## Nebraska Starts Another Fade, Leading Misery Index for Week 10
Nebraska’s football struggles continue, placing them atop this week’s Misery Index. Their 27-20 loss to UCLA, despite starting 5-1, signals a familiar trend: another potential November collapse.
Their mascot, the Cornhuskers, reflects the agricultural roots of the state, symbolizing hardworking farmers. Yet, much like those farmers, Nebraska football appears stuck in a cycle.
“The Cornhuskers. ”
As legend tells it, sportswriter Cy Sherman coined the term in 1900, initially referring to Nebraska’s football team, the Bugeaters.
“These days, we have lots of mascots in sports that represent relics of the old world: Knights, Pirates, Raptors, Trojans, Cavaliers. We could go on and on.
For people in Nebraska, the name Cornhuskers represents a similar tradition, but with a more personal and meaningful touch. It signifies the hard, noble work of farmers who settled on the Great Plains and fed America, a lifestyle that went hand-in-hand with the sport of football as they saw it at the turn of the 20th century.
But in the modern world, corn crops are processed by machines that can handled multiple tons per hour. The industry has evolved. There are no more actual corn huskers.
The state’s other big cash crop, however, has not evolved. Nebraska football still does the same thing every year.
After promising starts, Nebraska’s seasons often crumble, leading to disappointment. This pattern repeats, with heartbreaking losses in crucial games.
Last year, Nebraska was 5-3 with winnable games remaining. It finished 5-7. In 2022, Nebraska was 3-3 and lost its next five games. In 2021, Nebraska was 3-3 and couldn’t find even one more stinkin’ win. In 2019, the Huskers were 4-2 and missed out on bowl eligibility because they lost five of their last six and couldn’t beat 4-8 Purdue.
This pattern is disheartening, leaving fans questioning when things will change. Coach Matt Rhule, despite past successes, faces immense pressure to break this cycle.
At 5-4, Nebraska needs to either win at Southern California, beat Wisconsin or go to Iowa the day after Thanksgiving and win in Kinnick Stadium to become bowl eligible.
While expectations weren’t sky-high for Rhule, failing to beat struggling teams adds fuel to the misery.
Joining Nebraska on this week’s Misery Index are:
* **Penn State:** James Franklin’s Nittany Lions continue to fall short against top teams, fueling frustration among fans. Their loss to Ohio State solidified this pattern, leaving hopes for a national championship far out of reach.
* **Clemson:** After showing promise earlier in the season, Clemson’s 33-21 loss to Louisville exposed flaws, leaving their College Football Playoff aspirations hanging in the balance.
Nebraska’s struggles, along with Penn State and Clemson’s disappointments, paint a picture of programs failing to meet expectations.
This Week’s College Football Disappointments
Clemson is an example of a once-great program struggling to reach its former glory. They aren’t even close to being the best team in the ACC, let alone being a national championship contender.
Arizona was ranked 21st in the preseason, but their turnaround under Jedd Fisch has stalled. With the arrival of a new head coach and offensive coordinator, their offense has inexplicably slumped. Coming in at 3-6 after a 56-12 loss to UCF, Arizona is one of the biggest let-downs this season.
Unfortunately for Auburn, the Iron Bowl isn’t the only thing that feels doomed.
Vanderbilt defeated Auburn, becoming bowl eligible, which is something no one predicted at the start of the season. This has become an all-too-familiar trend for a struggling Auburn program desperately in need of improvement.
Several head-scratching coaching decisions have led to questions about head coach Hugh Freeze’s ability to turn things around.
Georgia currently appears dominant on their path to a national championship. However, despite their wins, quarterback Carson Beck has recently shown vulnerabilities, throwing three interceptions in a game that was tighter than it should have been.
Syracuse, meanwhile, has found their success under new head coach Fran Brown, going 6-2 and looking far more formidable than their competitors like Virginia Tech who continue to struggle to move past a losing record.
Oklahoma State’s season isn’t going as planned. They are currently 3-6 (0-6 in the Big 12), leaving commentators to question coach Mike Gundy’s approach to the game.
In the Big Ten rivalry between Wisconsin and Iowa, Iowa proved its dominance, winning 42-10 against Wisconsin. It’s a tough loss for the Badgers, who haven’t been able to break through against their rivals.
