College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nebraska 14, Rutgers 7
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 5, 2024
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Temperature: 97°
Head Official: Larry Smith
Attendance: 87464

A strong defensive effort and rushing touchdowns by Dante Dowdell and Janiran Bonner carried Nebraska to a 14-7 Big Ten victory over Rutgers on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) recorded four sacks and limited the Scarlet Knights to 78 yards on the ground. Nebraska also intercepted Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis twice. Kaliakmanis completed 15-of-37 passes for 186 yards.

The Scarlet Knights (4-1, 1-1) were 2 of 14 on third down and 2 of 6 on fourth down.

Nebraska led 14-0 until Kaliakmanis tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Black with 4:08 to play. The TD capped a nine-play, 50-yard drive.

Rutgers' final possession began on its own 11-yard line with 2:17 to play. The Scarlet Knights moved the ball to the Nebraska 26-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 1:17 remaining.

Rutgers blocked two punts in the game, the second of which was blocked by Jamier Wright-Collins midway through the third quarter, recovered by Shaquan Loyal and returned 14 yards to the Nebraska 2-yard line. The Scarlet Knights failed to cash in, however, as Nebraska forced a turnover on downs.

It was the third punt and fifth kick Nebraska opponents have blocked this season.

The Cornhuskers, who scored on both of their red zone opportunities, led 7-0 after one quarter and 14-0 at halftime.

Nebraska took a 7-0 lead when Dowdell scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the Rutgers' 1-yard line and John Hohl added the point-after kick with 3:09 left in the first quarter. It was the first time Rutgers allowed a touchdown in the first quarter this season.

Bonner helped Nebraska double its lead when he scored on an 11-yard run with 1:48 remaining in the first half.

Dowdell led Nebraska's rushing attack with 57 yards on 14 carries. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola was 13-of-27 for 134 yards. He was intercepted once.

Nebraska has held five of its six opponents to 10 points or less. The Cornhuskers are the only FBS team that hasn't allowed a rushing TD this season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Rutgers   Nebraska
Kyle Monangai Player Dante Dowdell
19 Attempts 14
78 Yards 57
4.1 Avg Yards 4.1
0 Touchdowns 1
0 Long 0
Receiving
Rutgers   Nebraska
Ben Black Player Jaylen Lloyd
2 Receptions 2
54 Yards 44
27.0 Avg Yards 22.0
1 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Rutgers 264 78 186 1 0 1 4.0 0
Nebraska 261 97 164 2 0 2 4.0 0