Those directions from The Maudfather sound like they get you to Omaha, not Lincoln,
From what I gathered to go to Lincoln, take I-29 to St. Joe, take 36 HWY west to Hiawatha (there's road construction on 36 west of there) take 73 north to Falls City, then take 75 to NE City, then 2 west to Lincoln.
I've heard two different accounts of the construction on 36, one bad and one said no big deal. KDOT says it is working on two bridges and traffic is down to one lane on each bridge so you are likely to have to wait some. How long that is, I have no idea.
If 75 is that bad, you could take I-70 to Manhattan and take 77 north to Lincoln, though there is construction on 70 too. I've never come in from the south on 77 so I don't have any idea how game day traffic will be. Though I think you said you were coming up earlier so that may not matter.
Hope this helps.
I'd be tempted to take 75 to 136 to Ne-50 to Ne-2. Maudfather's way is the best to Omaha.