A seven-year bowl drought. A 10-game losing streak to Wisconsin. A nine-game losing streak when trying to clinch bowl eligibility. Nebraska slayed one demon after another with a dominant 44-25 victory over the Badgers Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The win clinches bowl eligibility for the Huskers (6-5) for the first time since the 2016 Nebraska football team qualified for the Music City Bowl, with the bowl destination to be determined after the Huskers’ regular-season finale at Iowa next Friday.
They did it with their best offensive performance since the season opener against UTEP: 473 yards of total offense, 44 points, six straight drives resulting in points. Emmett Johnson paced the Husker offense, rushing for 113 yards on 16 carries while catching six passes for 85 more. He became the first 100-yard rusher for Nebraska since Chubba Purdy ran for 105 yards against Wisconsin last year. It was the first 100-yard rushing day for a Husker running back since Anthony Grant did it against Louisiana Tech early last season. Dylan Raiola triggered the offense by throwing for 293 yards while completing 28-of-38 attempts, including one touchdown. Dante Dowdell was Nebraska’s red-zone hammer, scoring three rushing touchdowns on 10 carries for 41 yards.
The Huskers took the ball first and swept down the field, six plays, 55 yards, capped by a Heinrich Haarberg touchdown from five yards out. Wisconsin (5-6) wasted little time answering, marching down the field on six plays, 82 yards with Braeden Locke finding Bryson Green for a four-yard touchdown to tie the game with 8:54 to go in the first quarter.
After the teams traded punts, disaster seemed to strike as Janiran Bonner fumbled the ball to the Badgers and Wisconsin took over at the NU 17. But the defense stiffened, not allowing a first down. After a delay of game, Nathaniel Vakos missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, keeping the score tied at seven with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Huskers seized momentum. A Raiola to Johnson pass gained 27 yards. Raiola hit Jacory Barney, Jr., for 21 yards immediately after to take it to the Wisconsin 32. On third down, Raiola found Jahmal Banks for 11 yards to the 20. Three plays later, Dowdell ran in a touchdown for 12 yards to give Nebraska a 14-7 lead early the second quarter.
The Badgers settled for a field goal on the next drive to cut the NU lead to 14-10. After Nebraska punted, Wisconsin attempted a 41-yard field goal, but missed it, keeping the score 14-10 with 3:17 to go until halftime. The Huskers took over at their 24 and steadily marched down the field. On first and goal at the five, Raiola hit Banks for a touchdown. The PAT pushed the Nebraska lead to 21-10 with 17 seconds to play in the second quarter. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Tawee Walker had the ball stripped from him by Nash Hutmacher, with Stefon Thompson recovering the fumble to give Nebraska the ball at the 31 with 11 seconds to go. A jet sweep with Barney took the ball to the 19, and John Hohl connected for a 37-yard field goal to boost Nebraska’s lead to 24-10 late in the second quarter.
Any worries about the halftime break shifting momentum were answered quickly. Wisconsin had the ball first and went three-and-out. After a punt, the Huskers chipped away and set up Hohl for a 45-yard field goal to push Nebraska’s lead to 27-10 with 11:19 to go in the third. Wisconsin’s last gasp came on the ensuing drive. A 32-yard return by Cade Yacamelli gave the Badgers the ball at their 33. Locke found Green for a 17-yard pass to cross midfield. Wisconsin picked up one more first down to move it to the NU 33, then gained eight yards on three plays to set up fourth-and-two at the 25. Walker ran up the middle, but was stuffed by John Bullock and Mikai Gbayor for a one-yard gain, giving Nebraska the ball back on downs. The Huskers darted down the field quickly. A Raiola to Johnson pass gained 26 yards to set up first and goal at the three. Dowdell pounded in the touchdown one play later, and Nebraska’s lead ballooned to 34-10.
The Huskers held off Wisconsin from there and beat the Badgers for the just the second time since 2012 and the first time since the Freedom Trophy began to awarded to the winner of this game in 2014. Nebraska will close its regular season at Iowa next Friday, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. and pregame coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday on KLIN and Froggy 98.