
Nebraska punter Brian Buschini was face down on the turf.
Moments before, Rutgers’ Flip Dixon broke free through the middle of Nebraska’s punt shield and deflected the ball, but flew into Buschini in the process — while Buschini’s right leg was still at hip height in the air.
The crowd of 87,464 at Memorial Stadium collectively gasped as the two tumbled together, with Dixon falling under Buschini as Buschini flipped over him— with his helmet smacking into the turf at the Rutgers’ 46-yard line.
Dixon got up right away. Buschini didn’t. And the only movement the Helena, Montana, native made was to grab his lower right back.
“I got out there and he wasn’t moving. I was concerned,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said after NU’s 14-7 win over Rutgers. “And he was like, ‘I’m gonna be OK. I’m gonna be OK.’”
People are also reading…
Buschini eventually hopped up. He gingerly jogged to the sideline while grimacing in visible pain. After a lengthy evaluation in the medical tent, he stayed in the game.
If we’ve learned anything about one Brian Buschini during his Nebraska tenure, he isn’t taking himself out of a game. Ever. It doesn’t matter if he’s limping. It doesn’t matter if he’s wearing a back brace in between punts. It doesn’t matter if he needs a quick in-game session with the massage gun.
“My back was hurting pretty good, but, honestly, it’s not something I ever thought about — coming out,” Buschini said. “God has put me in this position to be able to play here and this is my senior year. Like, there’s so many things — why on earth, (it’s) a little back pain. Like, who cares? Go out there and tough it out.
“If I go shank it 5 yards and it’s obviously better for them to put in Kamdyn (Koch), then they can take me out that way. But I’m not just gonna go out on my own terms. That’s not the type of person I want to be.”
No shanking happened. Another blocked punt, yes, but no shanking.
Instead, Buschini had his version of Michael Jordan’s infamous Flu Game.
To put it simply: Nebraska does not win on Saturday night without Brian Buschini’s heroics. Nebraska-Rutgers 2024 shall henceforth be remembered as the Brian Buschini game.
The five non-blocked punts sailed for 251 yards. That’s an average of 50.2 yards with two that landed inside the 20-yard line. Two of them went for 60-plus yards, including a 69-yard punt late in the fourth quarter to pin Rutgers at its 11-yard line with 2:17 to play that evoked a roar of “Buuuus” for Buschini.
“I love Brian,” junior cornerback Marques Buford Jr. said. “If we had 130 Brian Buschinis on this team, this would be a great team. A lot of the time, the kickers or the punters, they don’t get a lot of recognition or respect, but Brian holds weight on our team and today showed it. Gets hit, blocked punt, think he got hurt … just seeing him come back, he kicked like two or three kicks that were game-changing.”
That late-game 69-yard punt, that 61-yard punt in the second quarter that had Rutgers at its 24-yard line and a 41-yard punt in the fourth quarter that pinned the Scarlet Knights at the 5-yard line.
“Buschini is technically part of the defense, right? I mean, he’s doing his part of helping us pin them down in their own 10-yard line,” senior defensive end Ty Robinson said. “And that allows us as a defense to go out there and play a little bit more loose and more free became we know they’ve got to drive 90, 80 yards to go score a touchdown.
“So to watch him go out there and battle through the adversity was really awesome. It just kind of shows the character of him and that mentality we have as a team. That’s all throughout the team, and he’s done a great job at showing it.”
And, of course, there’s no forgetting his perfectly executed fake punt that resulted in him throwing a 30-yard pass to sophomore receiver Jaylen Lloyd.
Buschini says he’s never attempted a pass in a game before. Plenty of times in practice. Thousands of times in practice dating back to his days as a Montana Grizzly. But never in a game. Not until Saturday. It’s too bad it didn’t lead to any points for Nebraska, but it did give the Huskers a spark.
“Oh my gosh. He spun it, too,” Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola said with a smile. “I give it a 10 out of 10. I loved it.”
With all that in mind, what a day for Buschini.
