AMES, Iowa — Just another Nebraska victory over Iowa State, right? Well, in a way it was. The Cornhuskers’ 35-7 win Saturday was similar to the many other beatdowns they’ve put on the Cyclones through the years.
But this was one Nebraska had to have — really, really had to have.
It broke a three-game losing streak, prevented the program’s first 0-3 conference start in 63 years and kept the Cornhuskers (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) moving forward after their strong performance in an overtime loss at No. 7 Texas Tech a week ago.
“I would say it was a must-win,” Nebraska wide receiver Nate Swift said. “We needed this one. And it’s always fun to get a win on the road.”
Swift had a big pair of hands in the victory, catching eight passes for 112 yards and scoring the first touchdown. Joe Ganz and Marlon Lucky also played key roles, as did a defense that kept Iowa State (2-5, 0-3) in check for all but one play.
Ganz topped 300 yards passing for the sixth time in 10 career starts, completing 27-of-37 for 328 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Lucky ran for two touchdowns and Ganz ran one in.
“Iowa State, they view this as a rivalry game, so we knew we were going to get their best effort, and we knew we had to match the intensity, and I think the guys did that,” Ganz said. “We matched them punch for punch.”
The Cyclones lost for the fifth straight time, and for the second week in a row they did virtually nothing on offense. They lost to Baylor 38-10 a week ago and have been outscored 108-30 since leading Kansas 20-0 at halftime on Oct. 4.
“As a football team, we have gone backward,” ISU coach Gene Chizik said. “We’re hit or miss in so many areas of our football team right now. We’ve got to find a way to put our fingers in the holes in the dam.”
