 Hawaii (W 35-32)
2007 - #2 California (W 31-28)
2007 - #16 Oregon (W 38-31 2OT)
2008 - #1 USC (W 27-21)
2008 - #19 Pittsburgh (W 3-0)
2009 - #23 California (W 31-14)
2010 - #9 Arizona (W 29-27)
2010 - #20 USC (W 36-7)
2012 - #13 Wisconsin (W 10-7)
2012 - #19 UCLA (W 27-20)
2014 - #7 Arizona State (W 35-27)
2015 - #6 Michigan State (W 39-38)
2016 - #22 Oregon (W 35-32)
Huskers Look to Defeat Top 10 Foe in Lincoln
The opportunity against a Top 10 opponent at Memorial Stadium is not a new occasion for Nebraska.
- The win over No. 6 Michigan State in 2015 was Nebraska's first over a Top 10 opponent since a 24-3 victory over No. 9 Michigan State in 2011
- An unranked Nebraska team has defeated a Top 10 foe three times in school history, most recently the 2015 win over Michigan State
- Nebraska has won six of its past nine matchups against ranked teams at Memorial Stadium dating back to 2009.
- Nebraska has won three of its past four games at Memorial Stadium against Top 10 opponents dating back to 2010
- The Huskers are 3-2 against ranked Big Ten opponents at Memorial Stadium since 2011.
Recent Nebraska Home Games vs. Nationally-Ranked Opponents
2009 - #20 Oklahoma (W 10-3)
2010 - #7 Missouri (W 31-17)
2011 - #9 Michigan State (W 24-3)
2012 - #20 Michigan (W 23-9)
2013 - #16 UCLA (L 21-41)
2013 - #14 Michigan State (L 28-41)
2015 - #6 Michigan State (W 39-38)
2015 - #3 Iowa (L 20-28)
2016 - #22 Oregon (W 35-32)
Nebraska Looks to Extend Prime-Time Home Dominance
Memorial Stadium is always a tough environment for visiting teams in Lincoln. That is never more true than in night games at Memorial Stadium.
The Huskers have won 20 straight home night games in Lincoln. NU is 46-5 all-time in Memorial Stadium night games. Included in the 20-game home night win streak was a 30-27 win over Wisconsin in 2012.
- The Huskers' dominance at night in Lincoln has been impressive, as 33 of the home night wins have been by at least 13 points
- Nebraska's five losses in home night games have all come against teams that won at least 10 games in that season (Washington, 1991; Texas, 2002; USC, 2007; Virginia Tech and Missouri, 2008).
- Nebraska is 1-0 in home night games this season, defeating Arkansas State 43-36 in the season opener
- Nebraska's most recent loss in a night game at Memorial Stadium came against No. 4 Missouri in 2008
Nebraska to Honor 1997 National Title Team
Nebraska will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1997 national championship team this weekend, including a Friday night banquet and recognition on the field on Saturday
- The 1997 Huskers (13-0) won the fifth national championship in school history and third in a four-year span. Nebraska was voted No. 1 in the coaches' poll, while Michigan (12-0) was voted No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.
- The 1997 season marked Tom Osborne's final season on the Husker sideline, as the Hall-of-Fame coach capped his career with a 42-17 win over No. 3 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl
- Nebraska's senior class capped a remarkable run with its 1997 national title. In their four seasons, the Husker seniors compiled a 49-2 record with three undefeated national championship seasons.
13 Numbers on NU's 13-0 1997 Season
255 - Head Coach Tom Osborne capped his Hall of Fame career in 1997 with his third national title, finishing his 25-year career with 255 victories
60 - Nebraska's 1997 season culminated a five-year run that saw the Huskers post a 60-3 record and win three national championships
30 - NU's average margin of victory in its 13 wins, including eight victories of 28 points or more
513.7 - Nebraska's total offense per game average, which ranked first in the country
392.7 - Nebraska ranked first in the nation by averaging 392.7 yards rushing per game. NU ran for at least 335 yards in all 13 games
47.1 - Nebraska led the nation in scoring, averaging better than 47 points per game. The Huskers scored at least 42 points eight times in 1997
17 - Nebraska had 17 individual 100-yard rushing games in 1997, including 12 by I-back Ahman Green
1,000 - Senior quarterback Scott Frost topped 1,000 yards both rushing and passing and was the first Husker to accomplish that feat in a single season
44 - The Nebraska defense recorded 44 sacks during the season, including eight games with at least four sacks of opposing quarterbacks
257.3 - Nebraska allowed opponents 257.3 yards of total offense per game to rank fifth nationally in total defense. The Huskers held eight opponents to 260 or fewer yards
73.4 - The Blackshirts allowed opponents to rush for an average of 73.4 yards per game and ranked third in the nation in rush defense. Five opponents gained less than 50 yards rushing in 1997.
3 - Nebraska had three first-team All-Americans in 1997 -- offensive guard Aaron Taylor, defensive tackle Jason Peter and defensive end Grant Wistrom. I-back Ahman Green earned second-team All-America honors.
