2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
American college football season
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The 2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by second-year head coach Mike Riley and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. This would be the last winning season for Nebraska until 2024.
| 2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football | |
|---|---|
| |
Music City Bowl, L 24–38 vs. Tennessee | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| West Division | |
| Record | 9–4 (6–3 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Danny Langsdorf (2nd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Mark Banker (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium[1] |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Penn State xy$ | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State x^ | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 Michigan | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 0 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Wisconsin xy | 7 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 5 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 2 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Offseason
On July 23, 2016, senior punter and returning starter Sam Foltz was killed in a single-car crash in Waukesha County, Wisconsin following serving as staff for a training camp for high school kickers and punters. Former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler was also killed; LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was also in the accident but sustained only non-life-threatening injuries.[2]
Transfers
Outgoing
| Name | Number | Pos. | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derrion Grim | #7 | WR | San Joaquin Delta |
| Blake Holtmeier | #25 | WR | Nebraska-Kearney[3] |
| Lane Hovey | #13 | WR | Montana[4] |
| Garrett McKay | #33 | LB | Santa Ana College |
| Trai Mosley | #2 | CB | Central Arkansas |
| Garrett Poppen | #54 | LB | Nebraska–Kearney |
| Jordan Stevenson | #2 | RB | Navarro JC[5] |
| Adrienne Talan | #13 | LB | Navarro JC |
| Kevin Williams | #92 | DT | Michigan State
[6] (Grad. transfer) |
| Paul Thurston | #55 | C | Colorado State[7] (Grad. transfer) |
| AJ Bush Jr. | #6 | QB | Iowa Western CC[8] |
Incoming
| Name | Number | Pos. | Previous School | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanner Lee* | #13 | QB | Tulane | Junior |
| Donovan McDonald† | #39 | WR | Fork Union Military | RS Freshman |
| Keyan Williams** | #9 | WR | Fresno State | Sophomore |
| Matt Watts† | #51 | OL | Nevada Butte CC | Junior |
| Tanner Zlab† | #33 | DB | Doane | Senior |
*Player is not eligible to play in 2016 season due to transfer regulations
**Son of Nebraska WR coach Keith Williams[9]
†Walk-on transfer
Coaching departures
| Name | Pos. | Destination | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hank Hughes | DL Coach | unknown | John Parrella |
2016 recruiting class
Position key
| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | |||
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E | |||
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K | |||
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | |||
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB | |||
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
Nebraska Football 2016 Recruiting Class[10]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quayshon Alexander LB |
Wayne, NJ | De Paul Catholic | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | Jun 19, 2015 |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:  (80) | ||||||
| Dicaprio Bootle CB |
Miami, FL | Miami Killian HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Jun 16, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (75) | ||||||
| Bryan Brokop OT |
New Lenox, IL | Lincoln Way West | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 273 lb (124 kg) | – | Sep 27, 2014 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (79) | ||||||
| Tre Bryant RB |
Saint Louis, MO | Christian Brothers College HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 4.53 | Nov 8, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (75) | ||||||
| Tony Butler CB |
Lakewood, OH | St. Edward | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Jan 20, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (79) | ||||||
| Marquel Dismuke S |
Calabasas, CA | Calabasas | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Jun 15, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (83) | ||||||
| JoJo Domann DB |
Colorado Springs, CO | Pine Creek | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Jun 26, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (77) | ||||||
| David Engelhaupt TE |
Norfolk, NE | Norfolk Catholic | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (N/A) | ||||||
| Matt Farniok OT |
Sioux Falls, SD | Washington | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 297 lb (135 kg) | – | Jan 27, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (81) | ||||||
| Lamar Jackson DB |
Elk Grove, CA | Franklin | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205.5 lb (93.2 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (84) | ||||||
