When Nebraska entered the Big Ten in 2011, they didn’t expect their place in the hierarchy to be where it is.

But a decade-plus in, and it’s clear that the other NU is ahead of them.

That’s right: Northwestern.

The Huskers are 5-5 against the Wildcats with one less championship game appearance since joining the league, they finish the season looking up at the Wildcats more often than not in recent years and the scores have been almost as tight as the series.

Story of every Huskers fan’s recent life, right?

NU vs. NU

“They are close every time,” Nebraska linebacker JoJo Domann said Monday. “It is a dog fight. It is who plays more disciplined and who plays more physical … is usually who wins.”

That hasn’t exactly been the Huskers’ specialty, with their 3 losses by a total of 18 points.

“That hidden yardage stuff will kill you in a game,” Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said. “Possessions matter, and you cannot waste them.”

Eight of the past 10 NU matchups were separated by a single score. Recent history gets worse for Nebraska, losing 4 of the past 6.

“Every game in this league is close, it seems like,” Frost said. “Everybody is so even in this league. And that is why little things matter so much. This is an exceptionally well-coached, disciplined and intelligent team that does not beat itself. You are going to be in close games with teams like that.”

When the stats about Frost’s record in one-score games come up, Northwestern’s in there, responsible for 2 of those 10 losses.

“They are gritty,” Huskers quarterback Adrian Martinez said. “They have been every time I have played them. They have played us really hard, and it has been a good game every time. They are disciplined, and we have to be ready to go.”

The 5 games in Lincoln since 2011 were decided by a total of 17 points, with the largest margin being a 7-point Northwestern overtime victory in 2017. The margin of the past 10 games averages to a 25-24 game in Nebraska’s favor. The 2013 and 2019 Huskers’ victories were won on the game’s last play — 2 of the 3 walk-off Nebraska wins in Memorial Stadium history.

Not many matchups, but plenty of memories.

Nebraska after dark

Now, Nebraska is hoping for some Memorial Stadium magic at night.

First, it’s the Huskers’ Big Ten home opener. They are 7-3 since joining the conference and 6-3 in home prime-time games against B1G opponents.

Overall, Nebraska is 47-8 in home night games, but Frost is taking nothing for granted.

“We just need to get back on the field and win,” Frost said. “That is what we need to do. I do not care if the game is at 2 a.m. or 2 in the afternoon. We are so close. We have to get over that hurdle.”

The Northwestern hurdle has been high enough. Carrying the extra baggage from close losses this season might raise the difficulty setting.

“It is going to test our mental toughness this week after everything we have been through, to put that behind us and learn from it and be better from it and then go against an opponent like this,” Domann said. “It is going to demand mental toughness from us. It is going to be a great test.”

Passing it has proven to be no small feat historically, but would be something the Huskers could build on as the tests get tougher the rest of the semester.