NEBRASKA vs. NORTHWESTERN
Oct. 21, 2023 | MEMORIAL STADIUM
LINCOLN, NEB. | 2:30 PM CT
HUSKERS
Record: 3-3, 1-2 Big Ten
Last Game: at Illinois, W, 20-7
Rankings: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule
Career/NU Record: 50-46 (8th Year)/3-3 (1st Year)
vs. Northwestern: 0-0
WILDCATS
Record: 3-3, 1-2 Big Ten
Last Game: vs. Howard, 23-20
Rankings: NR
Interim Head Coach: David Braun
Career/NW Record: 3-3 (1st Year)/3-3 (1st Year)
vs. Northwestern: 0-0
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 9-7
In Lincoln: Nebraska leads, 5-3
Last Game: Northwestern, 31-28 (2022)
Win Streak: Northwestern, 1 game
BROADCAST INFO
TV – BTN (Cory Provus, Jake Butt, Brooke Fletcher)
RADIO NETWORK – Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
INTERNET RADIO – Huskers.com
APP AUDIO – Official Huskers App
The Matchup
Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium for a two-game homestand, beginning with a Big Ten West matchup against Northwestern this Saturday. The contest between the Huskers and the Wildcats will kick off shortly after 2:30 p.m., with television coverage provided by Big Ten Network and on the Fox Sports App. The game is also available on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium as part of Saturday's game-day festivities. One of college football's most iconic and storied venues hosted its first game on Oct. 13, 1923, and was officially dedicated a week later on Oct. 20, 1923. The Huskers and Northwestern will play before the 393rd consecutive sellout in Lincoln, a streak that dates back to 1962.
Nebraska heads into the second half of its 2023 season with a 3-3 record, including a 1-2 mark in the Big Ten. The Huskers posted a 20-7 victory in their most recent outing, an Oct. 6 victory at Illinois. Nebraska continued to lean on its defense in the win at Illinois, allowing just 21 rushing yards. The Blackshirt defense has been dominant against the run throughout the season, allowing less than 60 rushing yards in five of six games.
Northwestern will also enter the contest with a 3-3 record and a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Wildcats are also coming off a bye after defeating Howard, 23-20, in a non-conference game on Oct. 7. Northwestern boasts a strong passing game on offense, completing better than 60 percent of its attempts, while throwing for 10 touchdowns in the first half of the season. Interim Head Coach David Braun is leading the Wildcats after taking over the program this summer.
Series History: Nebraska vs. Northwestern
Saturday's meeting will be the 17th all-time between Nebraska and Northwestern, and marks the 13th consecutive season the two schools have squared off. Nebraska holds a 9-7 advantage in the all-time series, including a 5-3 lead in games played in Lincoln.
• The series is tied at six wins apiece since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
• Eight of the 12 meetings between the two schools since 2011 have been decided by three or fewer points or in overtime. Northwestern holds a 5-3 edge in those games.
• Nebraska has defeated Northwestern on the final play of the game twice in Lincoln–a Hail Mary victory in 2013 and a walk-off field goal to win in 2019.
• Nebraska and Northwestern will not meet in 2024 in the Big Ten's new non-divisional scheduling format. The schools are scheduled to meet in 2025, 2027 and 2028.
Memorial Stadium Celebrates 100 Years
One of the most iconic venues in all of college sports reached a milestone this fall as Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium hits the 100-year mark. Nebraska is celebrating the anniversary of Memorial Stadium throughout the 2023 home season, with added elements for this Saturday's game.
• Memorial Stadium was built at a cost of $450,000 in 1923 and had an original capacity of 31,080.
• The first game in Memorial Stadium occurred on Oct. 13, 1923, with the official dedication of the stadium a week later when Nebraska hosted Kansas on Oct. 20, 1923. Memorial Stadium was dedicated to honor Nebraskans who served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, and Nebraskans who died in World War I. Later, the dedication was expanded to honor Nebraskans who died in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
• Nebraska owns an all-time record of 430-148-13 at Memorial Stadium.
