Tag: Nebraska

Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to running back Dante Dowdell (23) for a touchdown run against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Resurgent No. 22 Nebraska, No. 24 Illinois clash in Big Ten opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the first time since October 2011, No. 22 Nebraska and No. 24 Illinois find themselves listed in the same Associated Press Top 25 poll. They’ll meet in a Big Ten opener Friday night in Lincoln, Neb., to decide which team gets to stay there.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) are off to their best start since 2016 — their most recent bowl season — while the Illini are 3-0 for the first time since 2011.

After cruising through their respective non-conference schedules, both teams will get a much better picture of their might while they clash in front of Nebraska’s 400th consecutive home sellout.

“To have two big teams ranked on a Friday night game is a little bit unusual,” said Illinois coach Bret Bielema, who has his program in the polls for just the second time in the last 13 years. “It doesn’t happen all the time. To see it play out and be a part of it is awesome. Give a lot of credit to their team and what they’ve accomplished to this point. I told our guys to continue to keep our focus, our mentality, and see where it can go.”

The Huskers have three blowouts under their belt — they led at halftime against UTEP, Colorado and Northern Iowa by a combined score of 79-10 — but head coach Matt Rhule hasn’t been overly impressed yet.

“I think any time you don’t punt in the game, you feel pretty good,” Rhule said. “So I felt pretty good about what we did Saturday offensively (against Northern Iowa). But that was all preseason to me. Now the season starts. We’ll find out where we are. This will be such a different challenge playing against these guys.”

The Illini enter Friday’s game tied for second nationally in turnover margin (+8) and tied for fifth in turnovers forced (9). Defensive back Xavier Scott is one of four FBS players with at least 3 interceptions through three games, and he has forced four turnovers overall.

But Scott and company haven’t faced a passer like Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola. Even on the rare occasions when the pass rush has forced him to improvise, the five-star freshman has appeared unflappable while completing 73.8 percent of his passes for 670 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception.

“He brings a different element immediately,” Bielema said. “He’s a very talented young man that’s got a great deep ball throw. They maximize him pretty well. There’s some things you can literally see him get better on every series — just very impressive to see.”

Rhule seems eager to find out how Raiola will handle an Illinois group that ranks 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense (an 87.98 rating versus Raiola’s 162.22).

“They’ve altered a lot of what they’re doing,” said Rhule, noting how Illinois second-year defensive coordinator Aaron Henry has been using more disguises this season. “They’ll show man and play Cover 2. They’ll show man and play zone. With a young quarterback, he’s got to recognize because they don’t show it to you. He’s got to recognize zone on the snap. And they’re taking the ball away at a high level.”

On the flip side, Bielema wants to see his rushing attack be more reliable. The Illini’s quartet of backs have been satisfactory (153.3 yards per game), but Illinois hasn’t faced anything like the Huskers’ defense, which surrenders just 2.5 yards per carry and 70.3 rushing yards per game.

“If we’re going to win in the Big Ten, we’re going to have to run the ball in certain situations,” Bielema said. “I think the greatest definition of a team is a team that can run the ball effectively when they want to run it against good competition.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) passes against the Northern Iowa Panthers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

No. 23 Nebraska gets off to quick start, rolls past Northern Iowa

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns to guide No. 23 Nebraska to a 34-3 victory over Northern Iowa Saturday night in Lincoln, Neb.

“I thought he was excellent,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said of Raiola, who connected on 17 of his 23 attempts.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to win their first game as a ranked team since 2019. Dante Dowdell rushed six times for 55 yards as Nebraska finished with 423 total yards to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2016.

For Northern Iowa (2-1), which entered the night ranked 21st in the FCS poll, quarterback Aidan Dunne completed 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards and rushed for a team-high 49 yards before getting knocked out of the game with 10 minutes to go.

The Panthers dominated time of possession (38:07), but their drives repeatedly came up short due to a combination of penalties (nine for 95 yards) and Nebraska’s bend-but-don’t-break defense.

The Cornhuskers produced a touchdown on its initial possession for the third week in a row. Raiola capped the Huskers’ 75-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman Carter Nelson, who made the catch over the middle at the 15-yard line and sprinted into the end zone.

Northern Iowa responded with a 10-minute, 8-second drive that bogged down in the red zone. Caden Palmer converted a 31-yard field goal to pull the Panthers within 7-3 at the 1:32 mark of the first quarter.

