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Nebraska Holds Off Northwestern, 28-21

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are back at Memorial Stadium and looking to get bowl eligible before the end of October. They take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday.
Kaleb Henry|
Emmett Johnson runs the ball against Northwestern.
Emmett Johnson runs the ball against Northwestern. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

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Nebraska CornhuskersNorthwestern Wildcats

LINCOLN—The Nebraska Cornhuskers are back home and looking to reach bowl eligibility before October runs out.

A debacle in Minneapolis last Friday has NU sitting at 5-2. The Huskers host the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday. Follow along below for updates.

Most recent updates at the top.

FINAL: Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21

Nebraska Athletics Postgame Notes

  • Nebraska improved to 11-7 all-time in the series against Northwestern, including 7-3 in Lincoln. The Huskers lead 8-6 in the series since joining the Big Ten.
  • The seven-point victory marked the 10th time in the past 14 meetings between Nebraska and Northwestern that the game was decided by eight or fewer points.
  • With today’s win, Nebraska secured bowl eligibility, and its 6-2 start is its best through eight games since opening the 2016 season with a 7-1 record.
  • Nebraska limited Northwestern to 331 yards. The Huskers have held each of their first eight opponents to fewer than 400 total yards. The last time the Huskers held their first eight opponents to fewer than 400 total yards was the 2009 season (first 11 opponents).
  • Nebraska sophomore Kenneth Williams had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.  It was NU’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since JD Spielman had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Arkansas State on Sept. 2, 2017.
  • It was Williams’ second kickoff return of at least 85 yards this season, after an 85-yarder to set up a touchdown at Maryland two weeks ago.
  • Running back Emmett Johnson carried 27 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson had 38 yards on six carries on Nebraska’s game-opening scoring drive.
  • Johnson posted his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He became the first Husker to have four 100-yard rushing games in a season since Anthony Grant in 2022.
  • Johnson increased his season rushing total to 837. This marks the most rushing yards by a Husker since 2022.
  • Johnson had 15 receiving yards to increase his career receiving yards to 514. He is the seventh running back in school history to record 500 career receiving yards.
  • Receiver Nyziah Hunter caught six passes for 70 yards and a 12-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. It marked Hunter’s sixth game this season with at least four receptions, including each of the past four games.
  • Hunter’s TD catch was his fifth of the season and the 10th of his college career.
  • Redshirt freshman cornerback Donovan Jones had a third-quarter interception for his first career interception. Jones’ pick set up a Nebraska touchdown to take a 21-6 lead. Jones added seven tackles in the game, tying his career high.
  • Quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 16-of-22 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown in the game. Raiola increased his career passing total to 4,728 yards, moving past Jerry Tagge (4,704 yards) into seventh place on the NU career passing list.
  • Raiola has 17 touchdown passes this season and moved into the top 10 on the single-season list in today’s game (tied for 10th place).
  • Raiola now has 30 career touchdown passes and is the 12th player in Nebraska history with at least 30 touchdown passes.
  • Freshman running back Isaiah Mozee rushed three times for 28 yards, including a career-long 22-yard run in the second quarter.
  • Redshirt freshman safety Rex Guthrie had a career-best eight tackles, bettering his previous high of six tackles against Houston Christian.
  • Javin Wright had a fourth-quarter interception, marking his third career interception and first since 2023.
  • Nebraska scored 14 points in the third quarter after scoring just seven combined points in the third quarter of its first four Big Ten games.

End 4Q Nebraska runs out the clock.

4Q 1:13 TURNOVER ON DOWNS

Northwestern gives the ball back to Nebraska at the NU35.

4Q 2:44 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Emmett Johnson puts Nebraska back in front with a 4-yard score.

4Q 9:11 INTERCEPTION

Preston Stone throws a dart to Javin Wright who gets the ball back for Nebraska at the NU36.

4Q 9:19 TIMEOUT NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats have a 3rd and 12 from the NU36 upcoming.

4Q 11:10 INTERCEPTION

On the first play of the drive, Dylan Raiola throws an interception. Northwestern takes over at the NU34.

Nebraska 21, Northwestern 21

4Q 11:16 TOUCHDOWN NORTHWESTERN

Caleb Komolafe takes a 3rd and 2 run 56 yards to pay dirt. The 2-point conversion is successful.

4Q 13:29 Archie Wilson's punt goes 58 yards for the touchback.

End 3Q Nebraska has a 2nd and 4 from the NU39 upcoming.

Nebraska 21, Northwestern 13

3Q 2:25 TOUCHDOWN NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats take advantage of a questionable replay decision and finish the drive in the end zone.

3Q 3:10 Nebraska is challenging the spot on the fourth-down conversion. The ruling is upheld and Northwestern has a 1st and 10 at the NU25. Nebraska is not charged a timeout.

3Q 3:40 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA

Northwestern has a 3rd and 3 from the NU29 upcoming.

Nebraska 21, Northwestern 6

3Q 7:39 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Three plays after the interception, Dylan Raiola finds Nyziah Hunter for a highlight-reel catch in the end zone.

3Q 8:37 INTERCEPTION

Preston Stone scrambles and throws a ball of his receivers hands. Donovan Jones is able to make the pick at the NW32.

3Q 8:43 Nebraska answers Northwestern's punt with one of their own. Archie Wilson's punt is caught without a return at the NW15.

3Q 11:49 Northwestern's drive stalls at midfield. Jacory Barney Jr. calls for a fair catch at the NU11.

Nebraska 14, Northwestern 6

3Q 14:47 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Kenneth Williams takes the kickoff 95 yards to the house.

HALFTIME: Nebraska 7, Northwestern 6

End 2Q Northwestern runs out the clock.

2Q 0:30 FUMBLE

Dylan Raiola picked up the first down but fumbled. Northwestern has the ball at their own 24.

2Q 0:38 TIMEOUT NEBRASKA

The Huskers have a 4th and 1 at the NW26 upcoming.

TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT

2Q 2:00 Nebraska has a 1st and 10 at the NW35 upcoming.

Nebraska 7, Northwestern 6

2Q 3:01 FIELD GOAL NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats stalled after getting inside the NU10. The 25-yard field goal is good.

2Q 3:30 TIMEOUT NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats have a 3rd and Goal from the NU10 upcoming.

2Q 10:44 FIELD GOAL MISS

After picking up a pair of fourth downs, a sack put the Huskers behind the chains. Kyle Cunanan's 44-yard field goal missed wide right.

2Q 12:18 Northwestern is challenging the converted fourth down. The ruling is upheld for a 1st and 10 Nebraska at the NW25.

End 1Q Nebraska has a 1st and 10 from the NW35 upcoming.

Nebraska 7, Northwestern 3

1Q 3:28 FIELD GOAL NORTHWESTERN

A 37-yard completion on third down put the Wildcats into Husker territory, but the drive stalled. Northwestern drills the 40-yard field goal to get on the board.

Nebraska 7, Northwestern 0

1Q 7:49 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Emmett Johnson caps off the 65-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run.

1Q 11:51 Northwestern picks up one first down but a false start disrupts the next series. Jacory Barney Jr. is run into before he can catch the punt but the officials rule there was no kick-catch interference. Nebraska takes over at the NU31.

Northwestern calls Tails and loses the toss. Nebraska defers. The Wildcats receive to open the game.

Availability reports for Nebraska and Northwestern.
Availability reports for Nebraska and Northwestern. | 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 vs. USC 6:30 p.m. NBC
  • 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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Published | Modified
Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

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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