With Frost eyeing first win, Huskers head to Northwestern

As a EVANSTON, coach leading his alma mater, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald can imagine what this season has been like for Nebraska’s Scott Frost.

“There’s just something a little bit more when you’re at your alma mater,” he said. “It just means more. It means more when you win. It hurts more when you don’t win.”

A win against Northwestern sure would be meaningful, considering the Cornhuskers come into their game Saturday still seeking their first victory under Frost.

The quarterback who grew up in the state and led Nebraska (05, 03 Big Ten) to a share of the national championship in 1997 returned home after orchestrating a turnaround in two seasons at Central Florida. The Knights went from 012 the year before he arrived to 130 in 2017.

Frost’s return to Nebraska was widely hailed in a state passionate about its storied program. But the onceproud Cornhuskers have dropped nine straight games for the first time in their 129year history.

“There’s no question, we got better (last) week,” Frost said. “I think the attitude got better, the practice got better and the performance was better.”

But the outcome against Wisconsin last week was all too familiar.

The Cornhuskers got run over by Jonathan Taylor for 221 yards and three scores in a 4124 loss. Nebraska ranks among the worst in the nation on defense with injured nose tackle Mick Stoltenberg missing and a banged up group of linebackers. The Cornhuskers are committing more penalties per game (10.4) than all but one team — Kent State — and have allowed opponents to convert 41 percent of their third downs.

Northwestern lost three straight games before a 2919 victory at No. 20 Michigan State last week.