| Pernell Jefferson LB |
New Orleans, LA | Warren Easton | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | Jan 23, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (74) | ||||||
| Caleb Lightbourn P/PK |
Camas, WA | Camas | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | – | Nov 28, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (74) | ||||||
| Collin Miller LB |
Fishers, IN | Hamilton Southeastern | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | Jan 24, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (72) | ||||||
| Patrick O'Brien QB |
San Juan Capistrano, CA | San Juan Hills | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | May 1, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (79) | ||||||
| John Raridon OG |
West Des Moines, IA | Valley | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | – | Sep 28, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (83) | ||||||
| Greg Simmons LB |
Fort Pierce, FL | Fort Pierce | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | Jun 25, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (79) | ||||||
| JD Spielman WR |
Eden Prairie, MN | Eden Prairie | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Aug 15, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (78) | ||||||
| Ben Stille DL |
Ashland, NE | Ashland-Greenwood | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | Jun 13, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (76) | ||||||
| Jack Stoll TE |
Aurora, CO | Regis Jesuit | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | Jun 24, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (79) | ||||||
| Boe Wilson OG |
Lee's Summit, MO | Lee's Summit | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Jul 6, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (78) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 28 Rivals: 25 247Sports: 24 ESPN: 26 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Walk-on recruits
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chafin, Ty WR |
Burwell, NE | Burwell | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Hamik, Creighton LB |
Kearney, NE | Kearney Catholic | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Hass, Tanner ATH |
West Point, NE | Guardian Angels | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Hohenstein, Branden LB |
Jackson, NE | Bishop Heelan | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Honas, Todd WR |
Aurora, NE | Aurora | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Hunt, Tavlin LB |
Lincoln, NE | North Star | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jordan, Grant LB |
Omaha, NE | Westside | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jordan, Spencer FB |
Omaha, NE | Westside | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Kitten, Jake OL |
Santee, CA | Santana | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Lambert, Sean RB |
Fremont, NE | Fremont | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Smith, Ne'Land WR |
Blue Springs, MO | Blue Springs | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Sullivan, Eli DB |
Longmont, CO | Longmont | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Watts, Matt OL |
Stockton, CA | St. Mary's HS Butte CC Nevada |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
National signing day was on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.
Tryout walk-ons
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasun, Kyle DB |
Papillion, NE | Papillion-La Vista South | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Returning starters
Offense
| Player | Class | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Armstrong Jr. | Senior | Quarterback |
| Terrell Newby | Senior | Running back |
| Jordan Westerkamp | Senior | Wide receiver |
| Brandon Reilly | Senior | Wide receiver |
| Cethan Carter | Senior | Tight end |
| Dylan Utter | Senior | Guard |
| Nick Gates | Sophomore | Offensive tackle |
| Ryker Fyfe | Senior | Quarterback |
| Devine Ozigbo | Sophomore | Running back |
| De'Mornay Pierson-El | Junior | Wide receiver |
| Stanley Morgan Jr. | Sophomore | Wide receiver |
| Sam Cotton | Senior | Tight end |
| Reference:[11] | ||
Defense
| Player | Class | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Stoltenberg | Sophomore | Defensive tackle |
| Kevin Maurice | Senior | Defensive tackle |
| Freedom Akinmoladun | Sophomore | Defensive end |
| Dedrick Young | Sophomore | Linebacker |
| Josh Banderas | Senior | Linebacker |
| Marcus Newby | Junior | Linebacker |
| Joshua Kalu | Junior | Cornerback |
| Chris Jones | Junior | Cornerback |
| Aaron Williams | Sophomore | Strong safety |
| Nathan Gerry | Senior | Free safety |
| Ross Dzuris | Senior | Defensive end |
| Michael Rose-Ivey | Senior | Linebacker |
| Chris Weber | Junior | Linebacker |
| Tyrin Ferguson | Sophomore | Linebacker |
| Luke Gifford | Sophomore | Linebacker |
| Boaz Joseph | Junior | Cornerback |
| Kieron Williams | Junior | Free safety |
| Antonio Reed | Sophomore | Free safety |
| Reference:[11] | ||
Special teams
| Player | Class | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Brown | Junior | Kicker |
| Jordan Ober | Sophomore | Long Snapper |
