Matt Rhule could really use a high-profile win. Nebraska’s head coach is still working on elevating the Cornhuskers football program and one of the things that has really been elusive for Rhule has been a big win against a ranked opponent. To add a layer onto that, Nebraska as a whole just hasn’t been able to beat a ranked team since 2016.
So, what happens if that happens as the Huskers host the defending national champs?
Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers are in Lincoln looking to build momentum ahead of a monumental matchup next week with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they shouldn't look ahead. If the Huskers hand Indiana a loss this afternoon, then things could get pretty interesting for the Big Ten.
What do the Big Ten standings look like as Nebraska hosts Indiana?
Right now, there are six teams entering Saturday’s slate of games with 2-0 records in Big Ten play. The Oregon Ducks are among the teams unbeaten in conference play, but they’re sitting at 1-0 right now.
After Saturday, there could be as many as five teams in the Big Ten that are still unbeaten in conference play.
Let’s take a moment to look at the Big Ten landscape.
- Indiana Hoosiers: 2-0 Big Ten, 5-0 overall
- Nebraska Cornhuskers: 2-0 Big Ten, 5-0 overall
- UCLA Bruins: 2-0 Big Ten, 4-0 overall
- Minnesota Golden Gophers: 2-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall
- Ohio State Buckeyes: 2-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall
- Wisconsin Badgers: 2-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall
- Oregon Ducks: 1-0 Big Ten, 3-1 overall
- Iowa Hawkeyes: 2-1 Big Ten, 5-1 overall
- USC Trojans: 2-1 Big Ten, 5-1 overall
- Northwestern Wildcats: 1-1 Big Ten, 3-1 overall
- Purdue Boilermakers: 1-1 Big Ten, 2-3 overall
- Michigan Wolverines: 0-2 Big Ten, 3-2 overall
- Penn State Nittany Lions: 0-2 Big Ten, 3-2 overall
- Illinois Fighting Illini: 0-2 Big Ten, 2-3 overall
- Maryland Terrapins: 0-2 Big Ten, 2-3 overall
- Michigan State Spartans: 0-2 Big Ten, 2-3 overall
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 0-2 Big Ten, 1-4 overall
- Washington Huskies: 0-3 Big Ten, 3-3 overall
I don’t think many people outside the state of Nebraska expected the Huskers to be right there at the top of the Big Ten standings alongside the Hoosiers, but there they are. They’ve earned their spot and are looking to find a way to claim a spot at the top of the conference. That’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible.
What would Nebraska beating Indiana do to the Big Ten race?
If the Huskers can come out on top of this matchup with the Hoosiers, they’ll move to the top of the conference and set themselves up for a high-profile, high-stakes contest with the Oregon Ducks. And at the same time, it would take a bit of shine and remove some of the stakes from Indiana’s game next week against Ohio State.
Should they get a win over the Hoosiers, Nebraska’s path to the Big Ten championship game will be pretty clear. After an October 17 matchup with the Ducks, the Huskers would only have two more ranked opponents left on their schedule: the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes.
And that Nebraska-Ohio State game will take place in Lincoln.
The Hoosiers don’t have too many ranked foes up ahead after their October 17 game against the Buckeyes. Right now, it’d be just against the No. 19 USC Trojans on November 14. But that Halloween game against Minnesota might be worth keeping an eye on.
There’s a road to Indianapolis for both of these teams. There’s theoretically a road to the College Football Playoff for both of these teams. A win here obviously helps a lot more than a loss. For Nebraska fans who haven’t had much fun watching football lately, the chance at chaos with a win has to feel pretty good.
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