Nebraska (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday to face Northwestern (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten). Saturday’s game is homecoming for the Huskers.
This is the 15th all-time meeting between the Huskers and Wildcats. Nebraska currently holds an 8-6 advantage in the series. The two teams have split the 10 meetings since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, which has included a series of close games. In fact, the five games in Lincoln since 2011 have been decided by a total of 17 points. The 2013 and 2019 matchups were even decided on the game’s final play.
Nebraska-Northwestern football TV channel, time, live stream
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Date: Saturday, October 2
Live stream: Fox Sports app with cable or dish log in
Radio: Nebraska fans can listen to the game on the new Huskers Radio Network. Internet radio, as well as a Spanish broadcast, will be available at Huskers.com.
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Weather: It’s the first weekend of October and fall is finally here, but this is one of those times of year that just about any kind of weather is possible. For instance, Saturday is definitely going to feel like fall, but showers and thunderstorms are still looking possible.
Full forecast and updates brought to you by Rusty Dawkins of Husker Weather. More here.
Nebraska-Northwestern football picks, odds
The line: Nebraska -11.5
Over/under: 51.5
(per the VI Consensus)
Nebraska-Northwestern preview
Nebraska comes into Saturday’s matchup following a 23-20 overtime loss to Michigan State in East Lansing. While the Nebraska defense dominated, Michigan State was able to take advantage of Nebraska errors and get the win.
But back to that defense for a moment. The Huskers held Michigan State to 254 yards of total offense, which included just 14 second-half yards and no first downs in the second half. Despite that, special teams blunders resurfaced once again against the Spartans, including one late in the fourth quarter that had a major impact in the game.
However, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said his defense won’t be placing blame on teammates.
“Pointing the finger isn’t solving any issues. Helping others is solving a lot of issues,” Chinander said earlier in the week. “So I think those kids gotta take it upon themselves to help spread what they’re creating in that room and continue to get better on their end. We got good guys on the defense and they’re not finger pointers, not complainers.”
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has been impressed with Nebraska’s defense too. He spoke about the Huskers earlier in the week while previewing the game, mentioning what Nebraska was able to do in East Lansing.
“What jumps out to me, obviously, defensively they’re playing at an incredibly hard level,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s 11 heartbeats operating as one. I know the pride they have in their Blackshirts, and it’s really impressive to watch.”
The Wildcats come to Lincoln after a non-conference matchup with Ohio in Evanston. Northwestern secured a 35-6 victory over Ohio, with the Wildcats securing the line of scrimmage against Ohio, rushing for 373 yards in the victory.
As for Nebraska’s offense, coach Scott Frost said that the competition is open on the o-line. He wants to see “more of an attitude and more nasty” from the group up front. He added that he’d rather have the o-linemen going 100 miles an hour and missing than what he has seen happening so far this season.
“We may have the most athletic quarterback in the country and he was sacked seven times,” Frost said.
That’s something the Huskers want to avoid against Northwestern.
What else do you need to know? Here’s a look at what the Huskers said leading up to the matchup with Northwestern:
For more on the matchup, don’t miss the latest I-80 Preview Podcast.
