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The Morning After: Minnesota

The Huskers play their most complete game of the year in a victory over the Gophers. Here is what folks are saying this morning.

By Brian Towle
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Tom Shatel, Omaha World-Herald: Suddenly, Huskers are a threat to others instead of themselves

Sometimes you go shopping up here, you find a new team.

This was the Nebraska team you ordered back in August. This was the Nebraska coaching staff you hoped was in the package.

They arrived on a breathtaking autumn day at TCF Bank Stadium, an afternoon that couldn’t have been better for the Huskers — unless you were hoping for something to complain about.

The official ledger says NU is 3-4 and 1-2 in the Big Ten, but after a 48-25 win over Minnesota, it sure felt like 1-0 and 1-0. New season. New team.

Steve Sipple, Lincoln Journal-Star: Besides one glitch, Langsdorf finds play-calling rhythm

"This is big!" shouted former Nebraska offensive tackle Jeremiah Sirles, a second-year NFL player with the Minnesota Vikings, who watched from the Husker sideline.

In the final moments, you sensed in Nebraska players and coaches a mix of utter joy and palpable relief. At last, the Huskers (3-4, 1-2 Big Ten) finished off an opponent. They were clearly better than the Gophers. But NU also was better than BYU, Miami, Illinois and Wisconsin, and we all know about the various calamities that led to heart-wrenching losses to those foes.

Re-watch Nebraska-Minnesota and tell me the Huskers aren’t better than the prior opponents.

Nebraska will be every bit as good as the Northwestern team that comes to Lincoln this coming Saturday.

UStreet, The Daily Gopher: Minnesota Football loses to Nebraska 48-25

The inability to trade off defenders was a major problem throughout the game. The Gophers were constantly beat on stunts and run blitzes. Nebraska's defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game. Minnesota wants to define itself as a power running team, but that team has been absent against any competent rushing defense all year. That includes Kent State, which is sneaky good.

Joe Christensen, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Nebraska overpowers Gophers for 48-25 victory

Saturday looked and felt so much different for the Gophers. Nebraska week didn’t make their season this time. It reminded them how painful this fall has been.

With the Gophers defense suddenly hapless, Nebraska shook off its recent slump, overpowering Minnesota for a 48-25 victory before an announced sellout crowd of 54,062 at TCF Bank Stadium.

The Gophers (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) realize their division title hopes now look slim, and getting the two more victories they need for bowl eligibility could be dicey against Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

"It’s frustrating, looking at the goals we set earlier in the season and looking at where we are now," quarterback Mitch Leidner said. "But it’s part of the game."

Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald: With toughness challenged, Huskers D-Line forcibly responds

Nebraska’s blowout of Minnesota won’t draw much attention nationally — or even within the Big Ten. It won’t lift the Huskers back into the West division race. But it showed something important in the development of Mike Riley’s program.

The Huskers won’t be pushed around.

College football, at places such as Baylor and Oregon, barely resembles the game of 15 years ago, when Nebraska dominated the Great Plains. But in this league — in this division, especially — you still win games with 300-pounders.

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