Nebraska had a real shot to force its way into the Big Ten’s top tier on Saturday, and that opportunity slipped.
The Huskers still get another crack at making the case in Eugene, but the finish has to be cleaner if they want the argument to stick. Oregon is in the same spot, only with more urgency after a home loss to UCLA and the added complication of quarterback uncertainty. One of these teams has the kind of win that catches your eye - Oregon’s 14-point victory at USC a few Saturdays ago - but both are heading into a game that can expose what they’re still trying to hide.
That makes this week a big one across the league. Ohio State-Indiana, Nebraska-Oregon and UCLA-Wisconsin all sit on the board, and each one should reveal something real about the contenders and the teams still trying to climb into that group. Wisconsin, too, is apparently higher in some rankings than mine, and Saturday gives the Badgers their chance to prove it.
USC remains tough to place. The record is there, and the road win at Penn State deserves a nod, but Penn State has not been good, and the narrow escapes against Washington and Rutgers take some of the shine off the résumé.
Purdue, meanwhile, has earned attention. The Boilermakers just hammered Minnesota, and Minnesota had only recently beaten Michigan. Purdue also owns wins over Minnesota and Illinois, with a hard-fought loss to UCLA mixed in.
Michigan-Penn State brings the helmets, even if it brings a lot less appeal than most people would have expected before the season.
Nebraska’s 20-17 loss to Indiana knocked it back, but the next chance arrives fast. Oregon needs to respond just as quickly after its 17-15 loss to the Bruins.
Man, Bob Chesney has the hair and a pretty good club, too.
Here’s how I rank the Big Ten heading into that week:
In Other News...
Nebraska Let A Breakthrough Win Slip Away In The Worst Moment
Indiana had to dig itself out of a hole to beat Nebraska, and Curt Cignetti was quick to frame the comeback as more than just a fortunate rally. He pointed to the kind of effort it took to erase the deficit and credited Nebraska as a strong team, which only made the loss sting more for a Cornhuskers group that had put itself in position to land a breakthrough win.
The turning point came on Indianas side through the passing game, with long touchdown throws to wide receiver Nick Marsh helping swing the momentum late. Cignetti also noted Nebraskas defensive approach, a reminder that the Cornhuskers had a plan in place before the game tilted away, and now the challenge is turning the disappointment into something useful before the next matchup with Ohio State. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Has A Dylan Raiola Reunion Brewing With One Big Catch
Oregons preparation for Nebraska comes with a little more quarterback drama than expected, and it starts with Dante Moore working through concussion protocol. If Moore cant go, the Ducks may turn to Dylan Raiola, the former Cornhusker who transferred out of Lincoln and still brings plenty of familiarity to a matchup that already has a built-in edge.
Raiola would be facing the program he left, which adds an obvious layer to a game that matters in the Big Ten race and for Oregons short-term stability under center. He came off a strong showing against USC before a tougher outing against UCLA, so the Ducks are staring at a decision that could carry both practical and personal weight, with Nebraska watching a possible reunion from the other sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Raiola Faces A Huge Oregon Test After Nebraskas Latest Letdown
Dylan Raiola is still lined up to start for Nebraska against Oregon, and the matchup comes at a tricky moment for the freshman quarterback. His last outing against UCLA was a rough one, as he completed 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards, but the Cornhuskers do not have much time to dwell on it with another major test waiting. The backdrop is not ideal, either, after Nebraska let a 17-6 lead slip away in a loss to Indiana, a defeat that added to the pressure around a team trying to find its footing.
Raiola has already acknowledged the challenge of seeing a former team on the schedule, and he also made clear the respect he still has for former coach Matt Rhule. For Nebraska, this is about more than one bad performance or one disappointing finish, because the next step against Oregon will say plenty about how quickly the offense can respond. Even with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti praising Nebraska's competitiveness in that loss, the Cornhuskers still need cleaner execution if they want this stretch to stop feeling like a series of missed chances. [Read more 🡒]