LINCOLN, Neb. — It was a day of redemption.
The Cornhuskers’ 45-35 victory over Kansas on Saturday came a week after a humiliating 62-28 loss at Oklahoma and a year after a 76-39 defeat to the Jayhawks.
“It feels so good to come back and redeem ourselves after what happened last year,” Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz said. “We played so well today. But we didn’t play as well as we could. We probably left 14-17 points out there.”
The Huskers also turned over the ball four times. But this was no time for nitpicking.
“We needed this,” coach Bo Pelini said. “They were so broken up after what happened last weekend. We’re not done yet.”
The Huskers became bowl eligible with their 20th straight win over the Jayhawks in Lincoln. Kansas hasn’t won on the road against Nebraska since 1968.
The Jayhawks came into the game tied with Missouri for the Big 12 North lead. With Texas and Missouri remaining on their schedule, this was considered a crucial game.
“As a team we’re disappointed. Because it was a Big 12 North loss, it makes it that much more disappointing,” said KU receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who caught six balls for 176 yards and a touchdown.
Ganz, playing on a gimpy right ankle on a windy, 35-degree afternoon, threw for three touchdowns and 324 yards, his fourth 300-yard passing game in five weeks.
Defensively, the Huskers harassed quarterback Todd Reesing all game. Reesing threw for 304 yards and three TDs and became Kansas’ all-time passing leader.
Zach Potter intercepted him with just under 6 minutes left, as the Jayhawks tried to rally from a 10-point deficit. After Kansas recovered an onside kick with 2:15 left, Pierre Allen recorded the Huskers’ fifth sack of the game to all but finish off the Jayhawks.
“This was a very meaningful game for those guys after what happened last year,” defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said.
Ganz, who completed 28-of-37 passes, went over 300 yards passing for the eighth time in 12 career starts. He did it on a sore right foot that caused him to limp noticeably the second half.
“You would have to scrape him off the field to get him out of there,” Bo Pelini said.