2 - Senior Grant Wistrom and junior Joel Makovicka earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during the 1997 season
About Wisconsin Football
Wisconsin is in its 129th season of football and just 12 wins shy of recording the 700th win in program history. The Badgers have won 14 Big Ten Conference titles, including their most recent title which came with a win over Nebraska in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin has appeared in four of the first six Big Ten Championship Games, including representing the West Division twice in the last three seasons. The Badgers rank ninth nationally with 161 wins since 2000 and ninth with 75 wins since 2010.
First Season: 1889
Conference Titles: 14
Bowl Record: 14-14
All-Time Record: 688-489-53
National Titles: None
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium
About 2017 Wisconsin Football
Schedule (4-0, 1-0)
Utah State (W 59-10)
Florida Atlantic (W 31-14)
at BYU (W 40-6)
Northwestern (W 33-24)
at Nebraska
Purdue
Maryland
at Illinois
at Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
at Minnesota
No. 9 Wisconsin (4-0) opened its Big Ten season with a 33-24 victory over Northwestern last Saturday. Offensively, Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten and 24th nationally in rushing (233.8 yards per game). The Badgers have also been efficient in the passing game, ranking second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in both completion percentage (66%) and yards per completion (14.8), while leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth nationally in passing efficiency (174.60). UW also leads the Big Ten and is fifth nationally in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 34:48 per game. Aiding the Badgers' time of possession dominance has been third-down efficiency, as Wisconsin converts 51 percent of its third downs offensively (No. 7 nationally) and allows opponents to convert only 26 percent of their third downs (10th nationally). Wisconsin also ranks in the Top 25 nationally in scoring offense (22nd) and scoring defense (8th).
Alex Hornibrook is in his second season as Wisconsin's starting quarterback. He has thrown for 898 yards and nine touchdowns, matching his total from 2016. He also leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency (176.8). In the run game, true freshman Jonathan Taylor leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th nationally with 129.5 yards per game.
Defensively, Wisconsin ranks seventh nationally in first downs allowed. The Badgers boast the nation's No. 4 total defense, allowing only 247.0 yards per game. Individually, D'Cota Dixon leads the team with 27 tackles, while Garret Dooley is the team leader with 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, ranking in the top 15 nationally in each category. T.J. Edwards and Natrell Jamerson are tied for the Big Ten lead with two interceptions, as UW leads the league with seven interceptions as a team.
About Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst
Paul Chryst is in his third year at Wisconsin and sports a record of 25-6 with the Badgers and a Big Ten record of 14-4. This is his 6th year overall as a head coach, after having spent three seasons as the head coach at Pittsburgh. Chryst has an overall coaching record of 44-25. Chryst is a 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin and was a three-time letterwinner as a quarterback for the Badgers. Prior to his head coaching duties at Pittsburgh, Chryst served as an assistant coach at West Virginia (1989-90), Wisconsin-Platteville (1993), Illinois State (1995), Oregon State (1997-98 & 2003-04), and at Wisconsin (2002, 2005-2011). Chryst also served as an assistant coach in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1994) and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders (1996), a year in the World League with the San Antonio Riders (1991-92) and spent three years as an NFL assistant with the San Diego Chargers (1999-01).
Last Meeting: #11 Wisconsin 23, #7 Nebraska 17 (OT) - October 29, 2016
Safety D'Cota Dixon swatted away a Nebraska pass attempt to Stanley Morgan in the end zone on fourth down as Wisconsin survived an overtime scare from Nebraska to win 23-17 in Madison. The Badgers' Dare Ogunbowale scored on an 11-yard run in their possession of overtime and the defense then held up to hand Nebraska their first loss of the season.
Nebraska trailed 17-7 going into the fourth quarter, but scored 10 unanswered points to force the extra period after Drew Brown tied the game on a 35-yard field goal with 3:43 remaining in regulation. Wisconsin had a chance to win in regulation, but Andrew Endicott's 45-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining sailed wide left. Endicott also missed an extra point attempt in the overtime period to give the Huskers a chance at victory before the Badger defense made their stand to close out the game.
Wisconsin outgained Nebraska in the contest 337 yards (114 pass, 223 rush) to 305 yards (153 pass, 152 rush). Both teams committed two turnovers in the game. Nebraska held a 32:15 to 27:45 advantage in time of possession.
Alex Hornibrook was 10-of-16 for 71 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in the win while Bart Houston was 4-of-7 for 43 yards with an INT as well. Dare Ogunbowale had 11 carries for 120 yards and a TD to lead the Badgers on the ground. Corey Clement carried 19 times for 82 yards and Bradrick Shaw saw two carries for 23 yards and a TD. Tight end Troy Fumagalli led receivers with four catches for 48 yards. Robert Wheelwright had five catches for 43 yards and a TD in the win as well.
For Nebraska, Tommy Armstrong was 12-of-31 for 153 yards with 2 INTs. Terrell Newby led the Huskers on the ground with 17 carries for 77 yards. Armstrong added 13 carries for 39 yard and a TD and Devine Ozigbo had 10 carries for 33 yards and a TD. Jordan Westerkamp was the top receiving target with three catches for 62 yards. Stanley Morgan Jr. had five catches for 58 yards in the loss.
