Big Ten Football: Five most anticipated games of 2015 season

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate with the Freedom Trophy following the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Should the Huskers and Badgers turn out to be the top contenders in the West again, this game will basically be the Big Ten West championship game. The battle for the Freedom Trophy only features nine previous meetings, but both teams have been ranked in all but one meeting since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, shooting this game up the list of the conference’s top annual match-ups.

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That said, Nebraska really needs to win this year’s edition to regain some momentum in the series after dropping the last two and three of the four games. Furthermore, the Badgers have won all the big games, beating the Huskers when both teams were ranked in the top ten, thrashing them 70-31 in the 2012 conference title game and upsetting them last season.

While Nebraska has won nine or more games every season since 2008, they fired ex-head coach Bo Pelini because they wanted to win the important games. Considering they’ve also dropped two in a row to Minnesota and East division opponent Michigan State, the coaching change was understandable. If this is the season the Cornhuskers reclaim some of their former glory, they’ll need to get revenge on a good Wisconsin team in this one.

Next: Michigan State at Michigan