LINCOLN, Neb. — Dylan Raiola showcased impressive skills by passing for 293 yards and a touchdown, while Dante Dowdell surged with three rushing touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 44-25 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday. This win secured Nebraska’s eligibility for a bowl game for the first time since 2016.
With this victory, Nebraska (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) ended a four-game losing streak and triumphed over Wisconsin for the first time in 11 encounters. As the game concluded, the Cornhuskers dashed towards the Wisconsin sideline to seize the Freedom Trophy, with students flooding the field in a jubilant celebration.
This match marked a significant milestone for Nebraska, as it was their first win in nine attempts under the leadership of second-year coach Matt Rhule while playing for bowl eligibility. Meanwhile, Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) suffered its fourth consecutive loss.
Notably, Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson surpassed the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career, finishing the game with 113 yards on 16 carries. Late in the fourth quarter, cheers of “Go Big Red!” resonated throughout Memorial Stadium as Dowdell leaped over defenders for his last touchdown, bringing Nebraska’s total points to their highest level in a game since 2021.
Raiola completed 28 passes out of 38 attempts, with eight of those passes gaining at least 15 yards. His 5-yard touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks near the end of the second quarter propelled the Huskers to a 24-10 lead at halftime.
On the other side, Wisconsin’s Braedyn Locke went 20-for-30 with 292 yards and three touchdown passes, although an interception in the fourth quarter extended his streak of games with at least one pick to eight.
This defeat capped off a challenging week for the Badgers. Coach Luke Fickell dismissed offensive coordinator Phil Longo the previous Sunday and faced a challenging press conference two days later, where he refrained from revealing who would take over play-calling duties moving forward. It was reported that tight ends coach Nate Letton managed the plays against Nebraska.
Wisconsin was further hindered by injuries, missing top receiver Will Pauling and leading tackler safety Hunter Wohler.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin must secure a win against Minnesota to prevent the team’s first losing record since 2001 and to maintain their 22-year bowl streak.
Nebraska’s offensive strategy, led by Dana Holgorsen in just his second game as offensive coordinator, successfully integrated both rushing and passing plays, keeping Wisconsin’s defense guessing and ensuring that the team’s top playmakers were effectively utilized.
In their upcoming games, Wisconsin will host Minnesota on Friday, while Nebraska will travel to Iowa on the same evening.