Raiola orchestrated another 75-yard scoring drive on Nebraska’s next possession. Faced with third-and-9, he found Isaiah Neyor open over the middle for an 18-yard score that gave the Huskers a 14-3 lead with 13:04 to go in the first half.

Nebraska shook it up on its third drive by zipping 80 yards in just four plays for another score. Raiola’s 59-yard strike to Jaylen Lloyd set up Jacory Barney Jr.’s 10-yard end-around that pushed the lead to 21-3 with 6:51 left.

Northern Iowa cranked up its running game for a lengthy drive to start the second half, but Dunne overthrew an open receiver on play-action and Nebraska safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. picked it off.

That turnover led to Tristan Alvano’s 31-yard field goal at 6:17 of the third to extend Nebraska’s margin to 24-3. Alvano booted a 21-yarder near the end of the third quarter, then Emmett Johnson closed the scoring by bouncing outside and outracing UNI’s secondary for a 36-yard score with 4:31 to play.

Northern Iowa forced Raiola’s first career interception early in the fourth quarter when defensive back Fletcher Marshall Jr. wrenched the ball from Lloyd as they leaped for a deep pass.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) rolls out to pass against the UTEP Miners during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

No. 23 Nebraska out to continue rise vs. Northern Iowa

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For the first time in five years and seven days, Nebraska will take the field Saturday night with an Associated Press Top 25 number next to its name.

The Cornhuskers jumped into the AP poll at No. 23 thanks to last week’s dominant effort against Colorado — and they’ll try to build on that versus a Northern Iowa squad that’s off to its first 2-0 start in 11 years.

Second-year coach Matt Rhule has Nebraska off to its first 2-0 start since 2016, which doubles as the most recent year that the Huskers posted a winning record and played in a bowl game.

“It’s where we should probably be, but it’s not where we want to be, right?” Rhule said. “My (three) kids are excited, so happy for them. My players are probably excited, but we’ve got bigger plans than that.

“We come here to have high expectations. You come here to play in big games. You come here to play in front of that crowd, you know? We expect to be ranked, but whatever it is — 23rd, 24th — that’s not where we want to end up. So go 1-0 each week and see what happens.”

So far, what has happened is a pair of blowouts in front of 86,000-plus at Memorial Stadium — a 40-7 defeat of UTEP, followed by the 28-10 win over Colorado last Saturday. Nebraska’s offense, led by freshman Dylan Raiola, has been balanced and nearly mistake-free. Raiola has hit on 73.7 percent of his 57 throws for 423 yards, three touchdowns and no picks.

“What you see on offense is speed,” said Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley, whose program is facing Nebraska for the first time in his 23-plus years at the helm. “You see that speed that maybe they haven’t had before. It’s not just regular speed, it’s different speed.”

Meanwhile, the Huskers’ defense has racked up eight sacks and four turnovers while allowing just 8.5 points and 232.5 yards per game. Both of the latter stats rank among the top 25 in the nation. Defensive tackle Ty Robinson leads the Huskers with two sacks and three tackles for loss.

“The thing I’m watching about Nebraska right now is the attitude of their team, how they’re playing, versus maybe a couple of years ago,” Farley said. “Everybody knows you got tradition. Hell, we got tradition. You watch the defense and the defense is tough, strong and fast. That’s a hard combination. That’s why they only gave up 16 (rushing) yards last week. I think they’re fifth in rushing defense across the country.”

That’s not good news for a Northern Iowa squad that stacked up 597 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in their first two games against FCS foes Valparaiso and St. Thomas. Senior Tye Edwards has 310 yards rushing.

“Every run he’s running hard,” Farley said. “Whether it’s a 1-yard gain or a 20-yard gain, that guy is hitting the hole the way he’s supposed to, he’s seeing the field good. His intensity of play is probably what’s making him have the success he’s having right now.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. (17) against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska in vintage form, dominating Colorado to improve to 2-0

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dante Dowdell had a pair of touchdown runs and Nebraska rode a big first half to cruise past Colorado 28-10 on Saturday night in Lincoln, Neb.

With the win, the Cornhuskers are 2-0 for the first time since 2016. It’s also their first win over the Buffaloes since 2010. Colorado is 1-1.

Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 185 yards and a touchdown, and Cornhuskers’ defense held Colorado to 16 yards rushing on 22 attempts.

Meanwhile, the Buffaloes appeared to lose starting safety Shilo Sanders to a broken forearm in the first half. News of the injury was confirmed by Colorado coach Deion Sanders during a televised halftime interview.

By that point, Nebraska led 28-0. The Cornhuskers’ defense harassed Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders all evening, sacking him twice in the game’s first four plays.

