Tag: Nebraska

Chiefs assistant coach reportedly leaving staff for college football job

Kansas City #Chiefs assistant coach Terry Bradden reportedly leaving staff for college football job | @EdEastonJr

The postseason is only a few weeks away, and the Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. After this journey, they will likely lose a member of their coaching staff on defense.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to hire Chiefs assistant defensive line coach Terry Bradden as the school’s new defensive line coach. Bradden has been with Kansas City for eight seasons, the last four of which were as an assistant under defensive line coach Joe Cullen. The move would be for the next college football season, as Bradden is expected to stay on for Kansas City’s postseason run.

Bradden has contributed to Kansas City’s defensive growth during his tenure, working with different groups before settling in with the defensive line. The unit has become a top group in the league after humble beginnings and struggles in the late 2010s. He was a trusted member of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s staff, which has helped develop standouts such as Chris Jones, Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton, and George Karlaftis, to name a few.

Bradden will join Nebraska’s staff, led by head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule recently served as head coach of the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2022. Nebraska will take on Boston College at Yankee Stadium in New York for this year’s Pinstripe Bowl.

Former Wisconsin transfer guard goes off for career high in Nebraska blowout win

Former Wisconsin transfer guard goes off for career high in Nebraska blowout win

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian had a career outing in Nebraska‘s 96-79 win over South Dakota on Wednesday.

The former Badger transfer went off for 29 points, five assists and two rebounds on 10-of-22 shooting and 6-of-15 from 3. The 29 points best his previous career high of 24 points during Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Michigan on Feb. 26, 2023.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Nov. 25): Wisconsin continues to rise

The game marked a further increase in minutes and usage for the junior guard. His 33 minutes off the bench were the most of any game this season, and the most for any Nebraska player in the win — even starters.

Essegian’s big outing pushes his season averages to 21.5 minutes per game, 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 44.4% shooting and 37.8% from three.

Essegian is one of many former Badgers having strong seasons elsewhere. A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn are having big impacts at Kansas and Louisville, respectively.

Of all of Wisconsin’s offseason departures, Essegian’s made the most sense. His playing time plummeted from his freshman to sophomore season at Wisconsin, dropping from 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game to 7.3 and 3.2, respectively. He has found a sizable role for a strong Nebraska group. His playing time and usage is back to the level from that breakout freshman campaign.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is off to a program-best 8-0 start. Greg Gard boasts a deep backcourt rotation of Max Klesmit, John Tonje, John Blackwell, Kamari McGee and Jack Janicki. It has not even incorporated top freshman Daniel Freitag and transfer Camren Hunter.

Essegian would likely still have been lost in a crowded rotation with the Badgers. His playing time and production with the Cornhuskers ensures all parties are finding success in this case — an uncommon reality in today’s age of player movement.

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Postgame encounter between Wisconsin head football coach, Nebraska assistant goes viral

Postgame encounter between Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, Nebraska assistant Donovan Raiola goes viral

The book isn’t entirely shut on Wisconsin’s loss to Nebraska.

In the aftermath of the game and the subsequent postgame reaction, a video went viral showing an exchange between Badgers coach Luke Fickell and Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola as Fickell was leaving the field.

Related: Braelon Allen, former Wisconsin players react to Badgers historic loss to Nebraska

Fickell is seen walking off with a Wisconsin assistant coach and several police officers — as Nebraska fans stormed the field to celebrate the program’s first bowl appearance since 2016 and first win over Wisconsin in 12 years.

Wisconsin’s coach said something to Raiola, who was walking in the opposite direction. Raiola flashed a thumbs-up and appears to respond before a police officer accompanying Fickell quickly runs over to confront the Nebraska assistant.

