Four Observations From Nebraska Football's Win at UCLA

A winning season has been secured with three games still to be played.

Nebraska improved to 7-3 with a 28-21 win at UCLA on Saturday. Here are four observations from the game.

Emmett Johnson

The Emmett Johnson hype train hit a new speed in Los Angeles.

Johnson rushed 28 times for 129 yards and one touchdown, adding three receptions for 103 yards and two scores. He's the first Husker running back in program history to have a 100/100 game.

"He was great," Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said after the game. "He's been consistently great."

Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson runs the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Johnson's three catches give him 82 in his career, making him the third Husker in school history with more than 80 receptions as a running back. He joins Jeff Kinney (82) and Marlon Lucky (135).

With two touchdown receptions on the night, Johnson ties Ahman Green and Cory Ross for the NU running back record in a single game.

Johnson has blown well past the 1,000-yard mark that he eclipsed a week ago. His 1,131 rushing yards on the year are the most by a Husker since Ameer Abdullah's 1,611 yards in 2014. Johnson is averaging 125.7 yards a game on the ground, putting him on pace to become the fifth Husker to break the 1,500-yard mark in a single season.

"Emmett's just an absolute weapon," Rhule said. "I see all the scouts coming in now, starting to body-type him. He's a pro."

The 28 carries against UCLA follow efforts of 27 against Northwestern and 29 against USC. Johnson is the first Husker to have 25 or more carries in three consecutive games since Ahman Green in the final three games of the 1997 season.

Johnson's 14 touchdowns on the season are also the most by a Husker running back since Abdullah's 22 in 2014.

TJ Lateef

Just the fourth true freshman quarterback to start a game for Nebraska in at least the last 75 years, the LA native was nearly flawless back in his hometown.

Lateef did not throw an incomplete pass until early in the fourth quarter. He guided the Huskers on four consecutive drives (we're not counting the kneel down to end the first half) to build a 28-7 lead.

"If you have any idea how we feel about him, at the end of the game, with the game on the line, we're throwing the football," Rhule said. "A lot of people wouldn't do that but we're doing that and it's because he's earned that."

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback TJ Lateef runs the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

While Johnson's legs did most of the work, Lateef was a solid complement in the ground game. He ran five times for 31 yards, including a 14-yard zone read on the first offensive play for NU.

Through the air, Lateef finished 13-for-15 for 205 yards and three touchdowns. In his first extended work as a collegiate quarterback against Power Four competition, the true freshman more than passed the test.

"I just think everyone was kind of ready to do their part," Rhule said. "Our whole message this week was to be great teammates and not saying you care for somebody.—everyone can say they care for someone—but doing a little extra. I thought the guys all did a little extra and that allowed TJ just to go out there and play."

Defending Nico

I could spell out his name but you likely already heard Tim Brando and Devin Gardner butcher it several times already.

Iamaleava finished with 15 carries for 86 yards, but those numbers are hurt by the three sacks for 18 yards that he took. Even when Nebraska sent pressure at the Tennessee transfer, his elusiveness made them pay as he either took off with the ball or found an open receiver.

"I thought Nico was fantastic," Rhule said. "Just an absolute warrior. That first drive, we hit him so many times I didn't know how long he could do that and he just did it all night."

UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava runs the ball ahead of Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Deshon Singleton (8) during the first half at the Rose Bowl. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Luckily for Nebraska, UCLA's play calling got cute at times.

On a third-and-1 in the first half, the Bruins threw the ball. Incomplete. The ensuing fourth-down call was a run to the outside, which got stuffed.

It was moments like that that proved Nebraska had the upper hand in the contest.

Iamaleava finished 17-for-25 passing for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Husker Fall Equinox

Nationally, a sports equinox is when the Big Four American sports from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL play on the same day. A Husker Fall Equinox is when the featured sports* from the fall and winter seasons all play on the same day.

*The "featured" sports, otherwise referred to as Big 3 for men's and women's, are the sports that receive the most investment each season. They are football and volleyball in the fall, men's and women's basketball in the winter, and baseball and softball in the spring.

Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule watches game action against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Since volleyball and women's basketball became varsity sports in the mid-1970s, there have been only 10 instances of a Husker Fall Equinox.

Nov. 8, 2025
Nov. 25, 2022
Nov. 14, 2015
Nov. 24, 1995
Nov. 25, 1994
Nov. 23, 1990
Nov. 28, 1987
Nov. 23, 1985
Nov. 26, 1983
Dec. 4, 1982

Nebraska football is now 8-2 during a Husker Fall Equinox. The Huskers are also undefeated against teams west of Nebraska, including wins over Colorado and Hawai'i.

The only losses for the Big Red on such a day are both to Oklahoma, with losses in 1985 and 1990.

With football's win at UCLA, volleyball's win at No. 22 Minnesota, women's basketball's win vs. Samford, and men's basketball's win over FIU, this is the sixth time Nebraska has swept its contests on a Husker Fall Equinox.

Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Oct. 17 Minnesota 24, Nebraska 6
Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern 11 a.m. FS1
Nov. 1 USC 21, Nebraska 17
Nov. 8 Nebraska 28, UCLA 21
Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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