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Stumble It!For the 20th consecutive time the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in Lincoln.
After coming close in their previous two attempts, the Jayhawks fell just short again Saturday. Kansas lost to Nebraska 45-35 and fell to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference on the season. With the win Nebraska remains undefeated since 1968 against the Hawks at home and improves to 6-4 (3-3) on the year. Since the first tie-breaker in the conference standings is head-to-head record the Huskers move ahead of the Jayhawks to second place in the conference and also become bowl-eligible.
The teams matched up evenly throughout the first three quarters of the game, but with the crowd behind them, Nebraska pulled away in the fourth.
Leading by three entering the fourth quarter, the Cornhuskers' Roy Helu Jr. broke off a 52-yard touchdown run to put Nebraska up 31-21. Kansas answered the next possession with a nine play, 80-yard touchdown drive that ended in a seven-yard Jake Sharp touchdown run.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz then threw for touchdowns on the next two Husker possessions, enhancing the Cornhusker’s lead to 45-28, ultimately sealing the victory for Nebraska.
Two Kansas players did receive small consolation prizes on the day. Quarterback Todd Reesing as well as receiver Dezmon Briscoe solidified themselves in the Kansas record books.
Briscoe, who had six receptions for 176 yards and one touchdown in the game, moved ahead of Willie Vaughn and Bruce Adams for the most touchdown receptions in school history with 18.
Reesing, who was praised by Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini after the game, threw for three touchdowns, one interception and 304 yards.
“He’s a heck of football player. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him,” Pelini said. “He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he has a huge heart.”
Reesing, who also rushed for a touchdown, pushed his career total to 6,632 yards moving him past Frank Seurer as the all-time career passing leader in Kansas History.
With its victory against Kansas State last week, the Jayhawks became bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive year. However, the Jayhawks have never in school history appeared in back-to-back bowls. Two years ago the Hawks finished with six victories but were not invited to a bowl game.
A win on Saturday would have guaranteed a bowl berth for Kansas. The Jayhawks will get their next chance to solidify a bowl trip when they take on the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns next Saturday in Lawrence.
