Nebraska vs. Penn State: Little-Known Facts About Simmering Rivalry

Penn State University has been turned upside down this week amidst scandal. 

First of all, the victims in this situation should neither be overlooked nor forgotten, and this article is not meant to negate what they've been through. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. 

While the situation at Penn State is nauseating, it's inevitable that the Nittany Lions will return to the football field against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college football's Week 11. 

Like many times before, the country will turn to sports to help heal the wounds left by tragedy.

Now both members of the Big Ten Conference, Nebraska and Penn State renew a rivalry with a historical past. New Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley will have to collect his players and lead them into Beaver Stadium for the first time in 46 years without Joe Paterno as head coach.

The Nittany Lions are up against a feisty 7-2 Cornhuskers' squad that's hungry for a win after being upset by Northwestern in Week 10. The rivalry between these two teams promises to become one of the Big Ten's best.

Here is the history behind the rivalry between Nebraska and Penn State.  

Nebraska and Penn State Have Played 13 Times

The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Penn State Nittany Lions started playing football in 1920. 

That game was played at Penn State and the Nittany Lions won the initial battle, 20-0. The teams have played a total of 13 times, the last being in 2003 at Nebraska.

Nebraska's brand of football is indicative of the classic Big Ten, smashmouth style of play, and this renewed rivalry should be a delight for college football fans.  

Penn State Leads the All-Time Series, 7-6

Of the 13 all-time meetings between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Nittany Lions hold a slight edge at 7-6.

Penn State is 5-1 at home in the series, but will have to overcome major distractions in 2011 to make it 6-1. 

The largest margin of victory was in the 1983 Kickoff Classic, held in East Rutherford, NJ. The Cornhuskers beat the Nittany Lions, 44-6.  

The 1982 Matchup Was Highly Controversial

The 1982 game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Penn State Nittany Lions was a Top 10 throwdown that ended in controversy and helped Penn State go on to capture the National Championship.

Nebraska traveled to Happy Valley ranked No. 2. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 8 and the game went down to the wire. Penn State capped a game-winning drive as time expired, but during that drive a monumental call went in their favor. 

As video evidence suggests, Penn State's receiver caught a ball that was ruled in-bounds when he was clearly out. Now, it's not to say that the Nittany Lions would have lost, they still had :09 left, but there's a big difference from being just inside the 20-yard line to just inside the two. Penn State scored a touchdown as time expired and they won, 27-24. 

This is a prime example of why video review is now present in college football. Had it existed in 1982, college football history may have been different. 

Nebraska and Penn State Finished No. 1 and No. 2 in 1994

Although the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Penn State Nittany Lions didn't play against one another in the 1990's, 1994 was a bit of a Cold War between the two teams. 

Nebraska finished 13-0 and was voted National Champions, while Penn State finished a close second.

While Penn State lobbied to the media that they should win the title, it was to no avail. If there's one thing that the BCS computers are good for, it's that the yearly National Champion is determined by a formula and not a popularity vote.  

These Teams Last Played a Home and Home Series in 2002-03

After a being dormant for 19 years, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Penn State Nittany Lions rekindled their rivalry for a two-year stretch beginning in 2002. 

In 2002, the unranked Nittany Lions played host and demolished the No. 8 Cornhuskers, 40-7. 

Nebraska returned the favor in 2003 when the Nittany Lions traveled to Lincoln, NE. The Cornhuskers won that game, 18-10.

2011 Nebraska vs. Penn State Game Prediction

The 7-2 Nebraska Cornhuskers look to bounce back from an upset loss in Week 10 against the Northwestern Wildcats. 

At 8-1, the Penn State Nittany Lions have been impressive on the football field this season.

This game will showcase two of the Big Ten's best running backs in Nebraska's Rex Burkhead and Penn State's Silas Redd. Burkhead has 951 yards on the season while Redd has 1,006. Given that both teams struggle throwing the ball on offense, fans should expect plenty of rushing from both sides.

In the end, the Cornhuskers will win. Given the current situation, there's just too much going on at Penn State for their football team to win in Week 11. In fact, Penn State may not win another game the rest of the season.

Prediction: Nebraska 24, Penn State 10