After Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson plunged into the end zone from inside the one in overtime, Tanner Lee's fourth down pass was incomplete, giving the Wildcats a 31-24 win in Lincoln.
Thorson scampered into the end zone with 5:32 left in the game to to finish an 83-yard drive to tie the game and eventually force overtime.
The Huskers used a dominant third quarter to take a lead 24-17 lead into the fourth, though.
Marcus Newby intercepted a Thorson pass and returned it 49 yards for a score 52 seconds into the second half to give NU a 21-17 lead. After forcing a punt, Nebraska then converted a field goal after a 18-play, 9:24 drive to extend the lead to 24-17. Nebraska outgained Northwestern 82-44 in the quarter, however the Wildcats outgained the Huskers 475-337 overall in the game.
The Wildcats got on the board first thanks to a Justin Jackson touchdown on Northwestern's first drive. Tanner Lee was intercepted on the ensuing drive, but Joshua Kalu answered with a pick of his own, leading to a 61-yard touchdown drive by the Huskers to tie the game.
After another Northwestern touchdown in the second quarter, Nebraska answered with a two-play drive of its own with Lee finding Jack Stoll for a 32-yard score.
Lee finished the game 21-of-38 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. On the other side, Thorson was 19-of-35 for 243 yards with two rushing TDs and two INTs.
