LINCOLN, Neb. — Two years ago last week, Matt Rhule and his wife, Julie, watched on television as Nebraska played Wisconsin. A gut feeling told both of them that Matt was meant to coach the Huskers. But the Rhules did not believe they’d make the deal work after weeks of talking about the job with Trev Alberts, then the Nebraska athletic director.
The Badgers on that day at Memorial Stadium fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to win by one point. They took control in the trenches and scored the winning touchdown with less than a minute to play.
It marked a ninth consecutive win in the series for Wisconsin. The streak grew to 10 last year in Rhule’s first meeting on the Nebraska sideline against the Badgers in an overtime heartbreaker in Madison.
But that streak ended Saturday in Lincoln. Nebraska thumped Wisconsin 44-25, the Huskers’ first win in this series since 2012. The offense jumped to life behind new coordinator Dana Holgorsen, in his second game as a November replacement. And the seven-year bowl drought is over.
“It’s a surreal moment today,” senior defensive lineman Ty Robinson said. “It’s awesome.”
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