Kenny Larabee, KLIN
Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola fires a pass in the second quarter.

Nebraska 40
UTEP 7

Aug. 31, 2024 • 2:30 p.m. Central
Memorial Stadium •Lincoln, NE • FOX
1st2nd3rd4th F 
UTEP70007
Nebraska7237340

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Emmett Johnson
Amarillo Mullen
Emmett Johnson runs for 42 yards during the second quarter. | More photos
First quarter
NEBR: Dowdell 5 run (Alvano kick) 9:00
UTEP: Thomas 38 pass from Locklear (Flabiano kick) 2:24
Second quarter
NEBR: Safety, J.Johnson tackled in end zone, 10:29
NEBR: Neyor 59 pass from Raiola (Alvano kick) 10:04
NEBR: Ervin 3 run (Alvano kick) 5:34
NEBR: Banks 21 pass from Raiola (Alvano kick) 0:02
Third quarter
NEBR: Ervin 1 run (Alvano kick) 5:34
Fourth quarter
NEBR: Alvano 20 field goal, 9:22 

                       UTEP      NEBR
FIRST DOWNS ............ 13        30
  RUSHING ............... 5        11
  PASSING ............... 7        14
  PENALTY ............... 1         5
RUSHES-NET YDS ...... 24-56    47-223
NET YDS PASSING ....... 149       284
  COMP-ATT-INT .... 16-26-2   25-36-0
TOTAL OFFENSE ...... 50-205    72-507
FUMBLES-LOST .......... 0-0       1-1
PENALIZED-YDS ........ 9-76      3-35
PUNTS-AVERAGE ........ 6-39      2-48
PUNT RETURNS-YDS ..... 1-29      3-25
K.O. RETURNS-YDS ..... 3-48      3-75
INTERCEPTIONS-YDS ..... 0-0      2-18
POSSESSION TIME ..... 21:24     38:32
THIRD-DOWN CONV. ..... 3-10     11-17
FOURTH-DOWN CONV. ..... 0-0       0-2
RED ZONE SCORES ....... 0-0       4-5
SACKS BY-YDS .......... 1-6       1-4

Attendance: 86,072




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Huskers, Raiola pass first test

Nebraska used a dominant second quarter Saturday to pull away from UTEP and register a season-opening win for the first time since 2019.

The Huskers drove 72 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession, but UTEP answered and it was still a 7-7 game early in the second quarter. Nebraska appeared set to take a 14-7 lead before running back Dante Dowdell fumbled and UTEP recovered at its own 3.

The disappointment was only temporary.

On second down, the Huskers tackled the Miners’ Jevon Jackson in the end zone for a safety, and Nebraska got the ball back on its own 41. Two plays later, freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola connected with wide receiver Isaiah Neyor on a 59-yard touchdown pass, making it a 16-7 game.

The rout was on.

The Huskers followed that up with a touchdown drives of 63 and 59 yards, the latter one capped by a 21-yard TD toss from Raiola to Jahmal Banks with just two seconds left in the half.

Raiola, who was relieved by Heinrich Haarberg late in the third quarter, finished with 238 yards on 19-of-27 passing in his first collegiate start. He threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions. On the ground, the Huskers churned out 223 yards, bringing Nebraska’s total offense to more than 500 yards.

Omaha World-Herald*
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Kenny Larabee, KLIN
Nebraska running back Rahmir Johnson rushes for a 13-yard gain during the third quarter.

Commentary

Stryker

Imagine that. A stress-free second half on a sunsplashed football afternoon in Lincoln.

Tad Stryker
HuskerMax/SI
Stukenholtz

The floor and the ceiling have been raised with Dylan Raiola as the new leader of a new-look offense.

Cole Stukenholtz
KLIN/SI
Christopherson

What impressed the most for a debut was [Raiola’s] composure when put in a couple tight spots.

Brian Christopherson
Husker247
Rubek

The Huskers' offense looked leaps and bounds ahead of the unit that struggled to put away Louisiana Tech, another Conference USA team, last season.

Anthony Rubek
Daily Nebraskan
Sherman

He can play. But Raiola has weapons around him that compare favorably to any group of players to suit up in Lincoln over the past seven seasons.

Mitch Sherman *
The Athletic
Shatel

Talent wins. Matt Rhule’s second team flashed it at several positions on Saturday, particularly on offense.

Tom Shatel *
Omaha World-Herald
Just

Get used to seeing the Raiola and Neyor connection. I have a feeling that’s going to be quite the duo.

Amie Just *
Lincoln Journal Star
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