Tag: freedom trophy

Wisconsin’s win last night was important for several reasons

Wisconsin’s win last night was important for several reasons

Wisconsin gutted out a 24-17 overtime win over Nebraska last night, improving to 6-5 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten play.

The game did not start well. A bad Cornhusker offense got out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. But the Badgers fought back with big plays and 17 unanswered points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, setting up an overtime win to clinch bowl eligibility for the 22nd consecutive season.

That’s a big piece of the win: ensuring the continuation of the bowl streak and a chance to build into next season.

But the win was also huge for one other reason: the win was Wisconsin’s 10th straight over Nebraska. The “historic” Freedom Trophy stays in Madison, where it’s been every year since its creation.

These weeks are for building for next season. But last night’s game did feel a bit bigger with Nebraska entering with a new head coach and the same record as Wisconsin.

2023 has been rough. But as least the Badgers still own the Cornhuskers.

Wisconsin football cannot lose on Saturday for one simple reason

Wisconsin football cannot lose on Saturday for one simple reason

Wisconsin football is in the midst of a season many would like to forget. At the least, the hope is 2023 is viewed as an anomaly in Luke Fickell’s tenure as head coach. Win in the immediate future, and many will quickly forget the past.

That past still has two games remaining, though. The Badgers are at home against Nebraska on Saturday and at Minnesota the following week.

We’ll deal with the Minnesota contest as the days pass — hopefully having it not decide whether or not Wisconsin’s 22-year bowl streak is extended.

Up now is Nebraska. It is a game Wisconsin cannot lose for one simple reason: the long and storied history of the Freedom Trophy is at stake, and the Cornhuskers have never held it.

 (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

The trophy was introduced in 2014 as the two schools tried to manufacture a rivalry. Since that point, Wisconsin has defeated Nebraska in every season except 2020. That streak can’t end this year.

The two programs are actually in interestingly-similar positions. Wisconsin just hired Luke Fickell to attempt to compete with the ‘big boys’ in college football, while Nebraska hired Matt Rhule to try to resurrect the program.

Given two opposite sets of expectations entering the year, it’s hard to not say Rhule has had a more successful season.

That aside, Saturday could be a rebirth of a rivalry that has never existed. It’s necessary Fickell does not let that happen, so Wisconsin can be bowl eligible yet again and we can continue to make fun of a meaningless trophy.

PHOTOS: Wisconsin takes home Freedom Trophy in 15-14 victory over Nebraska

Photos from Wisconsin football’s 15-14 comeback victory on the road over the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

The Wisconsin Badgers had a difficult first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but they were able to take home the Freedom Trophy with two second-half touchdowns to take a 15-14 lead with only 35 seconds left in the game.

Related: Wisconsin Twitter reacts to a 15-14 comeback victory at Nebraska

The Badgers’ running back trio had a great game against the Cornhuskers with over 232 rushing yards combined, including a game-high 98 yards from running back Chez Mellusi that was returning from a wrist injury. The Wisconsin defense also had a solid performance with fantastic pressure on the Cornhusker’s backfield throughout the game.

Hopefully, the Badgers can use their second-half momentum next week, in what will likely be a tough matchup at home against the 7-3 Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Below are photos from Wisconsin football’s 15-14 comeback victory on the road over the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Wisconsin Twitter reacts to a 15-14 comeback victory at Nebraska

Some of the best Twitter reactions to Wisconsin’s comeback victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Despite not taking the lead until there were 35 seconds left in the game, the Wisconsin Badgers were able to take home the Freedom Trophy in a 15-14 comeback victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Badgers did not score in the first half of this defensive battle but were able to take the lead thanks to one touchdown on the ground and one through the air from quarterback Graham Mertz. It should be noted, that this was far from Mertz’s best game as he also went 8-18 for only 83 passing yards and an interception. Wisconsin’s scoring drives were led by a phenomenal rushing attack. Running backs Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen both rushed for over 90 yards, while Isaac Guerendo also picked up 42 yards.

The Badgers’ defense lost outside linebacker Nick Herbig early in the second half due to a targeting ejection but were able to limit the Cornhuskers to only 171 total yards on the day. Their defense penetrated into the Nebraska backfield to get nine tackles for loss and three crucial sacks.

This victory made the Badgers bowl eligible, and they will move on to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe at Camp Randall next week.

Below are some of the best Twitter reactions to Wisconsin’s comeback victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Series History: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska

The series history between the Wisconsin Badgers and Nebraska Cornhuskers:

The Wisconsin Badgers will continue their road trip to face Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 16th time in their history. This renewed rivalry started all the way back in 1901 when the Badgers bested the Cornhuskers 18-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Wisconsin has also won nine of the last ten matchups between them, including a winning streak in their previous eight games. In November of last year, the Badgers beat Nebraska 35-28. Running back Braelon Allen had a monster game finishing with 228 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Hopefully, the Badgers can make their winning streak into nine games against the Cornhuskers this week and bring home the Freedom Trophy.

Below are photos from some of the most recent matchups between the Wisconsin Badgers and Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Wisconsin and Nebraska are playing for a trophy the Cornhuskers have never held

Wisconsin and Nebraska are playing for a trophy the Cornhuskers have never held

Wisconsin and Nebraska began playing for the Freedom Trophy back in 2014. The trophy became the third Wisconsin plays for in rivalry games during the season, joining Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Minnesota) and the Heartland Trophy (Iowa).

The Badgers and Cornhuskers have a history that goes back to 1965–a game Nebraska won 37-0. But it is not a very storied history, as the two schools did not meet from 1974 until 2011 when Nebraska joined the Big Ten.

Nebraska has won one game against Wisconsin since joining the conference–a 2012 triumph that was quickly avenged with a 70-31 Wisconsin victory in the Big Ten Championship that year. Well, the Freedom trophy was introduced two years later in 2014.

The results from every game between the two schools since then?

  • 2014: Wisconsin wins 59-24
  • 2015: Wisconsin wins 23-21
  • 2016: Wisconsin wins 23-17
  • 2017: Wisconsin wins 38-17
  • 2018: Wisconsin wins 41-24
  • 2019: Wisconsin wins 37-21

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