Nebraska scored on its first offensive possession, with Dowdell capping a seven-play, 44-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run.

After the teams traded punts, Colorado started back at its own seven. Shedeur Sanders dropped back into his own end zone and threw a pass in the right flat intended for Drelon Miller, but Huskers cornerback Tommi Hill picked it off and ran into the end zone to make it 14-0 Nebraska.

Nebraska would miss a field goal on its next possession but march down the field 88 yards on its ensuing drive, with Dowdell bulling in from a yard away to make it 21-0 with 6:44 left in the half.

Colorado would give Nebraska a lot of help on its last touchdown drive of the half. A targeting penalty on Trevor Woods caused him to be ejected and put Nebraska at the Buffs’ 33-yard line. On the next play, Colorado was called for pass interference, giving Nebraska 15 more yards.

On the scoring play, Raiola fired a pass over the middle to Rahmir Johnson. Buffs linebacker LaVonta Bentley deflected the ball, but Johnson was able to adjust and make the catch before racing in the end zone.

Dowdell led all rushers with 74 yards. Johnson had a team-high eight catches for 49 yards.

Shedeur Sanders finished 23-for-38 for 244 yards and a score. He was sacked five times.

Saturday’s game marked the 398th straight sellout at Memorial Stadium.

–Field Level Media

Jul 10, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Colorado looks for fourth win in a row over Nebraska

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Colorado will go for its fourth straight win over longtime rival Nebraska when the Buffaloes travel to Lincoln, Neb., for Saturday night’s game.

The Buffaloes have never won four in a row in the series that dates to 1898. Nebraska leads the all-time series 49-21-2 and won every meeting between the schools from 1968-1985.

“I just look at this as a really good football test for two teams,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “Two teams that have plans on being good teams and want to be relevant at the end of the year.”

Nebraska is 1-0 after thumping UTEP 40-7 in its season opener last week. The story was quarterback Dylan Raiola, who threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in his debut and was recognized as Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

The 40 points were the most by Nebraska since 2021 and the first time they won their season opener in five years.

Colorado was the talk of the college football world early in the 2023 season. Last year they dismantled Nebraska 36-14 in a game marked by a pre-game incident with Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders breaking up a Cornhuskers huddle on the Buffs’ logo.

“I’ve never met him before, but I have watched him for the past couple of years. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that guy — what he has to deal with everything that comes with being a Sanders. I just have a lot of respect for how he’s handled it,” Raiola said.

“I think he’s an elite-level quarterback, and he’s gonna give us what we want. We just have to prepare — first-round quarterback, the whole nine. I respect him a lot and am excited to compete.”

Raiola’s father also played at Nebraska and in the NFL. Dominic Raiola was a center for the Detroit Lions from 2001-2014.

Neither side is approaching the game with any animosity, at least not yet.

“We’re going to dominate the day as best that we can. … So I love it. I think that’s what college football is all about, whether we’re in the same conferences or not. But this is a tremendous rivalry, and I look forward to it,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said.

Shedeur Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ 31-26 season-opening win over North Dakota State last week. Two-way star Travis Hunter played all but two snaps, catching three touchdown passes and making three tackles.

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost talks to the media during Big 10 football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ex-Nebraska coach Scott Frost likely to join Rams

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Former Nebraska head coach Scott Frost is expected to join the Los Angeles Rams as a senior football analyst, ESPN reported Sunday.

Frost was fired by Nebraska three games into the 2022 season after the Cornhuskers’ 1-2 start. Hired before the 2018 season, Frost had a 16-31 record with Nebraska.

He joined the Cornhuskers after a 13-0 season at UCF in 2017 that culminated with an upset of Auburn in the Peach Bowl. UCF finished the season ranked No. 6.

Frost, 49, was the quarterback of the 1997 Nebraska team that won the co-national championship. Drafted as a safety in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft, he played for four teams over five seasons in six years before launching his coaching career.

Immediately before being hired at UCF, Frost was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon (2013-15). He never has coached in the NFL.

–Field Level Media

Chandler quarterback Dylan Raiola throws during a scrimmage against Williams Field High in Gilbert.

5-star freshman Dylan Raiola to start at QB for Nebraska

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As expected, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule named freshman Dylan Raiola the starting quarterback for the Cornhuskers’ season opener against UTEP on Aug. 31.

The last — and only — true freshman to start at quarterback for Nebraska was Adrian Martinez in 2018. Raiola will be the fourth true freshman in Huskers history to start any game at quarterback, joining Martinez, Tommie Frazier (seven starts in 1992) and Cody Green (two starts in 2009).

