Husker football looks to break losing streak against ranked opponents

The University of Nebraska football team heads about 700 miles east to visit the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday, where it's looking to break an eight-year losing streak against ranked opponents.

Indiana ranks 16th in the Associated Press poll this week. Nebraska hasn’t beaten an AP-ranked opponent since 2016. That was an early season win against the No. 22 Oregon Ducks, 35-32.

If the Huskers come out on top against the Hoosiers, it would also be its first road win against a ranked Big Ten team since 2011, Nebraska’s first year in the Big Ten. In Nov. of 2011, No. 19 Nebraska beat No. 12 Penn State on the road, 17-14, just three days after longtime and controversial Penn State head coach Joe Poterno was fired.

Saturday’s matchup will feature two teams off to a good start. Nebraska is 5-1 and Indiana has started off 6-0.

The two schools also contrast in what they do well. Indiana has the best offense in the Big Ten, averaging greater than 500 yards per game. The Huskers, however, are allowing fewer than 300 yards per game on defense, ranking sixth best in the conference.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Central Time with Fox televising the matchup in the “Big Noon Saturday” slot.