That is the extent of the interaction between the two. The video quickly went viral on X, amassing more than 2.7 million views:

For further context, Raiola was a decorated offensive lineman for the Wisconsin Badgers during the early 2000s. He has been on the Nebraska coaching staff since 2022, including the last two years under new coach Matt Rhule. On an unrelated note, he’s the uncle of Cornhuskers star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

No information has been released on what was said between the two or what prompted the reaction from the police officer accompanying Fickell. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule called the interaction “no big deal” when meeting with the media on Monday.

Now, Wisconsin’s singular focus is on its season-ending Week 14 matchup against Minnesota. Fickell and the Badgers need a victory to avoid failing to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2001.

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Wisconsin football plummets in ESPN FPI and SP+ after loss to Nebraska

Wisconsin football plummets in ESPN FPI and SP+ after loss to Nebraska

Wisconsin’s season continued to dive in the wrong direction on Saturday, the latest result a 44-25 loss to rival Nebraska.

The Badgers are now 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play. They stood at 5-2 and 3-1, respectively, just four weeks ago. What followed was a home loss to Penn State, a blowout loss to Iowa, a narrow defeat to top-ranked Oregon and Saturday’s historic loss to Nebraska. That four-game stretch has changed the 2024 season, and is beginning to change the overall sentiment surrounding Luke Fickell and the program.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin’s 44-25 loss to Nebraska

Part of that sentiment is seen in ESPN FPI and SP+’s latest updates.

Wisconsin entered the Nebraska game ranked No. 34 in FPI. The loss dropped the team down to No. 41. FPI now projects the Badgers’ final record at 5.5 – 6.5 and gives it just a 51% chance to defeat Minnesota in Week 14 and make a bowl game.

SP+ is even less confident in the team’s quality. The Nebraska loss dropped Wisconsin from No. 50 to No. 59 in the metric. It is now ranked as the No. 13 team in the Big Ten, ahead of only Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern and Purdue.

Having a coin-flip Week 14 game to reach bowl eligibility and being ranked in the class of Rutgers and Maryland is far below the program’s typical standard. It’s also far below the expectation set by both Chris McIntosh and Luke Fickell when the latter was hired in 2022.

A win over Minnesota to extend the program’s bowl streak to 23 games would be an important step in the right direction. Otherwise, the program’s rapid fall from national relevance will only continue.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes fined for unsportsmanlike conduct vs. Bills

Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes fined for unsportsmanlike conduct vs. the Buffalo #Bills | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are moving on from their first regular-season loss in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills. The disappointing defeat has added another layer of frustration, as the NFL has reportedly fined quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Mahomes was fined $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct “violent gesture” as he celebrated a touchdown pass in last week’s loss in Buffalo. Mahomes is caught on camera making a pointing gesture after tossing a touchdown pass to Noah Gray in the fourth quarter.

The fine can be debatable among football fans as it initially appears nonvolatile, but the league saw it differently. Ironically, Mahomes was fined $50,000 against the Bills last season for “verbally abusing” game officials in his postgame press conference rant.

https://youtube.com/shorts/CG4od7GIIA4?si=BFFep35b9-a1HQ23

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola replicated Mahomes’ gesture on Saturday during his game against the Wisconsin Badgers. Raiola is a well-noted fan of Mahomes and has often been inspired by his play. He could have seen all the commotion from the Chiefs quarterback being admonished for doing the same celebration.

RECAP: Wisconsin football suffers historic loss to rival Nebraska

RECAP: Wisconsin football suffers historic loss to rival Nebraska

Historic is an apt word to describe Wisconsin football’s 44-25 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.

The Badgers entered the contest on a 10-game winning streak against the rival. That win streak was defined by dominance on the ground, headlined by historic days from Melvin Gordon, Jonathan Taylor and Braelon Allen.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin’s 44-25 loss to Nebraska

On Saturday, Nebraska flipped the script. The Cornhuskers totaled 473  yards, including 180 on the ground on five yards per carry. Matt Rhule’s team, one that had lost four straight entering the matchup, scored on its final six possessions.

