How to watch Nebraska vs. Minnesota on TV or online, plus 3 things to know

Heading into the season, this game looked like it had the potential to be a deciding game in the Big Ten West. However, both teams have underachieved to different degrees.

In Nebraska, everything is bad. The Cornhuskers are 2-4 for the first time since 1959, and they’ve gotten there in very heartbreaking ways. They lost on a Hail Mary to BYU, in overtime after staging a comeback against Miami, on a last-minute drive against Illinois (after a clock screw-up) and on a last-minute field goal against Wisconsin. Clearly, Nebraska deserves to be better than 2-4, but the losses haven’t come against juggernauts. The problem is that a mediocre Nebraska team has to go 4-2 from here on out just to make a bowl.

Could Minnesota be a good medicine for the Huskers? The Gophers, too, have been disappointing this season. They lost to TCU in the opener, which is forgivable, but then had three straight wins over inferior competition by three points each. Then they opened Big Ten play with a 27-0 loss to Northwestern. The defense has been solid, but the offense has been horrendous at times. That unit got rolling against Purdue, but Nebraska is no Purdue.

Both teams need this game to ensure 2015 isn’t a complete disappointment.

TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Radio: Nebraska, Minnesota

Online streaming: WatchESPN

Spread: Minnesota is favored by 2 points.

Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Corn Nation for Nebraska fans and The Daily Gopher for Minnesota fans.

1. Minnesota’s offense has been awful this year, but the Gophers found some room to work against an equally awful Purdue defense. Can they do the same against an also equally awful Nebraska defense?

2. Nebraska better not hope this game is close, because then the Huskers are going to lose. OK, not really. Close games even out eventually. But Nebraska certainly hasn’t done itself any favors in decision-making at the end of games.

3. The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy is back!