| Reference:[11] | ||
Spring practice
2016 Red—White Spring Game
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • White | 8 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 46 |
| Red | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 41 |
- Date: April 16, 2016
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game start: 1:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2h 22m
- Game attendance: 72,992
- Game weather: Cloudy w/ 73% humidity, 67 °F (19 °C); wind 11 mph (18 km/h) SSE
- Television network: BTN2Go
| 1 | Red | Terrell Newby 23-yard run | Red 1–0 | |
| 1 | Red | Devine Ozigbo 22-yard run | Red 2–0 | |
| 1 | Red | Three consecutive first downs | Red 3–0 | |
| 1 | Red | Terrell Newby 1-yard touchdown run (Drew Brown kick) | Red 10–0 | |
| 1 | White | Three and out | Red 10–2 | |
| 1 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 10–3 | |
| 1 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 10–4 | |
| 1 | White | Stop before 40 yard line (forced punt) | Red 10–5 | |
| 1 | White | Three and out | Red 10–7 | |
| 1 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 10–8 | |
| 1 | Red | Fourth down conversion | Red 11–8 | |
| 2 | White | Red team (Drew Brown) missed 50 yard field goal, hit crossbar | Red 11–11 | |
| 2 | Red | Tommy Armstrong Jr. 44-yard run | Red 12–11 | |
| 2 | Red | Mikale Wilbon 6-yard touchdown run (Drew Brown kick) | Red 19–11 | |
| 2 | White | Freedom Akinmoladun and Carlos Davis sack of Ryker Fyfe | Red 19–13 | |
| 2 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 19–14 | |
| 2 | Red | Ryker Fyfe 25-yard pass to Sam Cotton | Red 20–14 | |
| 2 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 20–16 | |
| 2 | Red | Drew Brown 47-yard field goal | Red 23–16 | |
| 3 | Red | Three consecutive first downs | Red 24–16 | |
| 3 | Red | Tommy Armstrong Jr. 37-yard touchdown run | Red 31–16 | |
| 3 | White | Three and out | Red 31–18 | |
| 3 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 31–19 | |
| 3 | Red | Ryker Fyfe 22-yard pass to Wyatt Mazour | Red 32–19 | |
| 3 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 32–21 | |
| 3 | Red | Three consecutive first downs | Red 33–21 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 33–23 | |
| 4 | White | Joel Lopez sack of Patrick O'Brien | Red 33–25 | |
| 4 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 33–26 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 33–28 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 33–30 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 33–30 | |
| 4 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Red 33–31 | |
| 4 | White | Three and out | Tied 33–33 | |
| 4 | Red | Fourth down conversion | Red 34–33 | |
| 4 | Red | Austin Rose 23-yard run | Red 35–33 | |
| 4 | Red | Austin Rose 7-yard touchdown run | Red 41–33 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 41–35 | |
| 4 | White | Three and out | Red 41–38 | |
| 4 | White | Fourth down stop | Red 41–40 | |
| 4 | White | Stop before 40-yard line (forced punt) | Tied 41–41 | |
| 4 | White | Kyle Kasun interception as time expired | White 46–41 | |
72,992 fans attended the Nebraska spring game, continuing the streak of 60,000+ in attendance for Nebraska spring games since 2008. Unlike previous spring games, the teams did not trade the ball but Team Red was the offense and Team White was the defense for the entire game. Additionally, the scrimmage used a unique scoring system that allowed the defense (White) to score and rewarded plays that would otherwise be non-scoring in a normal football game. At the end of the game, Kyle Kasun intercepted the ball as the time expired, allowing the white team to win. The final score was White 46–41. Tommy Armstrong Jr., Ryker Fyfe and Patrick O'Brien all played at quarterback for team Red.
Schedule
Nebraska announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Cornhuskers will host Big Ten opponents Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Purdue, and will travel to Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.[14]
The team hosted all three of the non–conference games which are against the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Wyoming Cowboys both from the Mountain West Conference, and the Oregon Ducks from the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12). This was Nebraska's 7th game against Oregon, and head coach Mike Riley's 13th overall game against Oregon, as he previously coached for Oregon rival Oregon State.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | 7:00 p.m. | Fresno State* | BTN | W 43–10 | 90,013 | [15] | ||
| September 10 | 11:00 a.m. | Wyoming* |
| ESPN2 | W 52–17 | 89,895 | [16] | |
| September 17 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 22 Oregon* |
| ABC | W 35–32 | 90,414 | [17] | |
| September 24 | 6:30 p.m. | at Northwestern | No. 20 | BTN | W 24–13 | 40,284 | [18] | |
| October 1 | 2:30 p.m. | Illinois | No. 15 |
| ESPN2 | W 31–16 | 90,374 | [19] |
| October 15 | 2:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 10 | ABC/ESPN2 | W 27–22 | 48,254 | [20] | |
| October 22 | 2:30 p.m. | Purdue | No. 8 |
| ABC/ESPN2 | W 27–14 | 90,546 | [21] |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Wisconsin | No. 7 | ESPN | L 17–23 OT | 80,833 | [22] | |
