Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson sacks Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis for a 9-yard loss during the second quarter.

Nebraska 14
Rutgers 7

Oct. 5, 2024 • 3 p.m. Central
Memorial Stadium •Lincoln, NE • FS1
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Rahmir Johnson
Rahmir Johnson gains 18 yards on a second-quarter run to the Rutgers 12. Janiran Bonner scored two plays later.
First quarter
NEB: Dowdell 1 run (Hohl kick) 3:09
Second quarter
NEB: Bonner 11 run (Hohl kick) 1:48
Fourth quarter
RUT: Black 11 pass from Kaliakmanis (Anderson kick) 4:08

                       RUT       NEB
FIRST DOWNS ........... 18        15
  RUSHING .............. 6        10
  PASSING .............. 9         5
  PENALTY .............. 3         0
RUSHES-NET YDS ..... 32-78     42-97
NET YDS PASSING ...... 186       164
  COMP-ATT-INT ... 15-37-2   14-28-1
TOTAL OFFENSE ..... 69-264    70-261
FUMBLES-LOST ......... 0-0       0-0
PENALIZED-YDS ....... 4-28      7-37
PUNTS-AVERAGE ....... 4-43      8-36
PUNT RETURNS-YDS .... 2-38       0-0
K.O. RETURNS-YDS ..... 0-0      2-29
INTERCEPTIONS-YDS ... 1-23       2-4
POSSESSION TIME .... 28:25     31:35
THIRD-DOWN CONV. .... 2-14      7-19
FOURTH-DOWN CONV. .... 2-6       3-3
RED ZONE SCORES ...... 1-2       2-2
SACKS BY-YDS ........ 4-33      4-29

Attendance: 87,464
Jaylen Lloyd
Jaylen Lloyd picks up 30 yards on a fake-punt pass from Brian Buschini during the fourth quarter.




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Huskers get on top early, hold off Knights late

Two first-half touchdowns held up for a 14-7 Nebraska win Saturday over Rutgers, thanks in no small part to stellar play by the Huskers’ Blackshirt defense and punter Brian Buschini.

Midway into the third period, Rutgers started on the Nebraska 2 after its second blocked punt of the game. The Husker defense rose up for a tremendous goal-line stand, with Marques Buford finishing things off by breaking up Athan Kaliakmanis’ fourth-down pass.

The Scarlet Knights weren’t finished. They got the ball right back at the NU 28 on the Huskers’ ensuing punt from the end zone. Back-to-back sacks by Nash Hutmacher and James Williams snuffed out that threat.

About five minutes into the fourth quarter, the Huskers’ bid for a shutout temporarily survived when Rutgers’ Ben Black, wide open inside the NU 10, couldn’t handle a sure touchdown pass from the Nebraska 40. Rutgers finally got on the scoreboard on its next possession with an 11-yard touchdown pass.

Four minutes still remained. Nebraska’s offense burned less than half of that clock time with its second consecutive three-and-out, and in came Buschini to punt from the NU 20. Kicking with the wind, Buschini uncorked a 69-yarder that pinned Rutgers at its own 11. After picking up one first down, the Knights got no further than their own 26, and win No. 5 for the Huskers was in the books.

In the first half, Rutgers got inside Nebraska’s 40-yard line on its first four possessions but managed no points. The Huskers, meanwhile, scored on drives of 75 and 72 yards to build their 14-0 halftime advantage. Dante Dowdell scored first on a one-yard dive on fourth-and goal in the first quarter, and Janiran Bonner found paydirt on an 11-yard run in the second period.

Omaha World-Herald*
Lincoln Journal Star*
HuskerMax/SI
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James Williams celebrates a sack.

Commentary

Stryker

Buschini needs some help on special teams. The upcoming bye week would be a good time to figure it out.

HuskerMax/SI
Christopherson

This was a day for a freshman QB and the offense to gain some lessons when it didn't go as planned.

Callahan

I think Husker fans sometimes forget that wins in the Power Two come at a premium. There are no free lunches in the Big Ten and SEC. We learned that on Saturday.

HuskerOnline
Feit

Tip your cap to the Blackshirts. They shut down Kyle Monangai, an excellent running back, and Athan Kaliakmanis will be seeing pass rushers in his sleep for weeks.

HuskerMax/SI
Shatel

This fifth win felt more like survival after a four-quarter, 12-round fight with Greg Schiano’s Jersey toughs.

Omaha World-Herald
Just

There’s still plenty to correct. Plenty. Saturday sure wasn’t pretty. ... But Nebraska will take it.

Lincoln Journal Star
Politi

This stat is almost unbelievable: Rutgers crossed midfield on eight of its first nine drives and didn’t score a single point.

Rubek

While Nebraska’s special teams play as a whole has been abysmal, Buschini’s play the past two weeks should not be grouped into it.

Daily Nebraskan
Iseman

Rutgers football had chances. So many chances. The Scarlet Knights just couldn’t capitalize on any of them.

Asbury Park Press
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