Picture Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
Picture Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
Nebraska soccer’s 2025 season opener marks a handful of historic happenings.
To open Matt Rhule’s third 12 months on the helm, the Huskers will face off in opposition to Cincinnati in Kansas Metropolis, marking their first journey to Arrowhead Stadium because the 2006 Massive 12 championship recreation. It additionally marks the primary regular-season neutral-site match for Nebraska since 2022.
The competition, dubbed the Battle Sports activities Kansas Metropolis Basic, is a part of a two-game sequence in opposition to the Bearcats, with the subsequent recreation scheduled for 2033.
The groups have been initially speculated to conflict in 2020 in Cincinnati, however the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the sport to 2025. In October 2023, the College of Cincinnati introduced it will host the sport at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium. The transfer was linked to recruiting and monetary features.
Nevertheless, in December 2024, the sport was modified to a impartial web site matchup at Arrowhead Stadium, dwelling of the NFL’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Why the change?
Cash.
Cincinnati Athletic Director John Cunningham believes that the transfer from Indianapolis to Kansas Metropolis can double the varsity’s income, probably approaching a revenue of $6 million, in keeping with the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Arrowhead Occasions, the Chiefs’ particular occasion arm, lured within the contest after internet hosting 4 of the Kansas Jayhawks’ dwelling video games final season.
A uncommon incidence within the trendy period, the competition is Nebraska’s fifth neutral-site regular-season tilt in program historical past.
After Memorial Stadium was inbuilt 1923, the primary true neutral-site recreation for the Huskers was in 1931 in a postseason charity recreation in opposition to Colorado State. Held through the Nice Despair, the sport came about at Hilltop Stadium, positioned on the College of Denver. The primary impartial web site recreation for Nebraska would have been the 1915 Rose Bowl, however Nebraska declined the invitation for monetary causes.
Nebraska’s first regular-season neutral-site recreation was the 1983 Kickoff Basic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the place the No. 1 Huskers defeated No. 4 Penn State 44-6. Nebraska proceeded to win two extra Kickoff Classics in 1988 and 1994. In 1992, Nebraska traveled to Tokyo to play Kansas State.
The Huskers later performed yet one more recreation abroad, the Aer Lingus Basic in opposition to Northwestern in Dublin in 2023. The season opener of Scott Frost’s remaining season with the group included his notorious second-half onside kick name that tainted the sport.
Nebraska has performed 11 video games in Kansas Metropolis. There was a tilt in opposition to Missouri in 1893, a 12 months after Mizzou forfeited its recreation in opposition to Nebraska as a result of the Huskers had a Black participant on the roster.
This season’s matchup in Kansas Metropolis marks Nebraska’s fourth recreation at Arrowhead Stadium. In 1998, the Huskers squared off for his or her first recreation at Arrowhead within the Eddie Robinson Basic, during which No. 4 Nebraska trounced Louisiana Tech 56-27. The Huskers later competed in two Massive 12 convention championship video games within the stadium, however misplaced each.
This season additionally does not mark Nebraska’s first matchup in opposition to the Bearcats, although it’s been some time. The Huskers final confronted off in opposition to Cincinnati on November 29, 1906, throughout head coach Amos Foster’s first season. Earlier than teaching Nebraska, Foster served two seasons as Cincinnati’s soccer head coach and was additionally the Bearcats’ basketball coach from 1904-1909, coinciding together with his soccer teaching stint at Nebraska.
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