The Nebraska Cornhuskers paid Northern Illinois $820,000 to travel to Lincoln for a non-conference matchup, but the Huskies left with more than money.
It’s a common practice across college football, and it helps keep smaller teams afloat financially. A blueblood program writes a big check to an FCS or Group of Five conference school (often both in the same season) to visit one of the game’s great cathedrals for what will likely be an easy blowout victory for the home team.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers welcomed the likes of Fresno State, Wyoming, South Alabama, FAU and McNeese State to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln over the past three seasons and beat them all. All opponents were paid handsomely, and all took their beatings according to script. Nebraska also beat Arkansas State at home in the season opener, though the 43-36 final score was closer than expected.
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But Northern Illinois, who was reportedly paid $820,000 to make the trip, didn’t conform to the usual rules of such arrangements. It didn’t come as a shock to many fans across the country given the fact the Huskies have turned similar paydays to Northwestern, Iowa and Purdue into victories in recent seasons. However, Nebraska had never lost to a team from the Mid-American Conference and falling to a mid-major school that went 5-7 last season won’t sit well with Huskers fans – especially those upset with the performance of head coach Mike Riley in his first two years at the helm.
The Huskies jumped on Nebraska early with two defensive touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of the game. Shawun Lurry intercepted Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee on the seventh-play of a promising opening drive for the Huskers, and returned it 87 yards to give NIU a 7-0 lead. Jawuan Johnson added a 25-yard pick six later in the first quarter to give the Huskies a two-touchdown advantage.
The Northern Illinois defense held Nebraska in check for the entire first half, forcing a pair of punts and forcing a missed field goal in the subsequent Cornhuskers offensive possessions before halftime. Nebraska responded in the second half, and briefly took a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter, but NIU running back Jordan Huff capped a 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give the Huskies the lead for good. Northern Illinois picked off Lee for the third time with 1:33 left to play to seal the victory.
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Overall, the Huskies held Nebraska to 384 total yards and an average of 4.63 yards per play. NIU won the turnover battle 3-1, and left town with a 21-17 victory over a Big Ten conference opponent, and a big check to boot.