Late Emmett Johnson TD run pushes Nebraska over Northwestern

Field Level Media|published: Sat 25th October, 15:52 2025

Oct 25, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against Northwestern Wildcats cornerback Fred Davis II (2), defensive back Garner Wallace (18) and cornerback Fred Davis II (2) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Emmett Johnson rushed for 124 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score, to lead Nebraska to a 28-21 Big Ten win over Northwestern on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Johnson barreled into the end zone with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter for the decisive touchdown.

Dylan Raiola was 16 of 22 passing for 141 yards with a touchdown and interception. Nyziah Hunter had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Donovan Jones and Javin Wright had interceptions for Nebraska (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten)

Northwestern's Preston Stone completed 15 of 29 passes for 159 yards and two interceptions. Caleb Komolafe rushed for 125 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.

Jack Olsen connected on field goals of 40 and 25 yards. Braden Turner forced a fumble that was recovered by Fred Davis II, and Mac Uihlein had an interception for Northwestern (5-3, 3-2).

The Cornhuskers took a 7-0 lead on their opening drive when Johnson rumbled into the end zone from 9 yards out to cap a nine-play, 69-yard drive.

Olsen's first field goal pulled Northwestern within 7-3 at the 3:28 mark of the first quarter. Near the end of the second quarter, his second field goal pulled the Wildcats within 7-6. Northwestern thwarted a late, first-half Nebraska drive when Turner forced a Raiola fumble that Davis recovered.

Kenneth Williams returned the second-half kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown that gave the Cornhuskers a 14-6 lead. After Jones' interception, Nebraska went on a three-play, 32-yard scoring drive that covered just 58 seconds. Hunter's twisting catch along the sideline of the end zone gave Nebraska a 21-6 lead.

A 4-yard touchdown run by Komolafe cut the Nebraska lead to 21-13 with 2:25 left in the third quarter. On the next Wildcats possession, Komolafe broke off a 56-yard touchdown run. Hayden Eligon II hauled in Stone's pass for a two-point play that tied the game 21-21.

The teams traded interceptions on their next offensive possessions with Uihlein and Wright notching picks. But, it was Nebraska that capitalized on the turnover with Johnson's rugged touchdown run.

--Field Level Media