NEBRASKA 38, GOPHERS 14
The recap: Nebraska scored 38 consecutive points with nonchalant ease, waltzing to its 16th consecutive victory over the overmatched Gophers.
What was learned: Nebraska looks like the favorite to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl, and Minnesota isn't even competitive with that level of competition.
YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
• Taylor Martinez became Nebraska's all-time leading passer and the first Cornhusker to reach 6,000 passing yards in a career.
• Ed and Tommy Olson started alongside each other on the left side of the Gophers offensive line for the first time in three weeks. Both had missed time because of ankle injuries.
• Christian Eldred punted 11 times, and the Gophers averaged only 32.5 net yards, partly because of a season-worst 7-yard punt in the second quarter.
• The Gophers allowed Nebraska to convert seven of 15 third downs, but it was the length of them that really hurt: Five first downs came on third-and-7 or longer.
UP NEXT: MICHIGAN STATE
2:30 p.m. Saturday, TCF Bank Stadium
TV: BTN Radio: 100.3-FM
Records: Gophers 6-5, 2-5 Big Ten; Michigan State 5-6, 2-5
The skinny: The defending Legends Division champion is the Big Ten's most disappointing team this season, and the Spartans' collapse has occurred in the most excruciating way possible: Their past seven games, five of them losses, have been decided by four points or fewer, the longest streak in FBS history. The Spartans, who allow the fewest points and yards in the Big Ten but rank last in passing efficiency, must win Saturday just to avoid being shut out of the bowls for the first time since 2006.
PHIL MILLER
