If you’re a Nebraska fan, the words Nebraska Wisconsin Big 10 Championship probably trigger a specific kind of physical flinch. It’s like a phantom pain. You remember the hope of 2012, the "Legends Division" title, and the feeling that the Huskers were finally back on the national stage. Then you remember the jet sweeps.
The endless, soul-crushing jet sweeps.
Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest games in the history of college football. You had a 10-2 Nebraska team, ranked 14th in the country, facing a 7-5 Wisconsin team that basically backed into the title game because Ohio State and Penn State were serving postseason bans. On paper, it was Nebraska’s to lose. Instead, it became a 70-31 demolition that changed the trajectory of both programs for a decade.
Why the Nebraska Wisconsin Big 10 Championship felt so different
Usually, when a team gives up 70 points, you expect it to be a shootout where both sides are slinging the rock. But that’s not what this was. Wisconsin didn’t beat Nebraska through the air; they ran through them like the Huskers were made of wet paper.
The Badgers put up 539 rushing yards. 539.
James White and Montee Ball were like a two-headed monster, and a young Melvin Gordon was just getting started. It wasn't just that Nebraska lost; it was the way they lost. Bo Pelini’s defense, known for being "scheme-heavy" and complex, looked totally bewildered by a play Wisconsin ran over and over. They knew it was coming. The fans in the stands knew it was coming. But the Huskers' linebackers kept crashing the middle while the Badgers' backs just bounced it outside to daylight.
The regular season trap
People forget that Nebraska actually beat Wisconsin earlier that same year. In September 2012, Taylor Martinez led a massive comeback in Lincoln to win 30-27. That win gave everyone the false impression that Nebraska had Wisconsin’s number.
🔗 Read more: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
Coming into the championship game in Indianapolis, the betting lines were tight, but the vibes were all Huskers. Taylor Martinez was healthy, Rex Burkhead was back, and the offense was clicking. But Bret Bielema—in what would be his final game coaching the Badgers before a shock move to Arkansas—had a masterclass planned.
He didn't change the playbook. He just simplified it. He dared Nebraska to stop the edge, and they never did.
Breaking down the 70-point collapse
It started fast. Within the first few minutes, Melvin Gordon took a handoff 56 yards for a score. Nebraska answered with a Taylor Martinez 76-yard sprint, and for a second, it looked like we were in for a classic.
Then the wheels didn't just fall off; the whole car exploded.
By halftime, it was 42-10. Wisconsin scored 21 points in the first quarter and another 21 in the second. The most embarrassing part? James White threw a touchdown pass to a tight end. When the opposing team's running back is throwing dimes on you, you're having a bad night.
- Rushing Yards: Wisconsin 539, Nebraska 282
- Total Yards: Wisconsin 640, Nebraska 477
- Turnovers: Nebraska 2, Wisconsin 0
The yardage for Nebraska looks decent, right? 477 yards is usually enough to win most games. But when you’re giving up 10.8 yards per carry, your offensive stats are basically irrelevant. Every time the Huskers scored, Wisconsin would just rip off a 60-yard run on two plays. It was demoralizing to watch, even for neutral fans.
💡 You might also like: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
The Melvin Gordon factor
This game was essentially the birth of the Melvin Gordon legend. He only had nine carries, but he turned them into 216 yards. That’s an average of 24 yards every time he touched the ball. Think about that for a second. Every time he took a handoff, he basically got a first down and then some.
Nebraska's defensive coordinator at the time, John Papuchis, was the youngest in the country. He got coached into a corner. The Huskers spent the whole night trying to fix the internal gaps, but the Badgers were obsessed with the perimeter. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and the snow started falling outside Lucas Oil Stadium, the "Blackshirts" identity felt like a distant memory.
What this game did to the rivalry
Before this Nebraska Wisconsin Big 10 Championship blowout, this was seen as a blossoming "peer" rivalry. Two programs with similar DNA: great walk-on programs, massive offensive lines, and a "run the ball down your throat" mentality.
After 70-31, the dynamic shifted. Wisconsin became the bully.
The Badgers went on a 10-game winning streak against the Huskers after that night. It wasn't until 2024 that Nebraska finally snapped the skid with a 44-25 win in Lincoln. But for twelve years, the 2012 championship game lived rent-free in the heads of everyone in the state of Nebraska. It became a symbol of the program's inability to win "The Big One."
Why it still matters today
If you talk to Nebraska fans now, in 2026, they’re still obsessed with physicality. That obsession stems from being bullied by Wisconsin for over a decade. Matt Rhule was hired specifically to fix the "softness" that many felt was exposed that night in Indy.
📖 Related: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
On the flip side, Wisconsin fans use that game as the ultimate trump card. You can talk about five national championships all you want, but "70-31" is the comeback to every Husker argument. It’s the definitive moment of the Big Ten West era, even though the divisions are gone now.
Surprising details you might have forgotten
- The Bielema Exit: Bret Bielema announced he was leaving for Arkansas just days after this game. He won a ring and then basically said, "Peace out."
- The QB Situation: Wisconsin actually played three different quarterbacks in this game (Curt Phillips, Joel Stave, and even Danny O'Brien), but they only combined for 10 pass attempts. They didn't need to throw.
- The Rose Bowl: Because of the win, a 5-loss Wisconsin team went to the Rose Bowl. It’s one of the weirdest statistical anomalies in the history of the "Granddaddy of Them All."
Moving forward: How to watch these teams now
The Big Ten has changed. With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington in the mix, the path to a conference title doesn't just go through Madison or Lincoln anymore. But the scars from 2012 remain.
If you want to understand why Nebraska fans are so defensive about their "culture" or why Wisconsin fans expect to run for 200 yards every game, you have to watch the highlights of this game. It's a case study in "Plan A" working so well that "Plan B" never even had to be taken out of the plastic wrap.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Tape: If you can find the "Jet Sweep" cut-ups on YouTube, do it. It’s a masterclass in how to exploit a defense that refuses to adjust.
- Check the 2027 Schedule: These two don't play every year anymore due to the new Big Ten scheduling. The next meeting is in 2027—mark your calendar, because the "Freedom Trophy" is always a chippy affair now.
- Monitor Recruiting: Keep an eye on how Matt Rhule and Luke Fickell are recruiting the lines. Both programs are trying to get back to that 2012 level of physicality, but with a modern twist.
The 2012 championship wasn't just a game; it was a program-defining moment that proved rankings don't mean a thing if you can't stop a simple outside run.
To get a better sense of where these programs stand now, look at their most recent 2024 and 2025 box scores. You'll notice Nebraska is finally starting to win the battle at the line of scrimmage again, but they still have a long way to go to erase the memory of that night in Indianapolis.