Speaking earlier this week on “The Jim Rome Show,” Rhule said Raiola, 19, is the whole package.

“He has tremendous arm talent. He’s big. He’s physical,” Rhule said. “He’s powerful but it’s not ’til he gets here that you truly see what makes him special. He’s a tremendous teammate. He works at it all day long. One of the first guys in the building, one of the last guys to leave. And he’s got humble confidence that exudes from him.”

Raiola bested returning starter Heinrich Haarberg and fellow true freshman Daniel Kaelin to earn the starting job.

Raiola, who played his senior season at Buford High School in Georgia, flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska just before the early signing period last December.

At the time, the five-star recruit was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. He committed to Ohio State in 2022, decommitted before the end of the year and chose Georgia last May over Nebraska and Southern California.

Raiola became the second highest-rated recruit in Nebraska program history when he signed his national letter of intent.

He is the son of Dominic Raiola, who played center at Nebraska and spent 14 years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

Rhule is in his second season at Nebraska, charged with turning around a storied program that hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2016. The Cornhuskers were 5-7 last season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies Athletic Director Troy Dannen stands on the sidelines before a football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Washington AD Troy Dannen heading to Nebraska

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Troy Dannen’s stay at Washington was brief.

Dannen, who took over as the athletic director in Seattle on Oct. 9, is finalizing a six-year deal to take the same role at Nebraska, ESPN reported Wednesday.

He would replace Trev Alberts, a Nebraska alum hired last week as athletic director at Texas A&M.

Dannen ran the athletic department at Tulane for eight years before taking the job with the Huskies.

“I am so honored to have the opportunity to serve the University of Washington, our students, coaches, staff, faculty and incredible fans,” Dannen said in a news release issued in October. “Throughout this process, the passion, love and spirit of the UW was evident in every conversation, as was the alignment necessary for comprehensive success.

“We will compete for championships, and we will provide an unmatched experience for our student-athletes. The future has never been brighter for Husky Athletics, and I am humbled to steward the next chapter in our storied history.”

At Washington, he hired Jedd Fisch to replace Kalen DeBoer as football coach and gained some familiarity with the Big Ten as the Huskies prepare to transition to their new conference in the fall. He also fired basketball coach Mike Hopkins. Washington’s next athletic director will be the program’s third since August 2023.

Dannen is from traditional Big Ten country, and ESPN reported he and his wife wanted to return to their roots. A graduate of Northern Iowa, he was the athletic director at his alma mater for seven years before going to Tulane.

–Field Level Media

Nov 28, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, US; Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic director Trev Alberts speaks at the introductory press conference at the Hawks Championship Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska AD Trev Alberts reportedly headed to Texas A&M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts is expected to leave his alma mater and accept the same position at Texas A&M, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

He would replace Ross Bjork, who was hired in January as athletic director at Ohio State.

Alberts has been athletic director at Nebraska since the start of the 2021-22 academic year. One of his biggest moves with the Cornhuskers was to fire fifth-year head coach Scott Frost three weeks into the 2022 season and later replace him with Matt Rhule.

Alberts wouldn’t have to make any such move this time. Football coach Jimbo Fisher was fired in November, and Alberts would inherit new coach Mike Elko, who was hired in December to lead the Aggies.

Now 53, Alberts was a linebacker at Nebraska and was the school’s first Butkus Award winner and an All-American in 1993. The Colts selected him No. 5 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, and he played in Indianapolis for three seasons before retiring.

Before becoming the Cornhuskers’ AD, Alberts was the athletic director at Nebraska-Omaha.

–Field Level Media

Chandler quarterback Dylan Raiola throws during a scrimmage against Williams Field High in Gilbert.

Five-star QB Dylan Raiola flips from Georgia to Nebraska

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Dylan Raiola, one of the highest-rated prospects in the Class of 2024, flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska on Monday.

The five-star recruit was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. He committed to Ohio State in 2022, decommitted before the end of the year and chose Georgia last May over Nebraska and Southern California.

Raiola will become the highest-rated recruit in Nebraska program history when he signs his national letter of intent.

Raiola is the son of Dominic Raiola, who played center at Nebraska and spent 14 years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

“I firmly believe that Nebraska is in my blood,” Dylan Raiola told ESPN. “It’s a great opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself. Nebraska is a special place.”

Georgia got better quarterback news Monday when Carson Beck announced he was returning to the program instead of entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media