When the Big Ten decided to swallow up the West Coast, everyone talked about Ohio State vs. USC or Michigan vs. Oregon. But honestly? The real friction, the actual "clash of cultures" that matters most for the middle of the conference, has become Nebraska Cornhuskers football vs USC Trojans football. It’s weird. It’s messy. And frankly, it’s a matchup that Nebraska fans probably wish they could just delete from the history books.
Here is the thing: Nebraska has never beaten USC. Not in the 60s, not in the 70s, and certainly not since the Trojans officially joined the Big Ten. After the 2025 season, the all-time record stands at a depressing 0-6-1 for the Huskers. That one tie happened back in 1970, a 21-21 deadlock that technically helped propel Nebraska to a national title, but since then? It's been all cardinal and gold.
Why Nebraska Can’t Seem to Solve the USC Puzzle
You'd think at some point the law of averages would kick in. It hasn't. In November 2025, Nebraska had the perfect setup. They were at home in Lincoln. It was a "Blackout" game—the first time they'd worn the all-black alternates since 2020. Memorial Stadium was vibrating.
And then the game happened.
Nebraska led 14-6 at halftime. They had the Trojans on the ropes. Then, the nightmare scenario: Dylan Raiola goes down with a lower leg injury in the third quarter. Enter freshman TJ Lateef. While Lateef showed flashes, the offense just couldn't sustain the momentum. USC's King Miller ended up being the soul-crusher, rushing for 129 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
💡 You might also like: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
Final score: USC 21, Nebraska 17.
It was Nebraska’s 29th straight loss against a ranked opponent. Twenty-nine. That is a number that haunts Lincoln. Matt Rhule is now 0-18 against ranked teams since leaving Temple back in 2016. It’s a stat that makes Big Red fans pull their hair out because, in almost every one of these games—especially against USC—they are right there.
The Coaching Chess Match: Rhule vs. Riley
The sideline battle between Matt Rhule and Lincoln Riley is a story in itself. They’ve been seeing each other for years, dating back to when Riley was calling plays at East Carolina and Rhule was at Temple. Then they moved to the Big 12 (Oklahoma vs. Baylor) and now the Big Ten.
Riley basically has Rhule’s number. He leads the head-to-head series 5-1.
📖 Related: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
While Riley is known as the "Quarterback Whisperer," his win in Lincoln in 2025 wasn't actually about the pass. Jayden Maiava had his worst statistical game of the year, going 9 of 23 for just 135 yards. USC won that game by playing "Big Ten football"—they ran the ball for over 200 yards and leaned on their defense when it mattered.
The Identity Crisis in the Big Ten
There is a lot of talk about how USC would struggle with the "smash-mouth" style of the Midwest. People said they’d fold in the cold. But in that 2025 matchup, the temperature was in the 40s, and USC was the more physical team in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska is still trying to find its soul. Are they a power-run team? Are they a modern air-raid hybrid? Under Rhule, they’ve become much more competitive, but they haven't quite cleared the "blue blood" hurdle.
A History of Heartbreak
If you look at the series history, it’s just a list of "what ifs" for the Huskers:
👉 See also: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
- 1970: The 21-21 tie. Nebraska was ranked No. 9, USC was No. 3.
- 2006/2007: Bill Callahan’s Huskers got bullied by Pete Carroll’s Trojans. The 49-31 loss in Lincoln in '07 was a particularly low point where USC just looked like they were playing a different sport.
- 2014 Holiday Bowl: A 45-42 shootout where Nebraska nearly pulled off a massive comeback, only to fall inches short.
- 2024/2025: The start of the Big Ten era. Two games, two USC wins, both decided by single digits.
What it Means for the 2026 Season and Beyond
Looking ahead to 2026, the landscape is shifting. Nebraska finished the 2025 season at 7-6, finally getting back to a bowl game but still feeling that sting of "almost." USC finished 9-4, proving they can survive a Big Ten travel schedule, even if they aren't quite at the Ohio State/Oregon level yet.
The recruiting trails for these two are overlapping more than ever. USC is pulling kids out of the Midwest, and Nebraska is trying to use Rhule’s Texas and East Coast connections to build a roster that can actually match the speed of a team like the Trojans.
If you are a Nebraska fan, the "Blackout" game was a reminder that the environment is there, but the execution isn't. If you are a USC fan, it was proof that your team can win ugly on the road in a hostile, cold environment.
Breaking Down the 2025 Stats
- Rushing: USC 202 yards vs. Nebraska 188 yards.
- Passing: Nebraska’s defense held USC to 135 yards, which should usually result in a win.
- Turnovers: Maiava threw two picks, but Nebraska couldn't turn them into enough points.
- Third Down: Both teams struggled, staying under 45% conversion rates.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're betting on or analyzing the next time Nebraska Cornhuskers football vs USC Trojans football shows up on the calendar, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Quarterback Health: Nebraska’s depth at QB has been their Achilles' heel. If Raiola (or whoever the starter is) isn't 100%, the offense tends to vanish in the second half.
- The "Ranked" Curse: Until Matt Rhule beats a ranked team, the mental block will remain. Check the AP Poll before kickoff; if USC is ranked, the pressure on Nebraska doubles.
- The Run Game is King: Forget the flashy passing stats. In the last two meetings, the team that won the "chunk play" battle on the ground walked away with the victory.
- Special Teams Margins: In 2025, USC’s Ryon Sayeri nailed a 49-yarder that proved crucial. Nebraska’s kicking game has been erratic, and in a 4-point game, that is the difference.
The rivalry is no longer a rare treat or a bowl game novelty. It's a yearly litmus test for where these two programs sit in the new-look Big Ten. Nebraska needs the win for its sanity. USC needs it to prove they belong in the neighborhood.
To stay ahead of the next kickoff, track the development of the Nebraska offensive line. They gave up too many pressures in the 2025 fourth quarter, which led to the stumbles—literally—that ended their final drive. Improving that protection is the only way the Huskers finally break the 0-6-1 curse.