| November 5 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Ohio State | No. 10 | ABC | L 3–62 | 108,750 | [23] | |
| November 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Minnesota | No. 19 |
| BTN | W 24–17 | 90,456 | [24] |
| November 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Maryland | No. 18 |
| ESPNews | W 28–7 | 89,704 | [25] |
| November 25 | 2:30 p.m. | at Iowa | No. 16 | ABC | L 10–40 | 69,814 | [26] | |
| December 30 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. No. 21 Tennessee* | ESPN | L 24–38 | 68,496 | [27] | ||
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Roster and coaching staff
| 2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Game summaries
Fresno State
Fresno State at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 43 |
- Date: September 3
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:26
- Game attendance: 90,013
- Game weather: Overcast, 69 °F (21 °C), Wind SSE @ 16 mph (26 km/h)
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (BTN): Joe Beninati, Glen Mason, Damon Benning
- Sources:*Sources:[29]
| 1 | 0:43 | Nebraska | Devine Ozigbo 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 7–0 |
| 2 | 12:34 | Nebraska | Devine Ozigbo 6-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 14–0 |
| 2 | 5:38 | Fresno State | Aaron Peck 7-yard pass from Chason Virgil (Kody Kroening kick) | Nebraska 14–7 |
| 2 | 0:00 | Fresno State | Kody Kroening 26-yard field goal | Nebraska 14–10 |
| 3 | 9:59 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 9-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 21–10 |
| 4 | 14:51 | Nebraska | Alonzo Moore 57-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 28–10 |
| 4 | 9:50 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 4-yard run (Zach Darlington 2-pt rush) | Nebraska 36–10 |
| 4 | 4:20 | Nebraska | Tre Bryant 3-yard run (Spencer Lindsay kick) | Nebraska 43–10 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2–0 | September 13, 2014 | Nebraska, 55–19 |
Nebraska opened the 2016 season with a non-conference matchup against Fresno State at Memorial Stadium. The game marked the start of the second season for head coach Mike Riley. The game marked the completion of a three-game series with Fresno State. The Huskers defeated Fresno State in Lincoln 42–29 in 2011 before winning on the road in Fresno 55–19 in 2014. These three games are the only meetings between the Huskers and Bulldogs in program history. Before the game, there was a tribute to the late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who was killed in a car crash in July. Before their first punt, the Huskers observed a moment of silence for Foltz by sending only 10 players onto the field with no punter waiting for the snap. A delay of game penalty was called on the Huskers, which the Bulldogs declined.
Fresno State Game starters
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Wyoming
Wyoming at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 52 |
- Date: September 10
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:25
- Game attendance: 89,895
- Game weather: Clear, Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C), Wind W/NW @ 8 mph (13 km/h)
- Referee: Don Willard
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff, Kelly Stouffer, Paul Carcaterra
- Sources:*Sources:[30]
| 1 | 6:12 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 7-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 7–0 |
| 2 | 9:03 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 29-yard field goal | Nebraska 10–0 |
| 2 | 5:57 | Nebraska | Alonzo Moore 63-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 17–0 |
| 2 | 0:08 | Wyoming | Tanner Gentry 35-yard pass from Josh Allen (Cooper Rothe kick) | Nebraska 17–7 |
| 3 | 11:08 | Wyoming | Cooper Rothe 27-yard field goal | Nebraska 17–10 |
| 3 | 4:48 | Nebraska | Kieron Williams 23-yard interception return (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–10 |
| 3 | 1:35 | Wyoming | Brian Hill 1-yard run (Cooper Rothe kick) | Nebraska 24–17 |
| 4 | 13:11 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 34-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 31–17 |
| 4 | 12:59 | Nebraska | Devine Ozigbo 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 38–17 |
| 4 | 7:28 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 9-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 45–17 |
| 4 | 5:15 | Nebraska | Gabe Rahn 35-yard pass from Ryker Fyfe (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 52–17 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 7–0 | August 31, 2013 | Nebraska, 37–34 |
The 2016 edition of the Nebraska–Wyoming series marked the 8th meeting between the two neighboring state programs. Nebraska entered the game with a perfect 7–0 all-time record against the Wyoming Cowboys. Senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw three touchdown passes during this matchup, in which he set the record for most career touchdown passes in the Nebraska program history, surpassing Taylor Martinez's previous record of 56. The Cornhuskers defeated the Cowboys 52–17 in front of a crowd of 89,895, the stadium's 349th consecutive sellout.
