In front of a raucous home crowd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Nebraska claimed a hard-fought 28-21 victory over UCLA on November 9, marking the Huskers’ first seven-win regular season since 2016.
Nebraska set the tone from the opening possession. After UCLA’s opening drive stalled, the Huskers logged a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead. The momentum stayed firmly in Nebraska’s favor through the first half.Quarterback T.J. Lateef was unfazed in his first career start, finishing 13-of-15 for 205 yards and three touchdowns. His poise helped the Huskers score touchdowns on four of their first five possessions.
Running back Emmett Johnson powered the ground game, rushing for 129 yards on 28 carries and catching three passes for 103 yards, including scoring receptions of 56 and 40 yards. He became the first Nebraska running back to record 100+ rushing and receiving yards in the same game, and marks three consecutive 100-yard games in Big Ten play.
By halftime, Nebraska had built a comfortable lead. The Huskers’ defense forced crucial stops, including a turnover on downs that set up another touchdown drive just before the break.The Bruins mounted a rally in the third quarter when UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava hit Anthony Woods for a 45-yard scoring pass to make it 28-14. But Nebraska responded swiftly, and the Huskers held the lead heading into the fourth quarter.In the closing quarter, UCLA moved the ball 96 yards in 12 plays and cut the deficit to 28-21 with just under five minutes remaining, including a clutch 17-yard scramble by Iamaleava to keep the drive alive. With the lead under threat, Nebraska leaned on its veteran core to run out the clock. On the final possession, Johnson logged carries of eight and two yards to secure first downs, and Lateef completed key passes — including a 17-yard strike to Nyziah Hunter — to seal the win.
