No. 23 USC Avoids Nebraska's Upset Bid, 21-17

LINCOLN—The Nebraska Cornhuskers are back at Memorial Stadium to open the month of November.

A 28-21 win over Northwestern last week earned Nebraska bowl eligbility before the end of October for the first time since 2016. Now into November, the Huskers are looking to take the next step with against the No. 23 USC Trojans on NBC. Follow along below for updates.

Most recent updates at the top.

Final: USC 21, Nebraska 17

Nebraska Athletics Postgame Notes

With the win, USC improved to 6-0-1 all-time against Nebraska, including 3-0 in Lincoln.
Running back Emmett Johnson rushed 29 times for 165 yards and a 10-yard touchdown. Johnson’s 100-yard game marked his fifth of the season and his third in conference play.
Johnson topped the century mark for the second straight week after rushing for 124 yards vs. Northwestern last week. He is the first Husker with back-to-back 100-yard games in conference play since Devine Ozigbo accomplished that in 2018.
With his 165 rushing yards, Johnson increased his season rushing total to 1,002, the most rushing yards by a Husker since Ozigbo rushed for 1,082 yards in 2018.
Johnson increased his career rushing total to 2,011, making him the 32nd player in school history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards.
Johnson’s rushing touchdown was his 10th rushing touchdown of the season and his 11th overall touchdown of the year.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 10-of-15 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Raiola increased his season passing total to 2,000 yards, making him the first Husker with back-to-back 2,000-yard passing seasons since Tommy Armstrong Jr. had three straight 2,000-yard seasons from 2014 to 2016.
Senior receiver Dane Key caught a 14-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. The TD catch was Key’s fifth of the 2025 season at Nebraska and the 19th of his college career.
Sophomore receiver Nyziah Hunter had five catches for 30 yards in the game. It marked his fourth straight game with at least five receptions. He is the first Husker to have four consecutive games with five or more catches since Wan’Dale Robinson in 2020.
Nebraska limited USC to a season-low 337 yards, 193 yards below their nation-leading season average of 530 yards per game. The Huskers held USC to their lowest total yards in 26 games, dating back to the Trojans’ 2023 game against Notre Dame.
Nebraska has now held every opponent this season to fewer than 400 yards of total offense. The Huskers have held their first nine opponents to fewer than 400 yards, the first time that has happened since the 2009 season.
Nebraska limited USC to a season-low 135 passing yards. That marked the first time USC had passed for fewer than 150 yards in 83 games, dating back to the 2018 season.
NU has now held eight of its nine opponents this season to fewer than 160 passing yards.
Cornerback Andrew Marshall had an interception in the third quarter, marking his first career interception. He also had three tackles in the game to give him 102 career tackles.
Linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. had a 10-yard sack in the second quarter, marking his first sack in 2025 and the second of his career.
True freshman Kade Pietrzak had a six-yard sack in the second quarter, marking his second sack of the season.
Redshirt freshman safety Rex Guthrie tied his career high for the second straight game with eight tackles.
Linebacker Javin Wright had 11 tackles in the game, marking the fifth time in six Big Ten games that Wright has reached double-figure tackles.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Donovan Jones had a career-high two pass breakups.
Nebraska scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game for the second straight week with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive including three third-down conversions.

End 4Q USC runs out the clock.

4Q 1:26 TURNOVER ON DOWNS

Nebraska's last chance at a comeback fails at the NU27.

4Q 3:27 USC's drive stalls and the ensuing punt is downed at the NU02.

4Q 7:55 Nebraska is forced to punt. Archie Wilson's boot is fair caught at the USC25.

USC 21, Nebraska 17

4Q 10:06 TOUCHDOWN USC

The Trojans use a trick play to pick up 43 yards and get gifted another 15 yards on a pass interference before scoring a short touchdown to take the lead.

Nebraska 17, USC 14

4Q 12:53 FIELD GOAL NEBRASKA

Nebraska drivess to the edge of the USC red zone. Kyle Cunanan's 39-yard field goal sails through the uprights.