Wyoming Game starters
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Oregon
Oregon at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #22 Oregon | 8 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 32 |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
- Date: September 17
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:37
- Game attendance: 90,414
- Game weather: Sunny, Clear, 79 °F (26 °C), Wind NW @ 8 mph (13 km/h)
- Referee: Terry Leyden
- TV announcers (ABC): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
- Sources:*Sources:[31]
| 1 | 8:19 | Oregon | James Brooks 20-yard run (Charles Nelson rush) | Oregon 8–0 |
| 1 | 2:05 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 22-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Oregon 8–7 |
| 2 | 5:56 | Oregon | James Brooks 2-yard run (Charles Nelson pass failed) | Oregon 14–7 |
| 2 | 2:30 | Oregon | Taj Griffin 50-yard run (Charles Nelson rush failed) | Oregon 20–7 |
| 2 | 0:05 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 3-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Oregon 20–14 |
| 3 | 11:48 | Nebraska | Bryan Reimers 22-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 21–20 |
| 3 | 6:13 | Nebraska | Devine Ozigbo 7-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 28–20 |
| 3 | 2:42 | Oregon | Kani Benoit 41-yard run (Dakota Prukop pass failed) | Nebraska 28–26 |
| 4 | 10:31 | Oregon | James Brooks 1-yard run (Dakota Prukop rush failed) | Oregon 32–28 |
| 4 | 2:29 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 34-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 35–32 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 5–1 | September 27, 1986 | Nebraska, 48–14 |
Nebraska and Oregon played for the 7th time between the two programs on September 17, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Ducks went for the two point conversion after every touchdown, only succeeding once, early in the game. Nebraska went on to win the game 35–32, giving Oregon their first loss of the season, and Nebraska their third win to improve their record to 3–0. Nebraska had 428 total offensive yards the whole game, and the Ducks had 482. The Cornhuskers will travel to Eugene, Oregon in the 2017 season to face the Ducks at Autzen Stadium, game 2 of the home-and-home series between the two programs.
Oregon Game starters
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Northwestern
Nebraska at Northwestern
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • #20 Nebraska | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
- Date: September 24
- Location: Ryan Field
Evanston, IL - Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:09
- Game attendance: 40,284
- Game weather: Clear, 71 °F (22 °C), Wind NE @ 10 mph (16 km/h)
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV announcers (BTN): Eric Collins, Glen Mason, Michelle McMahon
- Sources:[32]
| 2 | 13:40 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 23-yard field goal | Nebraska 3–0 |
| 2 | 9:09 | Northwestern | Clayton Thorson 42-yard run (Jack Mitchell kick) | Northwestern 7–3 |
| 2 | 1:41 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 4-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 10–7 |
| 3 | 9:00 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 4-yard pass to Cethan Carter (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 17–7 |
| 3 | 7:29 | Northwestern | Clayton Thorson 24-yard pass to Austin Carr (Jack Mitchell PAT miss) | Nebraska 17–13 |
| 3 | 3:06 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 10-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–13 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 6–3 | October 24, 2015 | Northwestern, 30–28 |
Nebraska opened conference play with their first road game of the season in Evanston, Illinois against Northwestern. The Cornhuskers won the contest by a score of 24–13. Early in the game, I-back Terrell Newby fumbled the ball at the sideline near the end zone, resulting in a touchback, giving Northwestern the ball. In the second quarter, Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson ran the ball 42 yards for a touchdown. Thorson also had a 24-yard touchdown pass to Austin Carr in the 3rd quarter. Nebraska will play the Wildcats at home in 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Northwestern Game starters
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Illinois
Illinois at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| • #15 Nebraska | 7 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 31 |
- Date: October 1
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:05
- Game attendance: 90,374
- Game weather: Overcast, 67 °F (19 °C), Wind East & 4–10 mph (6.4–16.1 km/h)
- Referee: Don Capron
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Dave LaMont, Kelly Stouffer, Paul Carcaterra
- Sources:[33]
| 1 | 8:23 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 7–0 |
| 2 | 10:11 | Illinois | Kendrick Foster 31-yard run (Chase McLaughlin kick) | 7–7 |
| 2 | 5:59 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 29-yard field goal | Nebraska 10–7 |
| 2 | 1:01 | Illinois | Chase McLaughlin 24-yard field goal | 10–10 |
| 2 | 0:00 | Illinois | Chase McLaughlin 43-yard field goal | Illinois 13–10 |
| 3 | 7:40 | Illinois | Chase McLaughlin 33-yard field goal | Illinois 16–10 |
| 4 | 11:58 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 3-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 17–16 |
| 4 | 4:32 | Nebraska | Trey Foster 6-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–16 |
| 4 | 2:03 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 63-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 31–16 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 9–3–1 | October 3, 2015 | Illinois, 14–13 |
Nebraska played its second conference game at home against the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 1, 2016. Nebraska beat the Illini by a score of 31–16, claiming their 5th win on the season to make the Cornhuskers 5–0.