• The Huskers have posted 33 unbeaten seasons at Memorial Stadium, most recently in 2016.
• Every game at Memorial Stadium since 1962 has been sold out, a streak of 393 consecutive games. The 393-game streak spans nearly two-thirds of all games played at Memorial Stadium.
• Nebraska opened the 2023 home season at night against Northern Illinois. The first night game in Memorial Stadium was the 1986 season opener in a win over Florida State. Nebraska is 50-10 all-time in home night games following the win over NIU.
Uniforms to Celebrate First Game at Memorial Stadium
Nebraska will don alternate uniforms for Saturday's matchup against Northwestern. The adidas uniforms will pay tribute to the first game at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 13, 1923, against Oklahoma.
• In the first game at Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma wore crimson uniforms, and to avoid confusion Nebraska wore blue uniforms for the game. In a nod to the uniforms for the inaugural game at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska's jerseys on Saturday will include a blue outline around the numerals.
• Nebraska's uniforms will also include a special 100-year patch on the shoulders of the uniform. In addition, the stripes on the sleeves include the wording from the original inscriptions on the four corners of Memorial Stadium.
Running Attack Powers Husker Offense
In addition to the success of shutting down the opponents' running game, the Nebraska offense has relied on a powerful running game in 2023. The Huskers are averaging 200.5 rushing yards per game to rank second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
• Nebraska rushed for 312 yards in its victory over Louisiana Tech, marking its first 300-yard rushing game since running for 427 yards against Northwestern in 2021.
• The Huskers rushed for 200 yards in three straight games against Colorado, Northern Illinois and Louisiana Tech, marking NU's first time with 200-plus rushing yards in three straight games since 2018 games against Northwestern, Minnesota and Bethune-Cookman.
• Nebraska topped 180 rushing yards in each of the first four games, its longest such streak since having five straight games with more than 180 rushing yards in the middle of the 2018 season.
• Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (157 yards) and running back Anthony Grant (135 yards) each topped the century mark against Louisiana Tech. It marked the first time Nebraska had two players crack 100 rushing yards in the same game since QB Adrian Martinez and RB Dedrick Mills did so against Rutgers in 2020.
• Nebraska has seven rushing plays of 30 yards or more which is tied for third nationally. The Huskers had four 30-plus yard runs against Louisiana Tech.
• Nebraska ranks as one of just eight teams in the nation to rank in the top 25 nationally in both rushing offense and rushing defense.
• Nebraska averages 124.7 more rushing yards per game than it allows to the opposition. Nebraska is one of 11 teams in the country and two in the Big Ten with a positive rushing differential of at least 100 yards per game.
Defense Keeping Opponents Off Scoreboard Early in Games
Nebraska's defense has been strong throughout the season and has been at its best at the outset of games, making it very difficult for opponents to score in the first quarter.
• Nebraska has shut out the opponent in the first quarter in four of six games this season, holding Minnesota, Colorado, Louisiana Tech and Illinois without a first-quarter point. Dating back to last season, Nebraska has shut out seven of its past 10 opponents in the first quarter.
• Nebraska has shut out the opposition in the first quarter in all three road games in 2023.
• In its last five games against Big Ten West foes, NU has allowed a total of 10 first-half points. The Huskers shut out Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa in the first half in their final three divisional games in 2022. This year, NU allowed three points before half at Minnesota and seven at Illinois.
This Week’s Numbers
3 – Since 2011, seven of the 12 meetings between Nebraska and Northwestern have been decided by three or fewer points, with an additional game decided in overtime by seven points.
100 – Memorial Stadium officially reached the 100-year mark this month. Nebraska played its first game in the stadium on Oct. 13, 1923.
592 - Saturday's game between Nebraska and Northwestern will mark the 592nd all-time game in the 100-year history of Memorial Stadium.