Postgame notes: 2023 Nebraska at Minnesota football

Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics

  • Tonight’s game marked the fourth consecutive season Nebraska has opened away from home against a Big Ten Conference opponent.
  • The Huskers lost their third consecutive game in the month of August, falling to 14-3 all-time in the month.
  • Nebraska lost to Minnesota for the fifth straight time, as the Gophers improved to 8-5 against the Huskers as Big Ten Conference foes and 37-25-2 all-time.
  • Nebraska fell to 98-31-5 all-time in season openers, losing the season opener for the fourth straight season.
  • Minnesota’s 251 total yards were the fewest yards Nebraska allowed since limiting Maryland to 206 yards on Nov. 23, 2019.
  • Running back Rahmir Johnson had a 63-yard kickoff return to open the second half. The 63-yard kickoff return was a career long for Johnson and the longest by a Husker since a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by JD Spielman against Arkansas State in 2017.
  • Sophomore receiver Alex Bullock had three receptions for 56 yards in tonight’s game, the first three receptions of his career. Bullock scored Nebraska’s first points of the night with a 35-yard TD reception in the third quarter.
  • True freshman defensive end Cameron Lenhardt earned a start in tonight’s game. He is only the ninth Husker true freshman (excluding kickers) to start a season opener since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972.
  • Lenhardt joins Maliek Collins as the only true freshmen defensive linemen to start a game for Nebraska since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972. Collins started one game as a true freshman during the 2013 season, earning a start in the 2014 Gator Bowl.
  • Minnesota native Bryce Benhart made his 30th career start, all of which have come at right tackle. Benhart joins Eric Anderson, Dan Vili Waldrop and Zach Wiegert as the fourth Husker to start 30 games at right tackle.
  • Minneapolis native Omar Brown intercepted a third quarter pass to end a Gopher scoring threat. The pick was the first of Brown’s Nebraska career and his ninth career interception.
  • Blaise Gunnerson and Nash Hutmacher each recorded their first career sack in the fourth quarter.
  • Running back Gabe Ervin had a career-long 27-yard run in the third quarter, bettering a 21-yard run against Buffalo in 2021.
  • Senior linebacker Luke Reimer made five tackles in tonight’s game to increase his career total to 250. He is the 13th Husker with 250 career tackles.
  • Punter Brian Buschini had a 60-yard punt in the first quarter of tonight’s game. He now has 50 punts of 50 yards or more in his collegiate career.
  • Cornerback Quinton Newsome made his 25th consecutive start in tonight’s game.
  • Tonight’s game captains were OT Bryce Benhart, RB Gabe Ervin, DE Blaise Gunnerson and S Omar Brown.