Wisconsin took a minor step forward on offense after making a coordinator change after its Week 12 loss to Oregon. Braedyn Locke led that effort with 292 yards and three passing touchdowns. But just like at Iowa two weeks ago, the story of the game was Wisconsin’s defense falling apart.

Nebraska’s offense averaged nearly 6.4 yards per play on the afternoon. Its 44 points are its most in the all-time series. It is the third time Wisconsin has allowed 40+ points this season. The last time that happened was 2001 — also the last year the program missed a bowl game.

Big picture, the defeat is Wisconsin’s first to Nebraska since 2012. The result also clinched Nebraska’s first bowl appearance since 2016, snapping a nine-game losing streak with bowl eligibility at stake. Finally, it handed the Cornhuskers the Freedom Trophy for the first time in its existence.

By any measure, the loss was an historic one.

Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) needs a win over Minnesota in Week 14 or the program will not be bowl eligible for the first time in 23 years.

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Wisconsin vs Nebraska injury report: Badgers without two star players vs. Cornhuskers

Wisconsin vs Nebraska injury report: Badgers without two star players vs. Cornhuskers

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) will be without two of their star players when they battles Nebraska (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) on Saturday.

Those are safety Hunter Wohler and wide receiver Will Pauling. Both left the second half of the team’s Week 12 loss to Oregon with injuries. Neither was ready to return for Saturday’s matchup.

Wohler leads Wisconsin in tackles (63) and pass deflections (six) through 12 games. He’s arguably the team’s most important player on either side of the football. Pauling, meanwhile, is second on the team in receiving yards (407) and leads in receiving touchdowns (three).

In other recent news, Nebraska will be without starting cornerback Tommi Hill against Wisconsin. The veteran had been battling a foot injury since the start of the season. Rhule announced this week that he’d miss the team’s final two regular season games.

As Wisconsin and Nebraska near kickoff, here are the official injury reports from each team:

Wisconsin injury report

OUT: S Hunter Wohler, WR Will Pauling, RB Chez Mellusi (for season), QB Tyler Van Dyke (for season), WR Joseph Griffin (for season), S Kamo’i Latu, QB Cole LaCrue, OL Evan Brown, OL Leyton Nelson, TE Rob Booker

QUESTIONABLE: DL James Thompson Jr., LB Jaheim Thomas

Nebraska injury report

OUT: CB Tommi Hill, K Tristan Alvano, OL Turner Corcoran, OT Tyler Knaack

QUESTIONABLE: RB Rahmir Johnson, OL Micah Mazzccua

Hunter Wohler injury update

Wohler left the end of Wisconsin’s narrow loss to Oregon with an injury after a tough collision. He went straight into the locker room, indicating the injury was serious. He is out against Nebraska.

Will Pauling injury update

Pauling exited during the second half of Wisconsin’s loss to Oregon. He was a key factor of the Badgers’ win over Nebraska in 2023. His absence is a big loss on an offense that needs a spark.

James Thompson Jr. injury update

James Thompson Jr. suffered a significant upper-body injury during training camp. He’s been listed as ‘out’ all season leading up to this week. The top lineman is now ‘questionable’ against Nebraska.

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Wisconsin transfer guard has breakout performance in Nebraska win over Creighton

Big night for a former Badger transfer

Wisconsin transfer guard Connor Essegian powered Nebraska to a 74-63 road win over No. 14 Creighton on Friday.

The former Badger contributed 15 points and two rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench, shooting 4-of-6 from the floor and 1-of-2 from three.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s big win over UCF

Those bench points provided a critical boost for Fred Hoiberg’s team in its big rivalry victory. Essegian led several key scoring runs, highlighted by a solo 6-1 run midway through the second half to extend the team’s lead to 14 points.

Only two Nebraska players finished with more points than Essegian: starters Juwan Gray (16 points on 6-of-13 shooting) and Brice Williams (16 points on 4-of-12 shooting). No one on the floor matched his combination of production and efficiency.