End 3Q Nebraska has a 2nd and 9 from the USC44 coming up.

Nebraska 14, USC 14

3Q 3:32 TOUCHDOWN USC

Jayden Maiava runs in the touchdown from 16 yards out. The two-point conversion is successful.

3Q 5:23 FIELD GOAL MISSED

With TJ Lateef in at quarterback (Dylan Raiola injured on the play where he fumbled), Nebraska drives to the USC 34 before the drive stalls. Kyle Cunanan's 52-yard field goal hits the crossbar.

3Q 8:38 TURNOVER ON DOWNS

USC gets stuffed at midfield. Nebraska takes over at the NU46.

3Q 12:04 FUMBLE

Dylan Raiola loses the ball and USC recovers. The Trojans take over on their own 23.

Dylan Raiola got CRUNCHED on this tackle 😳

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/T8a8s4kSAe
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2025

3Q 13:32 INTERCEPTION

On the first play of the possession, Jayden Maiava throws an interception to Andrew Marshall. Nebraska takes over at the USC34.

3Q 13:36 Nebraska opens the half with a three-and-out. Archie Wilson's punt goes just 32 yards to the USC26.

Halftime: Nebraska 14, USC 6

Nebraska Athletics Halftime Notes

Quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 10-of-13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in the first half. With his 91 passing yards, Raiola has increased his season passing total to 2,000 yards. He is the first Husker with back-to-back 2,000-yard passing seasons since Tommy Armstrong Jr. had three straight 2,000-yard seasons from 2014 to 2016.
Running back Emmett Johnson rushed 15 times for 76 yards and a 10-yard touchdown in the first half. With his first-half rushing total, Johnson has surpassed 900 rushing yards this season, just the second season of at least 900 rushing yards by a Husker since 2018.
Senior receiver Dane Key caught a 14-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. The TD catch was Key’s fifth of the 2025 season at Nebraska and the 19th of his college career.
Nebraska scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game for the second straight week with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive including three third-down conversions.
Linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. had a 10-yard sack in the second quarter, marking his first sack in 2025 and the second of his career.
Cornerback Andrew Marshall had three tackles in the first half to give him 102 career tackles.

End 2Q Nebraska runs out the clock.

2Q 0:30 Another intentional grounding derails a USC drive. The Trojan punt is returned by Jacory Barney Jr. to the NU18.

Nebraska 14, USC 6

2Q 1:37 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

After a pass interference extends the drive, Emmett Johnson punches in the score from 10 yards out.

Emmett Johnson runs this one in for @HuskerFootball 🌽

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/1ZSbvOgYY4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2025

TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT

2Q 2:00 Nebraska has a 1st and 20 upcoming from the USC35.

Nebraska 7, USC 6

2Q 6:07 FIELD GOAL USC

An intentional grounding penalty derails the Trojan drive. A third-down scramble gets them back in range for the successful 49-yard kick.

2Q 10:29 Nebraska gets near midfield but is forced to punt. Archie Wilson's punt is fair caught at the USC15.

Nebraska 7, USC 3

2Q 13:23 FIELD GOAL USC

A false start on fourth down stops the Trojan desire to go for the touchdown. The 24-yarder is good.

1Q 2:58 Nebraska answers with a three-and-out. An illegal formation on the punt adds five yards in USC's favor to the end of the punt, giving the Trojans the ball at their own 19.

1Q 5:03 USC goes three-and-out for the second straight possession. The ensuing punt goes out at the NU39.

Nebraska 7, USC 0

1Q 6:29 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Dane Key reels in a touchdown catch to cap of a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:01 off the clock.

A FLAWLESS fade route. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/guDywpI7xQ
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 1, 2025

1Q 13:30 USC goes three-and-out. The Trojan punt is returned by Jacory Barney Jr. for a couple of yards to the NU25.

With former Husker Tommie Frazier doing the coin toss, USC wins and takes the ball.

Availability reports for Nebraska and USC. | Big Ten Conference

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 Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21
Nov. 1 USC 21, Nebraska 17
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.

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