Nebraska Northern Iowa Game Notes, players milestones and records

Nebraska football is 3-0 after blowing out FCS opponent Northern Iowa on Saturday night, led by head coach Matt Rhule and freshman star QB Dylan Raiola.

The Huskers completed a perfect run through its three-game nonconference slate and will now be facing a 3-0 Illinois team in a Top 25 Friday night showdown in Lincoln next week.

It was an impressive showing for several Huskers against UNI on Saturday, including some career milestones getting hit and some special “firsts” for a handful of Huskers.

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>> Nebraska improved to 15-0 all-time against FCS opponents with the victory. It was the first meeting between Nebraska and UNI.

>> Nebraska completed non-conference play with a perfect 3-0 record for the first time since 2016.

>> Nebraska out-scored UNI 14-0 in the second quarter. In three games this season, Nebraska has out-scored the opposition 51-0 in the second quarter. In 2023, Nebraska was out-scored 81-66 in the second quarter.

>> Nebraska has won each of its three games this season by at least 18 points. This marks the first time NU has won three straight games by at least 18 points since the 2014 season.

>> The Nebraska defense held UNI to three points. It marks the ninth opponent in 10 home games under Rhule to score 14 or fewer points. It was the 10th consecutive opponent Nebraska has held to 24 or fewer points, the longest such streak since a 14-game stretch in 2009 and 2010.

>> Nebraska held its third straight opponent to open the season to 10 or fewer points. This is the first time Nebraska has held the first three opponents to 10 or fewer points since 2005. On the season, the Huskers have allowed 20 points, their fewest points in the first three games of a season since the 2005 season (16 points) and the first time allowed 30 points or less in the first three games of a season since 2009.

>> Nebraska did not allow a touchdown in the first quarter and has allowed just one first-quarter touchdown in its past 10 games. Nebraska has not allowed an opening drive TD in 10 straight games and has allowed only one opening drive TD in the last 16 games.

>> Nebraska limited UNI to 301 total yards, the 10th consecutive opponent held under 400 yards, marking its longest such streak since a 10-game streak in 2009.

>> Raiola completed 17-of-23 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, setting a career best in passing yards and tying his career high in touchdowns. He completed 13-of-16 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, including 11 straight completions at one point.

>> Raiola connected on better than 70 percent of his passes for the third straight game. He is the first Husker quarterback to complete at least 70 percent of his passes in three straight games since Jeff Quinn in 1980.

>> Freshman receiver Carter Nelson scored his first career touchdown on the game’s opening series, catching a 24-yard pass from fellow freshman Raiola. Nelson finished the game with four receptions for 48 yards.

>> The Raiola to Nelson connection for a touchdown pass on the opening series marked the first TD connection for two Husker freshmen since Adrian Martinez threw a 28-yard TD pass to Maurice Washington at Iowa in 2018.

>> True freshman Jacory Barney Jr. scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter on a 10-yard rush.

>> Sophomore receiver Jaylen Lloyd had a 59-yard reception in the second quarter to set up a Husker touchdown. Lloyd’s 59-yard catch was his second catch of 36 yards or more this season. Five of Lloyd’s eight career receptions have covered at least 36 yards, including four catches of more than 50 yards.

>> Safety Malcom Hartzog Jr. intercepted a pass in the third quarter for his second INT of the season and the fifth of his career.

>> Linebacker John Bullock had a career-high nine tackles, bettering his eight stops last season against Louisiana Tech.

>> Isaac Gifford finished with 10 tackles, one shy of his career high. It marked his fourth career game with double-digit tackles.

>> Running back Dante Dowdell and linebacker Stefon Thompson made their first career starts at Nebraska in tonight’s game.

>> Tonight’s game captains were Bullock, RB Rahmir Johnson, Jack LB MJ Sherman and P Brian Buschini.