The sharpshooter has played a steady role for the Cornhuskers during their 4-1 start to the 2024-25 season. His per-game averages include 19.2 minutes, 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds on 44% shooting and 36.4% from 3.

Essegian transferred to Nebraska after two seasons with the Badgers. He played a big role as a freshman in 2022-23, averaging 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game. His role diminished as a sophomore in 2023-24 as Greg Gard reworked the roster, those numbers falling to 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game, respectively.

The Wisconsin transfer appears to have found a strong destination at Nebraska. The Hoosiers are amid a program-great run under Hoiberg. That began with a 23-11 record and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023-24 and has continued into 2024-25.

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Wisconsin football schedule: Are the Badgers playing today? 

Is Wisconsin playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Wisconsin Badgers be on the field today in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season?

Following a tough Week 12 loss to No. 1 Oregon, the Badgers are back on the field on Saturday against the rival Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Wisconsin enters the matchup with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in Big Ten play. It needs one more win over its final two games to clinch bowl eligibility. Nebraska enters Saturday in the same situation — 5-5 on the season, amid a long losing streak and badly needing one more win to clinch a postseason berth.

Wisconsin and Nebraska will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The game will be available on the Big Ten Network and streaming on Fox Sports.

Here is a full look at what Wisconsin has left before the 2024 regular season concludes.

Wisconsin 2024 football schedule

  • Aug. 30: vs. Western Michigan (W, 28-14)
  • Sept. 7: vs. South Dakota (W, 27-13)
  • Sept. 14: vs. Alabama (L, 42-10)
  • Bye Week
  • Sept. 28: at USC (L, 38-21)
  • Oct. 5: vs. Purdue (W, 52-6)
  • Oct. 12: at Rutgers (W, 42-7)
  • Oct. 19: at Northwestern (W, 23-3)
  • Oct. 26: vs. Penn State (L, 28-13)
  • Nov. 2 at Iowa (L, 42-10)
  • Bye Week
  • Nov. 16 vs. Oregon (L, 16-13)
  • Nov. 23 at Nebraska
  • Nov. 30 vs. Minnesota
  • Record: 5-5 (3-4 Big Ten)

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Nebraska rules out starting cornerback for game vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Nebraska rules out starting cornerback for game vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule announced on Thursday that starting cornerback Tommi Hill will miss the final two games of the 2024 regular season.

The first of those two games is Saturday, Nov. 23 against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s Week 13 game at Nebraska

Hill has been battling a foot injury for the majority of the 2024 season. He played through it for an extended period, including during Nebraska’s last two games against UCLA and USC, respectively.

“Everything’s a collaboration, but I can’t put him out there anymore,” Rhule said during his press conference on Thursday. “[Tommy Hill] cares about his teammates and wants to be out there, but he’s only hurting himself and giving up touchdowns.”

Hill has recorded 21 tackles, one interception and one pass deflection through seven appearances in 2024. Those numbers are all a big drop from his production as Nebraska’s top cornerback in 2023 — 26 tackles, four interceptions and nine pass deflections.

As Rhule noted, the veteran cornerback has struggled at times this season while battling through the lingering foot injury. Rhule noted that he expects younger players to contribute in Hill’s absence both on Saturday against Wisconsin and in Week 14 against Iowa.

The veteran cornerback will now look to get healthy before the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL draft process.

Nebraska enters Saturday’s matchup allowing 210.9 passing yards per game, including 259 to USC and new quarterback Jayden Maiava in the Cornhuskers’ Week 12 loss.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, needs an offensive boost after scoring just 36 total points over the team’s last three games — losses to Penn State, Iowa and Oregon, respectively. The Badgers fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo after the latest loss.

Hill’s injury may not completely change Saturday’s game, but it is a variable to consider when QB Braedyn Locke and the Badgers passing offense looks for its best performance in a month.

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