A victory is crucial at this year’s Blackout Party. Can they get back on a winning track?
For the second straight season, the Huskers are doing a Blackout game and it just happens to falling into a week where the they badly need a win.
Desperately, even?
I doubt the players or coaches would refer to it as that, but I don’t think it can be overstated too strongly how much Saturday night’s result could swing the mood around things going forward in the fall of 2026. Lose two straight close ones to #4 Indiana and to Oregon on the road? That’s tough, especially considering the 4th quarter leads which were lost, but it’s bearable and definitely an improvement after the beatdowns which closed out 2026.
But now Washington comes to town,
Yes, they are a talented roster and were ranked in the preseason polls. But, like Oregon, they are underperforming at 4-3 and 1-3 in the Big 10. They are coming to Lincoln and the former Pac-12 schools have overall struggled on the long road trips to previous Big 10 country. The Huskies are 2-6 in such games, although they did win at Purdue two weeks ago. (The other win was 24-20 at Maryland last year.)
And they are coming in with what is sure to be a very fired-up Husker crowd for their third night game of the season. And this time we add in the Halloween Night factor which never fails to fire up the college throngs, game or no game. And as much as I’d love to see a student section full of Jason and Michael Myers masks, I trust our oiled-up hordes to show in some interesting costumes.
The set-up couldn’t have Saturday more poised for a victory. Win this one and some confidence is restored as the Huskers are 6-2 as they end with a finishing stretch of Illinois, Rutgers, Ohio State and Iowa. Lose and the mood around the program grows much darker.
The fans will be ready. Can the Huskers do their part?
HOW TO WATCH
Time: 7:00pm CST
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Surface: Hellas Turf (Blessed by the Bobfather himself from Husker Valhalla)
Wagering Info: Huskers +7 1⁄2 . O/U – 50 1⁄2. Moneyline: Nebraska +136, Oregon +357 ($100 wager) (FanDuel)
Series Record: Nebraska is 5-4-1 vs. Washington all-time; this is their first meeting with both as Big 10 members. In their last meeting in 2011, 11th-ranked Nebraska defeated the Huskies 51-38 in Lincoln.
TV: The game can be viewed on B1G Network. Play-by-Play: Wayne Randazzo. Analyst: Rhett Lewis. Sidelines: Caroline Hendershot. It is also streaming on the Fox One app.
Radio: The audio can be streamed live for free at Huskers.com or the Huskers App. The crew will be: Play-by-Play: Kyle Crooks. Analysis: Jay Moore. Sidelines: Jessica Coody. Pre/Post-Game: Matt Coatney, Jessica Coody, Ben McLaughlin & Jeremiah Sirles.
Weather: Saturday Halloween night should be overcast and mild with temps around 63 at kickoff, and only dropping slightly to around 60 by games end. Breezes should be out of the southeast around 5mph throughout.
HUSKERS HAPPY HOUR
Hey, did you know we have Corn Nation podcasts every Monday, Tuesday & Thursday? Mine is every Tuesday night at 8pm CST and is called the Huskers Happy Hour…although it often goes over an hour. Or two on occasion – stay as long as you like. You can watch on Corn Nation’s You Tube Live Channel or Corn Nation Facebook or Twitter/X. It also streams on my own page on Facebook Live.
Next Tuesday’s show will be Season 3, Episode 9 and we will hopefully be celebrating a big road victory after taking down Washington on Halloween Night!
The watchers and listeners are encouraged to chime into the comments as they are happily a big part of the show. Pour your own cold one – or spiked coffee, we don’t judge – and hop aboards!
CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO CHECK OUT THE MOST RECENT EPISODE!
FACTS & FIGURES
Nebraska wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer has seven touchdown receptions this season. His seven TD catches are the most by a Husker since 2022, and rank 10th in the nation. Gilmer is one touchdown catch from the top 10 on the NU single-season list.
The Nebraska Blackshirt defense ranks in the top 20 nationally in nine statistical categories, including top 10 in third-down defense (1st), first downs allowed (4th) and total defense (9th).
Nebraska owns a 17-2 record all-time on Halloween. The Huskers last played a Halloween game in 2015 (at Purdue) and last played a home game on Halloween in 1998 against Texas.
The schools played seven times between 1991 and 2011, including three times in a span of 12 months in 2010 and 2011, with a Holiday Bowl meeting sandwiched between a home-and-home series.
Saturday’s game also marks Nebraska’s first game on Halloween since a 2015 loss at Purdue. The Huskers’ last win on Halloween was a 20-10 win at Baylor in 2009.
Nebraska has a strong history of success in night games in Lincoln. The Huskers are 55-12 in home night games at Memorial Stadium, including 2-0 this season.
See More:
2026 Husker Football
CN After Dark
CN News
Nebraska Husker Football