Nebraska can go to the bowl. I’ll say it again. Nebraska can go to the bowl. Nebraska defeated Wisconsin 44-25 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium to earn bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.
The NCAA-record continuous sellout was 403, with an official attendance of 86,923. Many people, primarily students, flocked to the field to celebrate the Huskers’ sixth victory.
Both on and off the field, there was a lot of energy at the stadium. Senior defensive end Ty Robinson remarked, “It’s a surreal moment today to be able to actually achieve it after trying to get to this point.”
Despite having the option to enter the NFL Draft, Robinson, one of the 30 players honoured on Senior Day, decided to stay for a sixth season. He spoke on behalf of everyone who was acknowledged before to the game.
He declared, “I have loyalty to this place.” “They took a chance on me when they took me in in 2019, and I wouldn’t just quit because things became tough. I’m not that kind of person, and I’m aware that many older men feel that way.
Lincoln native Isaac Gifford, a fifth-year senior defensive back whose brother Luke was a Nebraska player, echoed Robinson. Gifford declared, “It really isn’t for me.” “It’s really for the guys who came before us and persevered through it all, but it’s for all of us seniors and everything.”
The victory ended a four-game losing trend and was largely attributed to young players, particularly on offence.
With 180 rushing yards and 473 total yards, the Husker offence, which was guided by Dana Holgorsen, was led by sophomore Emmett Johnson, who ran 113 yards on 16 attempts and caught six catches for 85 yards.
Dante Dowdell, a sophomore, ran ten times for three touchdowns and forty-one yards. Senior wide receiver Jahmal Banks caught a 5-yard throw from Dylan Raiola to score the Huskers’ third touchdown, while junior quarterback Heinrich Haarberg scored Nebraska’s first touchdown on a 5-yard run.
The rookie quarterback scored 293 yards and a touchdown on 28 of 38 passes. Jacory Barney Jr., a rookie wide receiver, hauled in nine catches for 85 yards.
Banks, who was transferred from Wake Forest, spoke to reporters with passion. It was amazing. I’m overjoyed,” he declared. “Today, everyone who loves Nebraska won. I absolutely treasured that because moments like that don’t come along very often. I am truly appreciative to have been involved in that.
Banks’ response regarding his experiences at Nebraska was met with a long silence. He claimed to have “learned to love myself.”
The remaining points for Nebraska came from redshirt freshman John Hohl, who made field goals of 37, 45, and 26 yards without missing.
According to coach Matt Rhule, the Huskers were “as well-rounded as we could be.” Rhule also became upset when discussing the seniors. “Those seniors, all 30 of them, all different journeys to get here, but especially the guys who have been here a long time,” he said with pride.
Robinson is joined by linebackers John Bullock and Javin Wright, running back Rahmir Johnson, and offensive tackle Bryce Benhart, all of whom have attended Nebraska for six years.
Rahmir Johnson’s ailment prevented him from playing. This season, Rhule has spoken a lot about “breaking through.”
“I would definitely love to end their career(s), not just with a win, but with them being the ones to break through,” he said of the seniors during his news conference on Thursday.
We shall succeed, and we will win with distinction. “Someone has to break through and get that sixth win,” Rhule stated at one point. And it was “on the precipice of that” for the Huskers.
The cliff he refers to was cleared by Nebraska on Saturday. The Huskers can go to the bowl. But first, there’s a game on Friday night in Iowa.
