You would be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining rivalry on the Wisconsin football docket than its current 12-year-old arrangement with Nebraska.
Since the two became Big Ten Conference members in 2011, the schools have produced some amazing moments and outcomes. UW has had a lot more to celebrate – it has won 10 of the 11 meetings, including nine straight heading into their duel at Camp Randall Stadium at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday – but the Cornhuskers have contributed more than their share of drama.
Consider some of their outcomes:
Their first meeting as league members came in 2011 when both were ranked in the Associated Press’ top 10 for the one and only encounter in series history. Wisconsin, ranked seventh, rolled to a 48-17 win over the No. 8 Huskers at Camp Randall.
The first go-round at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln in 2012 saw Nebraska erase deficits of 14-3 and 20-10 on the way to a 30-27 victory.
Their second meeting in ‘12 came in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis. The Badgers had five plays of 40-plus yards, two 200-yard rushers for the one and only time in program history and a 42-10 halftime lead that gave way to a 70-31 triumph.
In 2015, UW got a 46-yard field goal from Rafael Gaglianone with 4 seconds left to claim a 23-21 victory in Lincoln.
In 2016, the No. 11 Badgers survived a missed extra-point kick in overtime at Camp Randall to register a 23-17 win over the No. 7 Huskers.
In 2022, Graham Mertz scored on a quarterback sneak with 35 seconds left in regulation to help Wisconsin escape with a 15-14 victory in Lincoln.
In all, the Badgers (5-5 overall, 3-4 in the Big Ten) are 4-1 in one-score games against Nebraska (5-5, 3-4).
Consider some of the individual achievements:
The Badgers have had seven rushing performances of 200-plus yards vs. Nebraska since 2011, including a program record 408 by Melvin Gordon in 2014 in which he had runs of 42, 62, 39, 44, 43, 68 and 26 and didn’t play in the fourth quarter of a 59-24 romp.
While facing the Huskers, Jonathan Taylor became the first back in UW history to top 200 yards rushing three times against the same opponent. He had 249 in 2017, 221 in ’18 and 204 in ’19.
Gordon rushed for 216 yards and Montee Ball 202 in the 2012 Big Ten title game vs. the Huskers. It’s the only instance of two 200-yard outings in the same game for UW.
Wisconsin won a game thanks to a 300-yard passing performance (322 by Joel Stave in ’15) and prevailed despite one by the Huskers (384 by Adrian Martinez in ’18).
Here are five more things to know:
