A one-score win: Nebraska defeats Cincinnati in season opener

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska defeated Cincinnati 20-17 on Thursday night in its season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

It was a game that came down to the wire in typical Nebraska football fashion, though this time, the outcome favored NU.

The Huskers outgained the Bearcats 353 yards to 271, holding Cincinnati to just 69 passing yards.

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Cincinnati got on the board first, with a 45-yard field goal by Stephen Rusnak.

Nebraska responded on the next drive, with Kyle Cunanan kicking a 52-yard field goal just seconds into the second quarter.

On their next possession, the Huskers got deep into Bearcat territory, but the Cincinnati defense wouldn’t allow a touchdown.

So on fourth-and-goal, NU settled for another field goal by Cunanan.

With just over a minute left in the first half, Cincinnati’s Caleb Goodie fumbled the ball after catching a pass, and Nebraska recovered it.

The play was initially ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned.

Nebraska took possession at Cincinnati’s 24-yard line and quickly took advantage.

With 11 seconds left, Dylan Raiola threw to Nyziah Hunter for a touchdown.

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In the third quarter, the Bearcats put together a quick drive capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

The Huskers used a 13-play drive to eat up seven minutes late in the third and early in the fourth.

It ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass by Raiola to Dane Key.

Cincinnati responded by marching down the field and scoring on another Sorsby touchdown run.

As the clock ticked down, the Bearcats once again drove deep into Nebraska territory with a chance to tie the game.

But with 34 seconds left, Sorsby threw a long pass from NU’s 30-yard line that was picked off by Malcolm Hartzog, sealing the victory for Nebraska.

Raiola completed 33 of 42 passes for 243 yards.

Emmett Johnson led Nebraska’s ground game with 108 rushing yards.

Hunter totaled 65 receiving yards to lead the Huskers in the air.

Nebraska (1-0) will play Akron on Sept. 6 in Lincoln. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network at 6:30 p.m.