Just last year, Lincoln High chose not to play the second half against Millard South after trailing 63–0, effectively conceding the game at halftime. That forfeit stung, and many had circled this season’s rematch as a chance to reclaim some pride. But barely three days before kickoff, Lincoln High announced they were canceling the highly anticipated matchup once again, citing player health concerns. The abrupt decision may have left fans baffled and disappointed, and so Principal Mark Larson tried to clarify the situation better in his statement the following day.

“Due to the extent of player injuries sustained in last week’s game, and a number of other factors, we are communicating with Millard South and the NSAA today that we are forfeiting the game. This was not an easy decision. Ultimately, we need to make the best decision for players’ health and safety so we can finish our season. This will allow an extra week for our players to heal,” the statement read as shared by Chase Matteson in a post to his X account. 

The Links were coming off a brutal 57–0 loss to Lincoln Southeast that left several players injured, including key linemen, although a full injury list hasn’t been released at the time of writing. They had started their year strong with wins over Bryan and Omaha Northwest, but stumbled against Fremont (42–7) and Lincoln Southeast. So yes, with their season hanging in the balance at 4–2 (now 4–3 with the forfeit), Lincoln ultimately chose health preservation over pride. That much could be true, except the reality goes deeper still. 

The Links knew they were stepping into a mismatch. Millard South, the defending Class A state champion, has outscored its opponents 391–17 this season and averages over 65 points per game. They beat Arbor View 49–7 in August, although the victory was forfeited because of an NSAA violation. But, they were 10-2 in 2023 and 12-1 in 2024, and they’re also the overwhelming favorites to win this year. These numbers would intimidate even healthy rosters, and Link has already called in sick. “I talked to our athletic director and said, ‘I don’t have the bodies, and I’m not going to have them put 100 on us. That’s not even humane,’” coach Mark Macke had said last time.

In that sense, the forfeit doubles as an unofficial bye week, giving Lincoln time to rest, regroup, and prepare for their final two games— both of which could decide their playoff hopes. Beneath the surface, there’s also growing tension around Millard South’s dominance.

The Patriots have repeatedly faced accusations of roster stacking and illegal recruiting practices, including an incident this season where two ineligible players were found to be living with a volunteer assistant coach in violation of NSAA Bylaw 2.8. That controversy has fueled wider conversations about competitive imbalance in Nebraska high school football, and whether programs like Millard South are simply operating on an entirely different level from everyone else. So, not only does Millard South have a talented roster, with quarterback Jett Thomalla, an Alabama four-star commit, leading their offense, but they also hand out lopsided losses as is.

Thus, the forfeiture reignites the ongoing debate over competitive balance in Nebraska Class A football, where lopsided scores have become increasingly common. Some solutions are on the horizon, which would be visible in 2026 fall. A new rule was passed in January 2024 that would allow schools to play smaller programs without penalty. “Currently, if you choose to opt down, you’re not eligible for the playoffs. The competitive balance committee can review your situation and grant playoff eligibility if appropriate,” said committee member John Johnson.

Until then, Larson remains hopeful. He closed his statement with a vote of confidence, saying. “We believe in our student-athletes and our coaching staff and know they will continue to work hard to finish the season strong,” he said. After this forfeiture, only two games remain for Lincoln High. First would be against Omaha South on October 17, and then at North Platte on October 24. Both of these games are far more winnable than the game against Millard South.