Illinois Game starters
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Indiana
Nebraska at Indiana
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • #10 Nebraska | 17 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
| Indiana | 0 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 22 |
- Date: October 15
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Bloomington, IN - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:38
- Game attendance: 48,254
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 75 °F (24 °C), Wind S/SW @ 12 mph (19 km/h)
- Referee: Jeff Servinski
- TV announcers (ABC/ESPN2): Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Jerry Punch
- Sources:[34]
| 1 | 9:46 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 40-yard field goal | Nebraska 3–0 |
| 1 | 4:47 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 4-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 10–0 |
| 1 | 4:33 | Nebraska | Chris Jones 33-yard interception return (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 17–0 |
| 2 | 12:29 | Indiana | Team Safety | Nebraska 17–2 |
| 2 | 7:23 | Indiana | Griffin Oakes 36-yard field goal | Nebraska 17–5 |
| 2 | 1:18 | Indiana | Griffin Oakes 45-yard field goal | Nebraska 17–8 |
| 3 | 0:00 | Indiana | Devine Redding 33-yard run (Griffin Oakes kick)) | Nebraska 17–15 |
| 4 | 9:57 | Nebraska | Stanley Morgan 72-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–15 |
| 4 | 8:26 | Indiana | Devine Redding 4-yard pass from Richard Lagow (Griffin Oakes kick) | Nebraska 24–22 |
| 4 | 0:45 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 39-yard field goal | Nebraska 27–22 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 7–9–3 | September 30, 1978 | Nebraska, 69–17 |
Indiana Game starters
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Purdue
Purdue at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • #8 Nebraska | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
- Date: October 22
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:28
- Game attendance: 90,546
- Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C), Wind SE @ 13 mph (21 km/h)
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (ABC/ESPN2): Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Jerry Punch
- Sources:[35]
| 1 | 14:44 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 22-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 7–0 |
| 1 | 10:20 | Purdue | DeAngelo Yancey 1-yard pass from David Blough (J.D. Dellinger kick) | 7–7 |
| 1 | 4:03 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 30-yard field goal | Nebraska 10–7 |
| 2 | 10:52 | Purdue | DeAngelo Yancey 88-yard pass from David Blough (J.D. Dellinger kick) | Purdue 14–10 |
| 3 | 7:45 | Nebraska | De'Mornay Pierson-El 40-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 17–14 |
| 4 | 14:05 | Nebraska | Alonzo Moore 24-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–14 |
| 4 | 11:10 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 51-yard field goal | Nebraska 27–14 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2–2 | October 31, 2015 | Purdue, 55–45 |
Purdue Game starters
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Wisconsin
Nebraska at Wisconsin
Freedom Trophy
Freedom Trophy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| • #11 Wisconsin | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
- Date: October 29
- Location: Camp Randall Stadium
Madison, WI - Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:20
- Game attendance: 80,833
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C), Wind NE @ 7 mph (11 km/h)
- Referee: D. Capron
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
- Sources:[36]
| 1 | 9:38 | Wisconsin | Bradrick Shaw 21-yard run (Andrew Endicott kick) | Wisconsin 7–0 |
| 2 | 13:41 | Nebraska | Devine Ozigbo 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | 7–7 |
| 2 | 6:53 | Wisconsin | Andrew Endicott 44-yard field goal | Wisconsin 10–7 |
| 3 | 8:17 | Wisconsin | Robert Wheelwright 9-yard pass from Alex Hornibrook (Andrew Endicott kick) | Wisconsin 17–7 |
| 4 | 13:45 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 2-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Wisconsin 17–14 |
| 4 | 3:43 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 35-yard field goal | 17–17 |
| OT | 0:00 | Wisconsin | Dare Ogunbowale 11-yard run (Andrew Endicott kick failed) | Wisconsin 23–17 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 | October 10, 2015 | Wisconsin, 23–21 |
Nebraska played the Wisconsin Badgers on October 29, 2016, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers entered the game ranked at #7 in the AP Poll, while Wisconsin sat not far behind at #11. The game was the 11th game in the series, Wisconsin winning the previous matchup, 23–21 in Lincoln on October 10, 2015. Wisconsin won the game 23–17 in overtime. Wisconsin scored first in overtime, but missed the extra point attempt. Nebraska failed to score after, allowing Wisconsin to win the game. The all-time series record is now 7–4 in Wisconsin's favor.
