Nebraska vs Cincinnati: Nebraska edged Cincinnati 20–17 in the 2025 season opener at Arrowhead. Read the full Nebraska Football recap, Dylan Raiola’s stat line, Brendan Sorsby’s fightback, key plays, Huskers depth-chart takeaways, and what the win means for the rest of the season.
Quick scoreboard (top-line)
- Final: Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17.
- Where: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), Season opener, Aug 28, 2025.
- Key statlines: Dylan Raiola — 33-for-42, 243 passing yards, 2 TDs; Emmett Johnson — 108 rushing yards; Brendan Sorsby — 69 pass yards, 96 rush yards, 2 rush TDs. Final-sealing interception by Malcolm Hartzog Jr. with 34 seconds left.
The Game — How It Played Out
Nebraska opened its 2025 campaign with a tense 20–17 win over Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium. It was the kind of season opener that gave Nebraska fans both relief and a stack of questions: relief because the Huskers found a way to close a tight game; questions because the performance exposed run-defense gaps and some offensive sluggishness at times.
Highlights and timeline:
- Nebraska scored first on a Dylan Raiola → Nyziah Hunter TD connection, then rode Emmett Johnson’s ground game to control tempo.
- Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby ran for two TDs and nearly engineered a comeback late; his legs (96 rush yards) kept the Bearcats alive.
- The Huskers’ defense made a game-saving play: Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted Sorsby in the end zone with 34 seconds remaining to preserve the three-point win.
The statistically clean box score belies the tension: Nebraska managed 20 points but never quite settled into the offensive rhythm many expected for a team pegged as a top Big Ten contender under Matt Rhule. Cincinnati, though outgained at times, showed explosive run bursts (6.7 yards per carry on several drives) and resiliency that will trouble teams moving forward.
Player Spotlights — Who Mattered
Dylan Raiola — QB (Nebraska)
The freshman (or early-career signal-caller; sources varied on age/class context) was efficient: 33-for-42 for 243 yards and two TDs, making the plays when Nebraska needed them. He hit Nyziah Hunter and Dane Key on touchdown strikes and rarely panicked in traffic. That completion rate (78%) in a tight opener is encouraging.
Emmett Johnson — RB (Nebraska)
The workhorse: 108 rushing yards, Johnson helped sustain drives and pick up crucial third-down yardage. His early chunk runs set the tone and helped Nebraska chew clock at critical junctures.
Brendan Sorsby — QB/RB (Cincinnati)
Sorsby produced a dual-threat night: 69 passing yards but 96 rushing yards and two TDs. His legs nearly sparked a late-game heroics, and Cincinnati’s late drive before the Hartzog interception proved how dangerous he is on the ground.
Malcolm Hartzog Jr. — DB (Nebraska)
The late-game hero: Hartzog’s end-zone interception with 34 seconds left capped a tense defensive stand and secured the season-opening victory for the Huskers. That play will be replayed in highlight reels for weeks.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
X’s & O’s — Tactical Takeaways
Nebraska Offense
- The offense produced 20 points but didn’t consistently generate chunk plays in the passing game beyond the TDs and intermediate completions. Coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s system showed flashes—Raiola’s accuracy was positive—but the offense’s inability to consistently dominate the line of scrimmage left the Huskers vulnerable when Cincinnati kept the game close.
Nebraska Defense
- The Huskers bent but didn’t break in the second half, but the run defense numbers were a concern. Articles flagged Cincinnati averaging 6.7 yards per carry on some drives—an uncomfortable metric for a team with Big Ten title aspirations. That will be the top defensive priority in practice this week.
Cincinnati Attack
- The Bearcats leaned on Sorsby’s rushing and short passing game; they manufactured time-of-possession advantages with sustained ground movement and quick swing passes. Two late TDs showed grit, but Cincinnati’s passing game (69 yards from Sorsby) lacked enough vertical threat to overcome turnovers and critical defensive lapses.
Narrative & Context — Why This Matters for Nebraska Football
- A win is a win — Opening at 1–0 is huge. Matt Rhule’s program needs momentum; a season-opening victory in a national-televised environment (Arrowhead) matters for recruiting, confidence, and public perception.
- Big Ten expectations — Nebraska’s offseason chatter included talk of contending for 9–10 wins. This gritty win keeps that narrative alive but also shows the team isn’t airtight yet—especially vs. power-run teams they’ll meet in conference play.
- Raiola’s development — If the quarterback growth continues, Nebraska can be explosive. But the sample size is small and opponents will game-plan to limit Emmett Johnson and force Raiola into uncomfortable downfield throws.
What the Media Is Saying (Selected Reactions)
- Corn Nation called it a “nail-biting” opener and highlighted the final interception and several bright performances on offense, while noting run-defense worries.
- CornNation (post-game reaction) flagged offense’s underperformance compared to pre-game expectations—Nebraska managed just 20 points when some had predicted 30–40.
- AP / CBS / ESPN recaps emphasized the late interception and Sorsby’s dual-threat nature as the through-line of the game, framing Nebraska’s win as gritty but far from dominant.
imagine reading this tweet at the start of the eras tour https://t.co/UcX6SGO7gE
— anna (@cruelsunmer) August 29, 2025
Numbers & Advanced Metrics (what to watch)
- Rushing defense yards per carry: Cincinnati’s success running the ball (some drives at ~6.7 YPC) is the main red flag. If that trend continues, Nebraska will struggle in the Big Ten.
- Third-down conversion rates: Nebraska’s ability to convert on third-and-medium stabilized drives; their third-down defense late will be critical going forward. (Box-score breakdowns on ESPN and CBS provide the play-by-play for deeper analysis.)
- Time of possession / turnover margin: In tight games these determine winners. The Hartzog interception—an example of turnover margin swing—was the decisive moment.
Depth Chart Notes & Roster Impact
- QB room: Dylan Raiola’s performance strengthens his hold on the starting job. Nebraska’s QB depth will be monitored if Raiola shows any lingering youth mistakes, but this showing was confidence-building.
- Running backs: Emmett Johnson looked like a lead option; his 108-yard game suggests the Huskers have a bell-cow to pair with Holgorsen’s passing concepts.
- Defensive starters: Malcolm Hartzog’s game-sealing play and Williams Nwaneri’s debut (noted as promising in recaps) indicate positive young depth on the defensive side. But front-seven run-stopping will be the positional coaching focus this week.