Instant Takes: Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21
Nebraska (6-2, 3-2) is going to the bowl game for the second straight season under Matt Rhule. The Huskers defeated Northwestern (5-3, 3-2) 28-21 at Memorial Stadium in a gritty win.
The Huskers went up 21-6 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Northwestern scored 15 unanswered points to tie the game 21-21 with 11 minutes left in the fourth. After trading interceptions, quarterback Dylan Raiola led the Huskers to score a touchdown and take a 28-21 lead with 2:44 left in the game.
Raiola went 16-of-22 for 141 yards. The offense and line only gave up one sack after a record-breaking nine sacks vs. Minnesota. Starting right tackle Gunnar Gottula did not play. Teddy Prochazka went down with an apparent knee injury in the second quarter. Turner Corcoran was the right tackle for more of the game.
Wide receiver Nyziah Hunter had 70 receiving yards on six catches and one incredible touchdown catch.
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Keep feeding Emmett
Nebraska needs to put the ball in running back Emmett Johnson‘s hands more. The junior has been running extremely hard this season. He recorded 124 yards on 27 attempts vs. Northwestern. Johnson averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns.
He added an eight-yard catch and a seven-yard catch for a first down in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Johnson has been making moves, whether that’s moving the pile on what looks like a dead play or cutting hard to gain five or more yards.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back is averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season and over 102 yards per game. Even in the pass game, he’s a threat with 30 yards or more in three Big Ten games.
Kenneth Williams, special teams are a game-changer
Husker running back Kenneth Williams earned a scholarship after two big kickoff returns vs. Maryland. He continues to prove why he was deserving of the honor. Williams gave the Huskers a massive boost to start the second half.
Nebraska ended the first half with a fumble at the 24-yard line. But Williams and the special teams ignited the Scarlet and Cream out of the half.
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Williams ripped off a 95-yard touchdown on the kickoff return. He is the first Husker to return a kickoff for a touchdown since JD Spielman’s 99-yarder in 2017 vs. Arkansas State.
Archie Wilson averaged 55.5 yards per punt. Kyle Cunanan made four extra points but missed a 44-yard field goal. He ended his streak of seven straight made field goals. The entire operation didn’t look great on the field goal attempt.
Nebraska’s special teams have made massive plays against three Big Ten teams, including Michigan State (blocked punt), Maryland (two massive kickoff returns) and Northwestern (a kickoff return TD). In years past, special teams have been a major hindrance to the Huskers. They’re using it to create possible momentum and score points in 2025.
Turnover battle
Nebraska didn’t win the turnover battle, but they didn’t lose it. The Huskers haven’t won the turnover battle since Houston Christian. Both teams came away with two turnovers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Redshirt freshman Donovan Jones and senior Javin Wright intercepted Wildcat QB Preston Stone. Nebraska turned those INTs into two touchdowns. Jones had seven tackles, the second most on the team behind Rex Guthrie’s eight.
Raiola has recorded six turnovers in the last four games, with five interceptions and one fumble. The sophomore threw an interception right to Mac Uihlein in the fourth quarter. Raiola fumbled the ball on the 24-yard line to end the first half with a sour taste in Nebraska’s mouth.
Despite having two costly turnovers, Raiola led Nebraska on a six-minute, 64-yard drive to take the lead. The Blackshirts locked in and forced Northwestern off the field.
