LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Cornhuskers' video board read "Big Time" during pregame ceremonies. Then their football team lived up to it.
Nebraska appears well on its way to its 16th consecutive victory over the Gophers, racing out to a 24-0 lead at halftime.
In a game that has fit in well with the team's recent history -- the Gophers have been outscored 239-14 on their last six visits to sold-out Memorial Stadium -- Minnesota has had to punt away all six of its first-half possessions, gaining only four first downs in the half.
The 16th-ranked Huskers, on the other hand, have rolled down the field with ease. Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has thrown a 36-yard scoring strike to Kenny Bell, and set up the other two Husker scores with a pair of 29-yard completions to move the ball inside the Gophers' 5. On both occasions, fullback Imani Cross did the honors of carrying the ball across the goal line, one from 3 yards out and the other from the 1.
Nebraska also ran an effective two-minute drill, moving 64 yards in the final 90 seconds to reach Minnesota's 1, but Cross was stuffed at the goal line as the clock ran out.
Along with a 39-yard field goal from Brett Maher to open the scoring, the Cornhuskers have spent most of the afternoon in Gopher territory.
Minnesota has crossed midfield only once, a drive that died on the Nebraska 46.
The Gophers have only 60 yards of total offense; the Huskers have a pair of scoring drives longer than that, and have rolled up 306 yards in all, including 19 first downs. Martinez has thrown for 221 yards through the air.