NEW YORK — Local products Rahmir Johnson and Kwinten Ives rushed for touchdowns. The Nebraska defense stopped Boston College four times on fourth down. And the Huskers won in their return to the college football postseason after an eight-year drought, 20-15 on Saturday in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The victory at Yankee Stadium secured a winning season for second-year coach Matt Rhule and the first finish above .500 for Nebraska since 2016. At 7-6, the Huskers earned their 27th bowl victory and first since 2015.
Here are initial takeaways after the season finale, played on wet grass in misty conditions before a crowd announced at 30,062:
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Special teams silliness
Yes, Nebraska pulled off a fake punt in the second half — a feel-good moment for senior punter Brian Buschini and senior safety Isaac Gifford, who teamed up for an 8-yard gain to extend a drive on fourth-and-5. Later on that possession, Buschini failed to convert a field goal attempt near the goal line.
That’s all window dressing. The issue with special teams is basic execution. It broke down yet again on Saturday for Nebraska. A Buschini punt as the Huskers led 20-8 with four minutes to play was blocked. It led to a quick Boston College touchdown that turned a comfortable Nebraska lead into a tight game.
After leading by 18 points with less than seven minutes to play, the Huskers needed a fourth-and-1 run for 11 yards by Johnson to secure the win.
Earlier, after Nebraska scored its second touchdown, the snap-hold mechanic failed on the extra point. John Hohl’s kick was blocked and returned for two points by Boston College.
This kind of stuff has to stop. It’s cost Nebraska wins in Rhule’s first two seasons and made victories — like this one in the Pinstripe Bowl — more difficult.
The Huskers added a long snapper and replaced the departing Buschini through the portal this month. Whatever course of action is needed, it’s of primary importance for Nebraska to make the adjustments needed to run a clean operation on special teams.
Risky Raiola
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 228 yards and one touchdown on 23-for-31 passing. He showed a bit of a gunslinger mentality. It’s a good look for the strong-armed signal-caller and likely something that new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen encouraged — within reason, of course.
Dylan Raiola is 4 for 7 early. He’s trying some deep throws that we didn’t see often during the regular season. Only one has connected so far, but you can probably expect more of this in the Dana Holgorsen offense.
If you think there’s an edge to exploit, go for it.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) December 28, 2024
The Pinstripe Bowl served as a warmup for 2025 in many ways. Raiola got several new toys on offense this month. Notably, the Huskers added wide receivers Dane Key from Kentucky and Nyziah Hunter from Cal. They’re also adding four-star pass catcher Cortez Mills out of high school while returning the likes of Jacory Barney, Jaylen Lloyd, Janiran Bonner and a solid group of tight ends.
Raiola will have weapons. With experience under his belt and talent at his disposal, it’s time in 2025 for him to take a few risks. It happened on Saturday. Though he didn’t benefit from any pass-interference calls — those will come — he put trust in his receivers to make plays.
In wet and chilly conditions, they didn’t always come through. Jahmal Banks fell on a Raiola throw that was intercepted to end the Huskers’ opening drive. There are sunny days ahead for Holgorsen, Raiola and the Nebraska offense.
A feeling existed on Saturday that the QB was just getting revved up.
A look at Butler’s new defense
What did we learn on Saturday about John Butler’s brand of defense? Probably not much. With less than a month to navigate a change at defensive coordinator after Tony White left for Florida State and D-line coach Terrance Knighton went with him, Butler had to coach the secondary and assist Rhule in making three coaching hires on the defensive side. All of it, at times, took a back seat in December for Nebraska coaches to invest energy in recruiting out of the transfer portal.
So Butler’s defense looked like White’s defense against Boston College. Expect it to add some new elements in the spring, including a probable more traditional four-man front. Will the Huskers regain some of the aggressiveness they exhibited in 2023? Or is Butler cut from an NFL mold that stays more conservative? That appeared to be the direction Rhule nudged Butler this season as he added his touches to White’s system.
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Youth movement
Rhule talked early in bowl prep time about turning December into the first month of 2025. Young players received more work in practice before the Huskers traveled to New York on Dec. 23. And they showed up against Boston College.
Particularly among the front six or seven on defense, where Nebraska was hit hard by departures via the transfer portal, young players showed up. True freshman Vincent Shavers wrecked multiple Boston College drives in the first half. He contributed a sack in the first quarter and a big third-down stop inside the 10-yard line on the Eagles’ final drive of the second quarter.
Shavers earned a Blackshirt practice jersey this month. He played an inspired style of football on Saturday. Expect him to step into a leadership role next season as the defense gets younger around him.
Fellow freshmen Keona Davis, Willis McGahee IV and Donovan Jones also played important roles at Yankee Stadium. Davis, who briefly entered the portal and returned to Nebraska, flashed his high-end skill off the edge.
Jones held his own at cornerback. The Omaha North graduate redshirted this season, playing in the maximum of four games allowed to maintain a season of eligibility. Participation in a bowl game does not count against a redshirt.
For those freshmen and others, this month was invaluable.
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)