Wisconsin Game starters
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Ohio State
Nebraska at Ohio State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 Nebraska | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • #6 Ohio State | 14 | 17 | 24 | 7 | 62 |
- Date: November 5
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH - Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:34
- Game attendance: 108,750
- Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C), Wind North @ 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Samantha Ponder
- Sources:[37]
| 1 | 13:26 | Ohio State | Damon Webb 36-yard interception return (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 7–0 |
| 1 | 7:45 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 20-yard field goal | Ohio State 7–3 |
| 1 | 3:16 | Ohio State | Terry McLaurin 7-yard pass from J. T. Barrett (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 14–3 |
| 2 | 12:21 | Ohio State | Mike Weber 23-yard run (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 21–3 |
| 2 | 8:22 | Ohio State | Tyler Durbin 28-yard field goal | Ohio State 24–3 |
| 2 | 0:03 | Ohio State | Samuel Curtis 1-yard pass from J.T. Barrett (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 31–3 |
| 3 | 14:48 | Ohio State | Samuel Curtis 75-yard pass from J.T. Barrett (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 38–3 |
| 3 | 10:00 | Ohio State | Noah Brown 6-yard pass from J.T. Barrett (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 45–3 |
| 3 | 1:35 | Ohio State | Tyler Durbin 28-yard field goal | Ohio State 48–3 |
| 3 | 0:34 | Ohio State | Malik Hooker 48-yard interception return (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 55–3 |
| 4 | 7:19 | Ohio State | Joe Burrow 12-yard run (Tyler Durbin kick) | Ohio State 62–3 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | October 6, 2012 | Ohio State, 63–38 |
Ohio state Game starters
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Minnesota
Minnesota at Nebraska
$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy
$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • #21 Nebraska | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
- Date: November 12
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 2:57
- Game attendance: 90,456
- Game weather: Clear, 44 °F (7 °C), Wind S @ 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington
- Sources:[38]
| 1 | 7:27 | Minnesota | Rodney Smith 3-yard run (Emmit Carpenter kick) | Minnesota 7–0 |
| 1 | 2:42 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 46-yard field goal | Minnesota 7–3 |
| 2 | 13:24 | Nebraska | Tre Bryant 35-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 10–7 |
| 2 | 4:54 | Minnesota | Mitch Leidner 1-yard run (Emmit Carpenter kick) | Minnesota 14–10 |
| 2 | 0:00 | Minnesota | Emmit Carpenter 42-yard field goal | Minnesota 17–10 |
| 3 | 9:16 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 31-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | 17–17 |
| 4 | 7:17 | Nebraska | Tommy Armstrong 13-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Nebraska 24–17 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 23–31–2 | October 17, 2015 | Nebraska, 48–25 |
Minnesota Game starters
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Maryland
Maryland at Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • #19 Nebraska | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
- Date: November 19
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, NE - Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:06
- Game attendance: 89,704
- Game weather: Sunny, 37 °F (3 °C), Wind WNW @ 7 mph (11 km/h)
- Referee: Mike Cannon
- TV announcers (ESPNEWS): Mike Couzens, Dan Hawkins
- Sources:[39]
| 1 | 9:42 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 8-yard run (Spencer Lindsay kick) | Nebraska 7–0 |
| 1 | 4:28 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 5-yard run (Spencer Lindsay kick) | Nebraska 14–0 |
| 2 | 0:17 | Nebraska | Jordan Westerkamp 4-yard pass from Ryker Fyfe (Spencer Lindsay kick) | Nebraska 21–0 |
| 3 | 3:30 | Nebraska | Terrell Newby 1-yard run (Spencer Lindsay kick) | Nebraska 28–0 |
| 4 | 12:22 | Maryland | D.J. Moore 92-yard pass from Max Bortenschlager (Adam Greene kick) | Nebraska 28–7 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting | ||
Nebraska went undefeated at home for the first time in 4 years thanks to their win over Maryland.
