The best shots from inside roaring, frenzied Arrowhead Stadium as Huskers start 1-0
KANSAS CITY, M.O. – Nebraska got the job done. That’s the ultimate bottom line coming out of Thursday night’s 20-17 win over Cincinnati.
The Huskers snapped a six-game streak of losses to Power Four opponents in season openers, and they did so by winning a one-score game.
Winning a one-score game is better than losing a one-score game (depending on who you’re rooting for, I guess). Just like being 1-0 is better than being 0-1 (no matter who you’re rooting for).
And, hey, would you look at that? Wouldn’t ya know it? Nebraska is now 1-0 heading back to Lincoln for a Week 2 matchup against Akron, a team that went 4-8 a season ago to snap a streak of finishing 2-10 in three straight seasons (plus a 1-5 mark during the 2020 shortened season and 0-12 the year prior in 2019).
In other words, a game against what figures to be an inferior, overmatched opponent where you can theoretically work out some of the kinks from the first game of the season. Just like we did tonight when dusted off the Nikon, worked out some of our own kinks after eight months off from game day photography.
If you like that segue, then you’re going to love this photo gallery. Check out some of Inside Nebraska’s best shots from inside Arrowhead – an uproarious, frenzied crowd throughout most of the game – which turned the Kansas City Chiefs’ home venue into a de facto Nebraska home game:
More content from Inside Nebraska:
Instant Takeaways: Nebraska hangs on to beat Cincinnati
>> Nebraska was winless in its last six season openers against Power Four opponents entering the Thursday night Week 1 matchup against the Bearcats. That’s a record that dates back to 2015. All but one were one-score losses. Now, that streak has been snapped.
The Huskers were 0-5 under Rhule in games decided by three points or less going into the season opener against Cincinnati. That streak, too, has now been snapped.
Hit the link above – or this one – for some of Inside Nebraska staff writer Steve Marik’s instant takeaways following the victory.
******
Grading Huskers’ performance in 20-17 over Cincinnati
>> It wasn’t the flashy offensive showing many expected from Nebraska on Thursday, but the Huskers gutted out a 20-17 win over Cincinnati.
There were some promising moments, but plenty of moments that showed this team might need some time to reach the potential the staff sees in it.
The biggest takeaway coming out of Thursday’s win? Nebraska has a few key areas that need improvement before Big Ten play.
Click here for an assessment of each position group in Thursday’s 20-17 victory from Inside Nebraska staff writer Tim Verghese’s report card.
******
WATCH: Matt Rhule, players postgame press conference after Nebraska beats Cincinnati
Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers put one in the books on Thursday night.
Final score: Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
A one-score win. By three points. In Week 1 of the college football season.
Certainly, it could be worse. Instead, Nebraska is 1-0 to begin the 2025 season.
Afterward, Rhule was made available at the podium to break down the Huskers’ win over Cincinnati in the postgame press conference in the bowels of Arrowhead Stadium.
In addition to Rhule, a few players also took the podium at the postgame presser – quarterback Dylan Raiola (who finished 33-of-42 through the air for a 79% completion percentage, 243 yards passing and two touchdowns with no turnovers), running back Emmett Johnson (25 carries for 108 yards rushing at a clip of 4.3 yards per carry) and safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (who snagged the game-sealing interception in the end zone to send the Huskers into celebration mode) – to break down the season-opening victory and what it means going forward.
Watch and listen to Rhule, Raiola, Johnson and Hartzog speak at the postgame press conference via the link above and the one right here.
******
Visit the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel for more digital coverage of the Huskers