Two very low points with those blocked punts. But incredible game-changing highs, too.
“Brian, we thought he was the unsung hero last week and I say he’s the unsung hero this week,” Rhule said. “… Brian, he showed the heart of a lion out there.”
Does he deserve a Blackshirt after this? And his three-tackle day against Purdue last week?
“Yeah we might have to,” Robinson said with a smile.
Buschini, though, he’s modest.
When informed of the comments from Robinson and Buford, he played coy.
“Those are nice words, but those dudes are dudes,” Buschini said. “Ty’s a freak of nature and I’m just the punter. That’s really nice of them to say that. I’m going competing against the ball and they’re competing against dudes that are trucking me if I go out there.”
Yeah. We got a glimpse of that in the first quarter. Don’t need that to happen regularly.
Luckily for Buschini, he — and the rest of the Huskers — get a week away from the gridiron thanks to the idle week. Lord knows they need the ice baths and the cold tubs, the infrared saunas and the hot tubs, and all the other newfangled recovery technology.
All those fancy gizmos and gadgets are game-changers, but they can’t replicate a break in the schedule. Pairing them together? Now that has the opportunity to make for a great combination.
At the halfway point of the season, Nebraska is 5-1. That’s the Huskers’ best start to a season since 2016. One win away from a bowl game. With six games to go. With a date against an undefeated Indiana on deck in two weeks.
There’s still plenty to correct. Plenty. Saturday sure wasn’t pretty, either. Nor was it particularly stat-heavy from the offensive side of things.
But Nebraska will take it. Heading into the idle week with a 5-1 record is much, much better than walking into it after a loss and sitting at 4-2.
“This’ll be a tape we can learn a lot from as we heal this week,” Rhule said. “… Glad we have a bye and see if we get better.”
Photos: Nebraska football hosts Rutgers on Homecoming in Lincoln — Sept. 5
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) looks to pass the ball in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai (bottom) is tackled by Nebraska’s John Bullock (5) and Marques Buford (3) in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s John Bullock (5) prepares to tackle Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai (5) as he runs the ball in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Marques Buford (3) and Malcolm Hartzog (7) try to prevnent Rutgers’ Ben Black (2) from scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) punts the ball out of the Noth endzone in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska players huddle up the North endzone in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers’ Kyonte Hamilton (48) sacks Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano (center) argues a targeting call on one of his players in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A pass intended for Rutgers’ Ben Black (2) bumps off his helmet as he attempts to score in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule argues a call with an referee in the quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule argues a call with an referee in the quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers’ Eric Rogers (0) and Flip Dixon (10) try to bring down Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (21) as he runs the ball in the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen (center) watches Nebraska take on Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford (2), Ceyair Wright (15), DeShon Singleton (8) and MJ Sherman (48) celebrate a defensive stop against Rutgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Head Coach Matt Rhule reacts to a penalty on Nebraska during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Head Coach Matt Rhule reacts to a penalty on Nebraska during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Javin Wright (33) watches the offense play from the sideline during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Javin Wright (33) watches the offense play from the sideline during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Javin Wright (33) watches the offense play from the sideline during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Javin Wright (33) tackles Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai (5) during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Vincent Shavers (1) forces Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) to fumble the ball on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (left) makes a pass in the first quarter while teammate Bryce Benhart (54) blocks Rutgers’ Kyonte Hamilton (48) on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) receives a hand-off from quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson (center) is tackled by Rutgers’ Joe Lusardi (37), Davoun Fuse (19), and Kaj Sanders (5) in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) reacts toward fans in the strands after the Huskers win over Rutgers 14-7 on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) is sacked by Rutgers’ Abram Wright (11) in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) celebrates with teammates on the sideline in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) celebrates with Luke Lindenmeyer (44) after completing a pass in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers’ Flip Dixon (10) rushes after Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor (18) as he catches a pass from Brian Buschini (not pictured) on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) throws a pass on a fake punt against Rutgers on Saturday. The play resulted in a 30-yard gain to Jaylen Lloyd.