Nebraska Football Hands Rutgers First Loss, 14-7

The Huskers score 14 points in the first half then hold on late to top previously unbeaten Rutgers.

Nebraska running back Rahmir Johnson runs with the ball against Rutgers. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

When the Blackshirts were needed most, they came through.

Nebraska football beat Rutgers 14-7 Saturday afternoon in Lincoln. NU improves to 5-1 while the Scarlet Knights (4-1) suffer their first defeat.

The Huskers jumped out to a 14-0 lead before halftime, utilizing a strong running game and an efficient Dylan Raiola performance Despite an interception and a blocked punt, the Blackshirts held the visits without an points.

In the second half, the defense continued to shine. On back-to-back possessions, Rutgers set up at the Nebraska 2 and 28.

Zero points were scored.

The Nebraska offense struggled over the final 15 minutes, but even with a late Rutgers touchdown, the Blackshirts held true to keep the Scarlet Knights from tying the game.

Raiola finished with 134 passing yards, with only 14 of those coming after halftime. Brian Buschini passed for 30 yards on a fake punt in the fourth quarter.

The Huskers ran for 97 yards, iwth 57 of those yards coming from Dante Dowdell.

Rutgers totaled 264 yards, including 186 through the air from Athan Kaliakmanis. Kyle Monangai, who rushed for 64 yards on eight carries in the first quarter, finished with 78 yards.

Nebraska is off next week. The Huskers return to action at undefeated Indiana Oct. 19.

Nebraska Athletics Notes

• Today’s game marked the 600th all-time game at Memorial Stadium since 1923. Nebraska owns a record of 436-151-13 at Memorial Stadium after today’s game.
• Today’s game was the 113th Homecoming game at Nebraska. The Huskers improved to 86-24-3 on Homecoming. Nebraska has won 13 of its last 15 Homecoming games and is 10-2 against Big Ten opponents on Homecoming, including 2-0 against Rutgers.
• Nebraska improved to 7-0 all-time against Rutgers.

• The Huskers are 5-1 on the season. This year marks the 10th time Nebraska has started 5-1 or better since 2000 but just the second time since 2015.
• The official temperature at kickoff today was 97 degrees, the hottest kickoff temperature at Memorial Stadium for a home game since at least 1985. The previous high kickoff temperature in that stretch was 93 degrees on four occasions, most recently last season against Michigan (Sept. 30).
• Nebraska limited Rutgers to seven points marking the fifth opponent in six games the Huskers have held to 10 or fewer points.

• Nebraska held Rutgers scoreless in the first half, marking the second straight opponent it has shut out in the first half. Overall, NU has pitched three first-half shutouts in six games this season and allowed just 20 first-half points. Nebraska has out-scored opponents 65-3 in the second quarter in 2023.
  
• Nebraska limited Rutgers to 264 total yards. The Huskers have held 13 consecutive opponents to fewer than 400 total yards. The last time Nebraska held more than 13 straight opponents to fewer than 400 yards was a 14-game stretch spanning the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
  
• Nebraska did not allow a rushing touchdown today, and the Huskers have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. Nebraska is the only team in the country that has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.

• Running back Rahmir Johnson had a season-long 36-yard reception to set up Nebraska’s first touchdown. Johnson has had a catch of at least 10 yards in five straight games. Johnson finished the game with five rushes for 34 yards and three receptions for 40 yards.
  
• Running back Dante Dowdell scored on a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter, marking his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season. Dowdell finished the game with 14 carries for 57 yards.
  
• Junior Marques Buford Jr. had a second-quarter interception, marking his first interception of the season and the third of his Nebraska career. Buford also added a career-high three pass breakups in the game.

• Nebraska converted Buford’s second-quarter interception into a touchdown for a 14-0 lead. Nebraska has now out-scored opponents 35-0 in points off turnovers this season.
  
• Receiver Janiran Bonner had his second rushing TD of the season on a 11-yard score in the second quarter. Before the 11-yard run, Bonner had five career carries totaling nine yards.
  
• Senior receiver Jahmal Banks had a season-long 31-yard reception in the second quarter.

• Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd had a 30-yard reception on a fake punt in the fourth quarter. Lloyd has 12 career receptions with eight of those covering at least 25 yards.
  
• Punter Brian Buschini had a 61-yard punt in the second quarter and a 69-yard punt in the fourth quarter giving him three 60-yard punts this season and seven in his Nebraska career. Buschini averaged 50.2 yards on his five punts, and he also completed a 30-yard pass on a fake punt.
  
• Defensive lineman Ty Robinson had a nine-yard sack in the second quarter, his team leading fourth sack of the season. Robinson finished the game with three tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and a PBU.

• Cornerback Ceyair Wright had a second-quarter interception marking his first Nebraska interception.  Wright also had two pass breakups in the game.
• Senior rover Isaac Gifford finished the game with a team-high eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
• Nebraska finished the game with 4.0 sacks for 29 yards. Rutgers had allowed four sacks in the first four games this season.

• The Huskers also finished with a season-high nine pass breakups in the game. Nebraska’s previous high in a game this season was six against Northern Iowa.
  
• Today’s game captains for Nebraska were RB Rahmir Johnson, OG Justin Evans, LB Mikai Gbayor and DL Elijah Jeudy. Johnson, Evans and Gbayor are New Jersey natives and Jeudy is from Philadelphia.

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