2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Cornhuskers were coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln , Nebraska . This season was Nebraska ' s first in the Big Ten Conference in the Legends Division as they moved from the Big 12 Conference to the Big Ten following the conclusion of the 2010 season . They finished the season 9 – 4 , 5 – 3 in Big Ten play to finish in third place in the Legends Division . They were invited to the Capital One Bowl where they were defeated by South Carolina 13 – 30 . Before the season . The 2011 football season marks Nebraska ' s entrance into the Big Ten Conference . Game notes . Chattanooga . This game was Nebraska ' s first football game as a representative of the Big Ten , and the first meeting between the Cornhuskers and the FCS Chattanooga Mocs , who are members of the Southern Conference . The Mocs finished 2010 with a 6 – 5 record ( 5 – 3 in conference for a three - way tie for 3rd place ) , including a 24 – 62 defeat at the hands of # 3 Auburn on November 6 , 2010 . Fresno State . Nebraska opened a series with another new foe never before met on the field , for a second consecutive week , when the Fresno State Bulldogs arrived in Lincoln . Fresno State finished the 2010 season under 14th – year Head Coach Pat Hill with an 8 – 5 record ( 5 – 3 in the Western Athletic Conference for 4th place ) , including a 17 – 40 postseason loss to the 2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football team Huskies in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl . Washington . When Nebraska met Washington in their September 18 , 2010 non - conference match , the Cornhuskers won 56 – 21 in Seattle , tying the most points ever scored by a non – conference opponent in Husky Stadium , and igniting Heisman Trophy talk around Nebraska ' s redshirt freshman QB Taylor Martinez . However , a mid - season ankle injury to Martinez coincided with a downturn in Nebraska ' s fortunes late in the season , as the Cornhuskers finished the season by losing two of the last three games , including letting a 17 – 3 advantage over Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game fade into a 20 – 23 defeat . After the loss , Nebraska was selected for a rematch with Washington in the 2010 Holiday Bowl , where an uninspired Cornhusker squad bowed to the effort and determination of the underdog Huskies and their senior QB , Jake Locker . The 7 – 19 postseason loss left Nebraska with three losses in the final four games of the season . This closing chapter matched a mark not seen since 2007 , the final season of former Cornhusker Head Coach Bill Callahan . The 2011 meeting of these teams , this time in Lincoln , was the third time Washington and Nebraska played in just under a year . The all - time series now has a one game edge for Nebraska with a 5 – 4 – 1 record between the two teams . Wyoming . Wyoming Head Coach Dave Christensen led the 2009 Cowboys to a 7 – 6 ( 4 – 4 Mountain West Conference ) finish in his first season , including a 35 – 28 defeat of Fresno State in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl . However , the Cowboys slid to a disappointing 2010 final record of 3 – 9 ( 1 – 7 ) , which included a 28 – 20 win over Southern Utah of the FCS . Nebraska is undefeated in all five previous meetings of these teams , with a combined scoring total of 203 – 69 . The series dates back to 1934 , but this will be the first time the squads meet at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie . Wisconsin . Nebraska opened Big Ten conference play for the first time , with a road game at Wisconsin . The Cornhuskers met a team that finished 2010 in a three - way tie for the Big Ten title and an 11 – 2 ( 7 – 1 ) record , which included a 19 – 21 loss to # 3 TCU in the 2011 Rose Bowl . Following Wisconsin ' s 48 — 17 win , the series between the two schools is tied at 3 – 3 . This game was the third all - time meeting between Nebraska and Ohio State , and the first since 1956 . The game also marked the Buckeyes ' first appearance in Lincoln . In two previous three contests , Ohio State had outscored Nebraska a combined 62 – 27 . Nebraska trailed at halftime 20 – 6 , and would ultimately fall behind by a score of 27 – 6 midway through the 3rd quarter . Nebraska ' s ultimate comeback began with a LaVonte David strip and fumble recovery of Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller . On the next play Taylor Martinez ran past the Ohio State defense for an 18 yard touchdown , the first of 4 unanswered touchdowns . On the subsequent Ohio State series , Braxton Miller twisted his ankle causing him to leave the game . He would not return . He was replaced by Joe Bauserman who would go 1 – 10 passing including a costly interception . The Nebraska offense out gained Ohio State in the 2nd half by a total of 250 to 45 yards . With the win , Nebraska secured its first ever victory over Ohio State and as a member of the Big Ten Conference . The win also marked the largest come from behind win in school history after trailing 6 – 27 midway through the third quarter . Minnesota . Nebraska renewed an old rivalry against the Golden Gophers , as the Cornhuskers played at TCF Bank Stadium for the first time for Minnesota ' s 2011 homecoming game . The last meeting was a 1990 non - conference game . First - year Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill has taken over the squad following a 3 – 9 ( 2 – 6 ) finish in 2010 . With Nebraska ' s 41 – 14 win in this contest Minnesota still holds a 29 – 21 edge in the all - time series . Michigan State . Nebraska met Michigan State for the first time since the Spartans were defeated 3 – 17 by Nebraska in the 2003 Alamo Bowl . Of special significance , that was the first Nebraska football victory under Head Coach Bo Pelini , as he served a one - game stint as interim Head Coach following the late - season dismissal of Frank Solich in 2003 . The victory added to Nebraska ' s undefeated record against the Spartans , moving the streak to 6 – 0 . Northwestern . Following an important Legends division win against Michigan State the previous week , Nebraska dropped a stunning 28 – 25 decision to Pat Fitzgerald ' s Northwestern Wildcats . The 2011 match up between the Huskers and Wildcats marked the first contest between the two schools since the Nebraska ' s 66 – 17 victory in the 2000 Alamo Bowl . Despite the loss , Nebraska still holds a 3 – 2 lead in the all - time series . Penn State . The game against Penn State was surrounded by the circumstances presented in the Penn State sex abuse scandal . Allegations against the former Penn State assistant coach emerged nationally in the week leading up the game . In the wake of the scandal , Penn State head coach Joe Paterno was fired the Wednesday of game week . Penn State ' s contest against Nebraska marked the first Nittany Lion ' s game not coached by Paterno in 46 years . Before the kickoff , players from both sides met at mid – field for a prayer led by Nebraska assistant football coach Ron Brown . In the game , Nebraska led 10 – 0 at halftime and then extended their lead to 17 – 0 after taking advantage of a Matt McGloin fumble in the third quarter . Penn State rallied and had a chance to win after scoring two touchdowns and narrowing the deficit to 17 – 14 . However , Nebraska ' s defense came up with two key fourth down stops to secure the victory . The game was marked with much emotion with a blue - out at Beaver Stadium in support of the alleged victims of Sandusky ' s crimes . Iowa . After the season . Awards . Big Ten all - conference first team . As selected by the media and coaches :