Dylan Raiola dazzles, and the opening play that wasn’t

Play of the game: Wide receiver Isaiah Neyor’s first-half touchdown catch. Not only did Neyor put on the burners to accelerate past his coverage, he shrugged off a tackle attempt and stayed on his feet for a 59-yard passing score. Big plays like that keep a defense honest, and that play showed how dangerous Nebraska’s offense can be at its best.

Turning point: Nebraska’s defensive safety. A fumble from running back Dante Dowdell could have flipped the game’s momentum in UTEP’s favor, but the Husker defense came up with a big play instead. Not only did the safety put two points on the board, but it also gave Nebraska the ball back — and the Huskers turned that possession into a touchdown.

Quotable: Quarterback Dylan Raiola on sharing a pregame moment with his father, Dominic.

“He had glasses on so I couldn’t see if he was crying or not.”

Game ball: Raiola. The freshman brought a different dimension to the Nebraska offense that was missing during the 2023 season, both pushing the ball downfield and taking easy check-downs when needed. He showed the skills that earned him a starting job and looked calm and composed despite facing his biggest test yet.

Game ball: To the Nebraska offensive line. Both NU’s first and second-team units succeeded in pushing around UTEP up front and giving the Nebraska offense a foundation for success. No matter who the Huskers played at running back, they found lanes to run through during an excellent run-blocking performance for the NU offensive line.

Hat tip: To Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, who put his unit in position to succeed. Nebraska’s play-calling was steady throughout the game, with a balance of run and pass calls which helped keep the chains moving.

Questionable: The game’s opening kickoff being replayed because of offsetting penalties. UTEP was offsides for its own kick and Nebraska managed to record a block in the back on the same play, meaning it was the first play of Nebraska’s season that never was.

Tone-setter: Raiola led a touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession. Whether the freshman had any nerves or not, it was a gutsy opening series that showed Nebraska was ready to let it rip offensively — and that Raiola was ready for the occasion.

15: Years between safeties for the Nebraska defense. Prior to Ty Robinson’s second-quarter stop, NU’s most recent safety came during the 2009 Holiday Bowl.

199: Nebraska’s top single-game passing output in 2023, recorded by Heinrich Haarberg in a loss to Michigan.

238: Passing yards totaled by Raiola in less than three quarters of in-game action on Saturday.

21: Games between 500-yard efforts from the Nebraska offense. Prior to totaling 507 yards against UTEP, the Huskers had last done so against Georgia Southern in 2022.

+1: Nebraska’s turnover margin in the win.