The 2025 Nebraska home opener was the dominating start that the Huskers needed, racking up 728 total yards and picking up their first shutout since the 2009 Holiday Bowl (Arizona, 33-0) to win against Akron, 68-0.
“The shut out was a really exciting moment for us,” Coach Matt Rhule said in his postgame press conference. “Proud of the guys, proud of their effort this week. They practiced hard and they went out and they overcame some early self inflicted wounds and played the game pretty clean. Proud of that.”
After Nebraaska’s opening drive was almost derailed on holding penalty, Dylan Raiola found Luke Lindenmeyer for a 22 yard pass in the middle of the field, and Emmet Johnson wound have his longest career touchdown when he broke off to the left, with a key block from Heinrich Haarberg to allow for the 47 yard run.
That same aggression did not go the Huskers way on their next two drives, Johnson would lose the ball at the goal line and was recovered by Akron, and a Haarberg rugby-style scrum on the one yard line was short.
Defensively the Huskers were able to recover, with true-freshman Kade Pietrzak getting a safety at the 4:40 mark to make the game 9-0.
The Huskers would sputter on their first offensive drive of the second quarter, having to settle on a 35 yard Field Goal. The next three drives would result in the desired result for Nebraska. Johnson would catch a four yard pass from Raiola, the next drive had Quinn Clark hauling in his first career touchdown from 37 yards out on Raiola’s pass, and the Huskers would take advantage of an 11 yard punt from the Zips to tack on a 10 yard passing touchdown to Luke Lindenmeyer. Akron had their best chance to score before halftime, but their 46 yard attempt was doinked off the left upright.
Nebraska would tack on two more touchdowns before it was the end of the day for the first stringers. Johnson would add a 6 yard rushing score, and Akron’s next chance to score was a 33 yard field goal that Riley Van Poppel blocked so the Huskers would
Raiola completed his day with an exclaimation point in a 12 yard score. The scoring didnt stop with the backups in play, as Kwinten Ives would break away for a 28 yard rushing touchdown to push the score above 50 points for the first time since the 2021 Northwestern game (final score 55-7).
The Huskers would push the score further with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Mekhi Nelson punching in a goal line score, and TJ Lateef would tack on another one from eight yards out.
Raiola was 24-31 a career high 364 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson also had a career night with 140 yards and three touchdowns.
Lindenmeyer had his first career touchdown, catching three passes for 44 yards. Postgame was an even more important assignment for Luke, as he proposed to his girlfriend, who said yes.
“I don’t know her name, but she’s a lovely young lady and she’s a Scarlet and he proposed and she said yes,” Coach Rhule said. “Excited for him.”
Jacory Barney impressed with his punt returns, grabbing 87 yards. That was more than what the Huskers had all season long in punt return yards last season (73 yards).
An impressive 40 Huskers registered a tackle, led by Pietrzak. DeShon Singleton, Cameron Lenhardt, and Rex Guthrie had three tackles.
Nebraska closes out their non-conference slate next week when they welcome Houston Christian. Kickoff is set for 11AM on FS1, with pregame coverage on KGFW 1340AM/96.1FM starting at 7AM and coverage on Hits 106 (105.9FM) at 10:15AM.
First Quarter (NEB, 9-0)
12:17 – Emmett Johnson 47 run (Kyle Cunanan kick), 7 plays, 77 yards, 2:39 – NEB 7-0
4:44 – TEAM Safety (Tackle by Kade Pietrzak) – NEB 9-0
Second Quarter (NEB, 33-0)
13:56 – Kyle Cunanan 35 FG, 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:50 – NEB 12-0
8:17 – Johnson 4 pass from Dylan Raiola (Cunanan kick), 8 plays, 59 yards, 3:44 – NEB 19-0
2:08 – Quinn Clark 37 pass from Raiola (Cunanan kick), 7 plays, 89 yards, 3:38 – NEB 26-0
0:46 – Luke Lindenmeyer 10 pass from Raiola (Cunanan kick), 3 plays, 31 yards, 0:55 – NEB 33-0
Third Quarter (NEB, 54-0)
10:49 – Johnson 6 run (Cunanan kick), 6 plays, 52 yards, 1:25 – NEB 40-0
5:58 – Dane Key 12 pass from Raiola (Cunanan kick), 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:30 – NEB 47-0
2:37 – Kwinten Ives 28 run (Cunanan kick), 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:21 – NEB 54-0
Fourth Quarter (NEB, 68-0)
13:01 – Mekhi Nelson 1 run (Cunanan kick), 5 plays 51 yards, 1:55 – NEB 61-0
7:31 – TJ Lateef 8 run (Cunanan kick), 4 plays, 43 yards, 1:59 – NEB 68-0
