Few programs in the world of college football are as storied as Nebraska. With five national titles, three Heisman Trophy winners and 27 College Football Hall of Famers to their name, the Cornhuskers are one of the sport's most successful outfits.
That might be hard to believe given the side's recent history. For seven years, the Huskers have been held out of bowl games.
They've been close, to be sure, penning a handful of five-win seasons throughout that spell. But when tasked with claiming that elusive sixth win, things would fall apart.
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Things changed for the better on Saturday, as Nebraska finally exorcised its longstanding demons. The Cornhuskers vanquished Wisconsin, 44-25, to pick up their sixth victory of the campaign. With that, they had mercifully punched their ticket to winter football, ending one of college football's longest bowl drought in the process.
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 23, 2024
The drought was clearly on the minds of those who graced Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Star quarterback Dylan Raiola said as much while speaking to reporters about offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's game plan earlier in the week.
“It’s important to know what he's going to call and what he likes here and why he’s calling it so we can execute at the best of our ability,” Raiola said of Holgorsen (via Sports Illustrated). “But we’re only going to keep building on it these next two weeks. We’ll get the win next week and get us to a bowl.”
Raiola proceeded to impress against the Badgers, completing 28-of-28 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Johnson and Dante Dowdell spearheaded an impressive rushing unit that accounted for 180 yards and four touchdowns vs. Wisconsin. All that amounted to a comfortable victory over the 5-6 Badgers.
The Cornhuskers thought they had a postseason berth locked up after racing out to a 5-1 start that included a 28-10 beatdown of highly-touted Colorado.
Then came the stream of losses — circumstances all too familiar to Nebraska supporters. Matt Rhule's side picked up four straight defeats to put itself in precarious position ahead of Sunday's duel.
Huskers fans can be forgiven for being haunted by their past experiences — eight of Nebraska's last nine bowl-game deciding losses came by a single score.
That wasn't the case on Saturday night, though. Fueled by Raiola, Rhule and the rest of the Huskers contingent, folks can sleep a little easier in Lincoln knowing Nebraska will finally get a chance to strut its stuff in the big time.
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 23, 2024
Longest active bowl game droughts
Team | Last bowl appearance |
|---|---|
UMass | Never (joined FBS in 2012) |
Louisiana-Monroe | 2012 |
New Mexico | 2016 |
Akron | 2017 |
Stanford | 2018 |
Charlotte | 2019 |
Temple | 2019 |
FIU | 2019 |