Maryland Game starters
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Iowa
Nebraska at Iowa
Heroes Trophy
Heroes Trophy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #17 Nebraska | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| • Iowa | 13 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 40 |
- Date: November 25
- Location: Kinnick Stadium
Iowa City, IA - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:31
- Game attendance: 69,814
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), Overcast, Wind W @ 10 mph (16 km/h)
- Referee: Jeff Servinski
- TV announcers (ABC): Allen Bestwick, Mike Bellotti, Kris Budden
- Sources:[40]
| 1 | 4:55 | Iowa | Akrum Wadley 75-yard run (Keith Duncan PAT blocked) | Iowa 6–0 |
| 1 | 3:28 | Iowa | Riley McCarron 77-yard pass from C. J. Beathard (Keith Duncan kick) | Iowa 13–0 |
| 2 | 9:57 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 35-yard field goal | Iowa 13–3 |
| 2 | 7:49 | Iowa | LeShun Daniels 4-yard run (Keith Duncan kick) | Iowa 20–3 |
| 3 | 12:40 | Iowa | George Kittle 1-yard pass from C.J. Beathard (C.J. Beathard PAT rush failed) | Iowa 26–3 |
| 3 | 7:47 | Nebraska | Stanley Morgan Jr. 13-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) | Iowa 26–10 |
| 4 | 11:13 | Iowa | George Kittle 6-yard pass from C.J. Beathard (Keith Duncan kick) | Iowa 33–10 |
| 4 | 1:55 | Iowa | LeShun Daniels 1-yard run (Keith Duncan kick) | Iowa 40–10 |
| Series record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 29–14–3 | November 27, 2015 | Iowa, 28–20 |
Iowa Game starters
|
|
Music City Bowl
Nebraska vs. Tennessee
Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #24 Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| • Tennessee | 0 | 21 | 3 | 14 | 38 |
- Date: December 30
- Location: Nissan Stadium
Nashville, TN - Game start: 2:30 p.m. CST
- Elapsed time: 3:44
- Game attendance: 68,496
- Game weather: Clear, 46 °F (8 °C), Wind SW @ 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
- Referee: M. Mothershed
- TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Cole Cubelic
- Sources:[41]
| 2 | 13:20 | Tennessee | John Kelly 28-yard run (Aaron Medley kick) | Tennessee 7–0 |
| 2 | 7:36 | Tennessee | Joshua Dobbs 10-yard run (Aaron Medley kick) | Tennessee 14–0 |
| 2 | 1:36 | Nebraska | Ryker Fyfe 38-yard pass to Brandon Reilly (Drew Brown kick) | Tennessee 14–7 |
| 2 | 0:09 | Tennessee | Joshua Dobbs 2-yard run (Aaron Medley kick) | Tennessee 21–7 |
| 3 | 5:52 | Tennessee | Aaron Medley 46-yard field goal | Tennessee 24–7 |
| 3 | 5:26 | Nebraska | Ryker Fyfe 9-yard pass to Brandon Reilly (Drew Brown kick) | Tennessee 24–14 |
| 4 | 14:09 | Tennessee | Joshua Dobbs 3-yard run (Aaron Medley kick) | Tennessee 31–14 |
| 4 | 12:06 | Nebraska | Drew Brown 45-yard field goal | Tennessee 31–17 |
| 4 | 10:02 | Nebraska | Ryker Fyfe 9-yard run (Drew Brown kick) | Tennessee 31–24 |
| 4 | 8:45 | Tennessee | Joshua Dobbs 59-yard pass to Josh Malone (Aaron Medley kick) | Tennessee 38–24 |
| Overall record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2–0 | January 2, 2000 | Nebraska, 31–21 |
Tennessee Game starters
|
|
Big Ten awards
Player of the Week Honors
| Player | Award | Week Awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Gerry | Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week | Week 2 | [42] |
| Caleb Lightbourn | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | Week 3 | [43] |
| Tommy Armstrong Jr. | Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week | Week 4 | [44] |
| Tommy Armstrong Jr. | Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week | Week 11 | [45] |
All-Conference awards
2016 Big Ten All-Conference Honors[46]
|
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National awards
Team awards
2016 Nebraska Football Team Awards [52]
| Annual Program Awards | |
| Award | Player |
|---|---|
| Scout Team Defensive MVP | Pernell Jefferson, Collin Miller |
| Scout Team Offensive MVP | Tanner Lee, JD Spielman |
| Scout Team Special Teams MVP | Conor Young |
| Walk-On of the Year | Sam Hahn |
| Most Improved Player | Carlos Davis |
| Newcomer of the Year | Tre Bryant |
| Pat Clare Award | De'Mornay Pierson-El |
| Tom Novak Trophy | Tommy Armstrong Jr. |
| Guy Chamberlin Trophy | Jordan Westerkamp |
| Cletus Fischer Native Son Award | Josh Banderas, Sam Foltz |
| Lunch Bucket Award | Brad Simpson |
| Lifter of the Year | Luke McNitt |
| Husker Pride Award | Sam Cotton |
NFL draft
- Nathan Gerry (S, 5th Round, 184th pick, Philadelphia Eagles)[53]