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during first quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nerbaska’s Brian Buschini (13) reacts after absorbing a hit by Rutgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (right) tosses the ball to Nebraska’s Jacory Barney (17) during the first quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Rutgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) walks onto the field during the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) lays on the ground after being hit as he kicked during the first quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska celebrates an interception by Marques Buford (center) during the second quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s John Bullock (right) tackles Rutgers’ Kenny Fletcher (12) during the second quarter of the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (right) passes the ball while pressured by Rutgers’ John Stone (71) during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska celebrates a touchdown by Dante Dowdell (center) during first quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Janiran Bonner takes off on his second-quarter touchdown run against Rutgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Marques Buford picks up an interception against Rutgers in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Rutgers’ Kyle Monanga escapes tackles andi runs past Nebraska defenders in the second quarter Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson runs with the ball against Rutgers in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Flag was initially drawn but later withdrew as Rutgers’ Shaquan Loyal defends against Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor in the second quarter, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Marques Buford (right) defends against Rutgers’ Chris Long in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell scores against Rutgers in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ceyair Wright (left) and Malcolm Hartzog (right) Rutgers’ Timmy Ward in a fake field goal attempt in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ceyair Wright (left) and Malcolm Hartzog (right) Rutgers’ Timmy Ward in a fake field goal attempt in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) is checked on by medical staff after being hit in the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Janiran Bonner (16) tumbles into the endzone for a touchdown after being pushed by Rutgers’ Shaquan Loyal (6) in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska fans celebrate after the first touchdown against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Justin Evans (left) and Alex Bullock (right) celebrate a touchdown by teammate Janiran Bonner in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) celebrates with his teammates after a sack in the second quarter `on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) is sacked by Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) celebrates after stopping Rutgers and forcing them to punt in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) attempts to hurdle Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford (2) as he is tackled mid air in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Ben Orozco (right) pours shots onto a Husker themed shot-ski board for Ashley Garrard (from left), Sarah Maher, Ally Garrard and Miguel Pagcaliwagan as they tailgate before the Nebraska game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska fans tailgate before the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Jeff Wylie of Omaha grills bratwursts while tailgating before the Nebraska game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star

Ashley Garrard (from left), Sarah Maher, Ally Garrard and Miguel Pagcaliwagan take shots from a Husker themed shot-ski board as they tailgate before the Nebraska game on Saturday outside of Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Austin Freiberg (from left) from Sergeant Bluff, IA, sits in the bed of a truck while tailgating outside of at Memorial Stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Austin Freiberg sits in the bed of a truck (from left) while his father Dwight grills, from Sergeant Bluff, IA, tailgate outside of at Memorial Stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Teddy Prochazka (65) high fives fans as he makes his way inside the stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Ben Scott (66) walks into the stadium during the Legacy Walk before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) makes his way through the crowd during the Legacy Walk before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

UNL freshman mechanical engineering major Orion Ulmer waits to get into the stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

UNL freshman mechanical engineering major Orion Ulmer (left) and senior construction management major Broc Homeyer wait alongside other students to get inside the stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Carter Hergot, 12 (from left) Preston Scott, 12, and Heywood Johnson, 13, hang out in the south stadium before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Bailey Jennett of Lincoln, 16, hands out red balloons ahead of the Rutgers game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Must See
-
Football
/ 4 months agoHuskers Fight Hard but Fall Short Against UCLA
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Cornhuskers gave it their all on Saturday, with standout efforts...
-
Football
/ 5 months agoGAMEDAY: Nebraska Set to Face Undefeated Indiana in Key Big Ten Showdown
Bloomington, IN – It’s Game Day, Husker Nation! Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) returns...
-
Football
/ 5 months agoBlackshirts Shine as Nebraska Tops Rutgers 14-7 on Homecoming
Lincoln, NE – Nebraska’s Blackshirt defense played a starring role in the Huskers’ 14-7...
By Chris
You must be logged in to post a comment Login