Live Updates: Nebraska Holds Off Cincinnati in Kansas City, 20-17

In this story:
KANSAS CITY—The college football season is finally here.
The inaugural Battle Sports Kansas City Classic features the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Cincinnati Bearcats. Originally scheduled for Cincinnati and then moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the game's final home is GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Follow along below for updates during the game.
Most recent updates at the top.
FINAL: Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
TURNOVER
4Q 0:34 Malcom Hartzog intercepts the pass in the end zone. Nebraska can kneel out the clock.
4Q 1:09 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA
Cincinnati has a 4th and 7 upcoming from their own 34.
TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT
4Q 2:00 Cincinnati has a 2nd and 2 at their own 17.
4Q 2:14 Archie Wilson punts Cincinnati to their own 9.
4Q 2:16 TIMEOUT CINCINNATI
Nebraska gets into Cincinnati territory and then goes backwards. A 4th and 14 from the UC46 is on tap.
4Q 2:25 TIMEOUT CINCINNATI
Nebraska has a 3rd and 19 coming up from the NU49.
4Q 2:30 TIMEOUT CINCINNATI
Nebraska has a 2nd and 12 coming up from the UC47.
Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
4Q 7:15 TOUCHDOWN CINCINNATI
Cincinnati moves quickly down the field, committing to running Tawee Walker and scrambling with Brendan Sorsby. The latter punched in a touchdown from the 1.
Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 10
4Q 10:36 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA
Nebraska's run on 3rd down picks up 2. The ensuing 4th and 2 turns into a touchdown pass to Dane Key.
4Q 11:21 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA
Nebraska has the ball deep in Cincinnati territory. A 3rd and 4 from the UC05 is upcoming.
End 3Q Nebraska has the ball at the UC41 for a 1st and 10.
3Q 2:49 Cincinnati goes three-and-out for the third time on the night. The punt goes to Nebraska's 33.
3Q 4:13 Nebraska's drive stalls out just before midfield. Archie Wilson punts Cincinnati back to their own 14.
Nebraska 13, Cincinnati 10
3Q 6:53 TOUCHDOWN CINCINNATI
Brenden Sorsby runs it in from seven yards out.
3Q 8:11 Officials Timeout for Injured Nebraska Player
Cincinnati has the ball at the NU29 for a second and 5.
3Q 10:25 Nebraska goes for it on 4th and 2 but fails to convert, giving the ball to Cincinnati on the UC43.
3Q 15:00 Nebraska starts with the ball at the NU25.
HALFTIME: Nebraska 13, Cincinnati 3
2Q 0:08 Cincinnati kneels out the half.
Nebraska 13, Cincinnati 3
2Q 0:11 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA
Dylan Raiola finds Nyziah Hunter on a five-yard fade.
DYLAN RAIOLA TO NYZIAH HUNTER 🔥
— ESPN (@espn) August 29, 2025
Nebraska extends the lead before halftime 👀
Watch now on ESPN and the ESPN App: https://t.co/3uFXZyApMP pic.twitter.com/9WEltM5W6K
TURNOVER
2Q 1:03 Vincent Shavers blows up a Bearcat and knocks the ball free. Nebraska takes over at the Cincinnati 24.
2Q 1:23 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA
Cincinnati picks up nine on first down but then loses four on a screen play. Third and 5 upcoming from the UC14.
2Q 2:00 Nebraska intentionally takes a delay of game but Cincinnati declines it. Archie Wilson's punt goes out at the UC09.
TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT
2Q 2:00 Nebraska was driving but stalled at the UC32. A fourth and 12 is upcoming.
2Q 4:59 Cincinnati goes three-and-out for a second consecutive possession, punting the ball to Nebraska's 41.
Nebraska 6, Cincinnati 3
2Q 5:36 NEBRASKA FIELD GOAL
Nebraska had the ball inside the 1, but an Elijah Pritchett false start changed the playcalling, and the Huskers didn't do anything with the next three plays inside the 5. Kyle Cunanan's 22-yard field goal sailed through the uprights.
2Q 7:30 Officials Timeout for Injured Cincinnati Player
Nebraska drives to the Cincinnati 9. A third and 6 is upcoming.
2Q 13:34 Cincinnati started at their own 35 after a kickoff out of bounds (Bearcat returner was cleverly ruled out of bounds when he caught it), UC goes three-and-out and punt Nebraska back to their own 16.
Nebraska 3, Cincinnati 3
14:56 NEBRASKA FIELD GOAL
Kyle Cunanan drills his first field goal as a Husker from 52 yards.
End 1Q Nebraska has the ball at the UC33 for a 4th and 9.
Cincinnati 3, Nebraska 0
4:47 CINCINNATI FIELD GOAL
A false start pushed the down and distance to third and nine from the NU34. Cincinnati failed to convert and kicked a 45-yard field goal.
1Q 5:36 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA
Cincinnati moves down the field at relative ease, with a trio of plays that go at least nine yards each. But the Blackshirts bow up to force a third and four at the NU29.
1Q 9:03 An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Henry Lutovsky put Nebraska way behind the sticks. Archie Wilson punted Cincinnati to their own 35.
1Q 12:06 The Bearcats picked up a first down at midfield, but a penalty forced the third down to be replayed. They did not convert and were forced to punt, giving the ball to Nebraska at the NU12.
1Q 14:58 Cincinnati begins the drive at their own 28
Cincinnati won the toss and elected to receive.
Nebraska Availability Report
Out
- Demitrius Bell
- Blye Hill
- Jamarion Parker
- Gage Stenger
- Malcolm Simpson
- Julian Marks
- Nolan Fennessy
- Tyson Terry
- Gibson Pyle
- Mac Markway
- Conor Connealy
Questionable
- Bode Soukup
- Roman Mangini
- Izaac Dickey
- Roger Gradney
- Pierce Mooberry
- Jackson Carpenter
- Gabe Moore
Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule
- Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
- Sep. 6 vs. Akron 6:30 p.m. CDT BTN
- Sep. 13 vs. Houston Christian 11 a.m. FS1
- Sep. 20 vs. Michigan 2:30 p.m. CBS
- Oct. 4 vs. Michigan State 11/2:30/3
- Oct. 11 at Maryland TBA
- Oct. 17 (Friday) at Minnesota 7 p.m. FOX
- Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern TBA
- Nov. 1 vs. USC TBA
- Nov. 8 at UCLA TBA
- Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
- Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS
Home games are bolded. All times central.
Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.
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Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
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