Nebraska Punter Brian Buschini Earns Big Ten Weekly Honor for Special Teams Play

The Husker senior claimed the first conference honor of his Nebraska career after a stellar performance from his right leg - and arm - in a win over Rutgers. Buschini is the second Husker to claim a conference player-of-the-week award this season.

Oct 21, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers punter Brian Buschini (18) during the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska football needed Brian Buschini's right leg - and right arm, as it turned out - to close out a win over Rutgers on Saturday.

The senior punter from Montana was rewarded for his stellar performance against the Scarlet Knights with his first award from the Big Ten on Monday, being named the Special Teams Player of the Week. It is his first FBS honor since being named the FCS Punter of the Year at Montana in 2021.

The Ray Guy Award watch list member had a day to remember Saturday, booting five punts for an average of 50.2 yards and flipping the field repeatedly for the Huskers in their 14-7 victory over Rutgers. Nebraska relied on his deep punts in the second half, as Buschini notched a 61- and 69-yard punts to pin Rutgers deep in its own territory. The senior also faced 25-mph swirling winds throughout the contest.

Brian Buschini had a day in Week 6 🎯

📍 @ifs #PlayerOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/NUVKIlvbWh

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 7, 2024

Despite having two of his punts blocked, one of which left him lying on the turf in obvious pain, Buschini returned to the field to pin Rutgers inside its own-15 yard line with his 69-yard boot in the game's final minutes to aid the Blackshirts in securing the one-score victory. Buschini was also the holder on both extra point attempts by Nebraska on Saturday.

As if that weren't enough, Buschini extended a drive in the third quarter with a 30-yard pass completion to sophomore receiver Jaylen Lloyd on a fake punt from Nebraska's own territory. The lunch-pail effort from Buschini earned him Nebraska's first special teams player of the week nod since Quinton Newsome's return of blocked field goal for a touchdown won him the honor last October.

The senior's 69-yard punt is currently second in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin's Atticus Bertrams. Buschini has punted only one touchback this season, with eight of his 18 total punts being downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He has sent off seven punts of 50 or more yards.

Nebraska punter Brian Buschini takes a hit after having his first punt against Rutgers blocked. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Buschini joins quarterback Dylan Raiola as the only Huskers to have earned conference recognition this season. Raiola claimed the Freshman of the Week nod after Nebraska's week one win over UTEP.

The Huskers now rest for their first bye week of 2024 before taking on No. 18/20 Indiana in Bloomington on Oct. 19. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CDT, with television coverage on FOX.

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