If there’s a team in the Big Ten that’s been akin to Nebraska like kryptonite is to Superman, it’s probably Northwestern. Since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, seven of the nine games between these schools have been one score affairs, with four of them won on the final play of regulation or in overtime. I dare say that while Nebraska holds a 5-4 advantage in Big Ten games, money wagered on Northwestern has probably paid off seven times.
Nobody is going to accuse Northwestern of being the most talented team on the field; the Wildcats’ recruiting rankings have been in the bottom half of the Big Ten for 18 straight seasons dating back to 2001.