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

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

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

Iowa State Cyclones' defensive back Trevon Howard (25)takes down Northern Iowa Panthers running back Tye Edwards (2) during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa St. cruises past Northern Iowa, 30-9

Rocco Becht passed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score to lead host Iowa State past Northern Iowa 30-9 on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, in the season opener for both teams.

A redshirt freshman seeing extensive action as an ongoing state investigation into illegal sports gambling impacts the Cyclones’ roster, Becht’s steady play augmented solid contributions from the defense and special teams.

Iowa State (1-0) scored its first points of the season when Jeremiah Cooper returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown just 2:15 into the game.

Iowa State limited Panthers quarterback Theo Day throughout the afternoon. Day finished 16-of-34 passing for 164 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked five times. Northern Iowa (0-1) outgained Iowa State 279-250.

Becht’s 1-yard scoring run with 1:21 left in the first quarter put the Cyclones ahead 14-0.

After the next three Iowa State possessions ended with three-and-outs, Becht steered a six-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 14-yard scoring pass to Tyler Moore.

Chase Contreraz connected for a 56-yard field goal as time expired on the second quarter to give the Cyclones a 23-0 lead at halftime. On the previous play, Cooper picked off Day for the second time and returned it 30 yards to the Panthers’ 38-yard line.

The Cyclones all but put things away on the opening possession of the third quarter, as Becht found Benjamin Brahmer for a 36-yard TD.

Northern Iowa got on the board with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter, as Matthew Cook kicked a 31-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 61-yard drive that consumed 5:05 of clock time.

The Panthers closed the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Day to Desmond Hutson with 11:30 to go in the game.

Cartevious Norton led Iowa State with 11 carries for 49 yards. Tye Edwards rushed 16 times for 72 yards for the Panthers.

Iowa State leads the all-time series with Northern Iowa 17-10. The Cyclones boast a four-game winning streak, with Saturday marking the most lopsided outcome in that span.

Panthers coach Mark Farley remained at 174 career victories.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA;  Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs from Northern Iowa Panthers defensive back Jevon Brekke (0) in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 Iowa State fends off heavy underdog UNI, 16-10

In a game much closer than most anticipated, No. 7 Iowa State used its defense to subdue Northern Iowa 16-10 in each team’s season opener in Ames.

The Cyclones allowed only 275 total yards and 14 first downs to the Panthers, clinching victory when Mike Rose tackled Sam Schnee after a 25-yard completion at the Iowa State 33-yard line as time expired.

Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 21 of 26 passes for 197 yards for the Cyclones, who managed just 333 yards. Purdy also ran for 58 yards on nine attempts.

Northern Iowa quarterback Will McElvain hit on 21 of 34 passes for 230 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. McElvain was picked off by Datrone Young at the Iowa State 40 with 2:05 remaining in the game.

Iowa State entered the game as a 28 1/2-point favorite against its in-state opponent, which plays in the FCS’ Missouri Valley Football Conference. But Northern Iowa’s defense matched the Cyclones’ play-for-play all day long.

Northern Iowa initiated scoring with 4:09 left in the first quarter when McElvain, who beat out Michigan State transfer Theo Day for the starting job, connected with Quan Hampton on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Hampton caught a short pass over the middle, broke a weak attempt at tackling and was off to the races.

Hampton caught eight passes for 99 yards.

Iowa State responded with a 35-yard field goal by Connor Assalley at the 1:06 mark after going 3-and-out on its first two possessions. On their next drive, the Cyclones grabbed a 10-7 lead on a 2-yard scoring run by Breece Hall that polished off a 14-play, 59-yard march that lasted nearly 7 1/2 minutes.

Matthew Cook connected on a 41-yard field goal with 2:35 left in the half to pull the Panthers even, but Andrew Mevis hit from 40 as time expired to give Iowa State a 13-10 edge at halftime.

The only score of the second half came with 6:18 remaining in the game when Assalley converted a 21-yard field goal that finished off a drive of nearly 5 1/2 minutes.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State's Theo Day throws a pass before the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

201024 Msu Rutgers 054a

Ex-Michigan State QB Theo Day transfers to Northern Iowa

Former Michigan State quarterback Theo Day has transferred to Northern Iowa, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Day entered the transfer portal in late April shortly after the Spartans completed spring drills.

Day was the third-string quarterback in 2020 and didn’t see any action. He got into two games in 2019 as a redshirt freshman and completed 2 of 3 passes for 12 yards.

Day redshirted in 2018 in his first season on campus.

Northern Iowa, an FCS program, returns two-year starter Will McElvain, who had a rough 2021 spring season after being stellar as a redshirt freshman in the fall of 2019.

McElvain missed two games due to a COVID-19 quarantine and passed for 938 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in five games.

In 2019, McElvain passed for 2,778 yards and 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 15 games.

–Field Level Media