Nebraska 28-10 Purdue (September 28, 2024) Game Recap

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Dylan Raiola threw for 257 yards and a touchdown, leading Nebraska to a 28-10 victory over Purdue in a Big Ten Conference contest Saturday afternoon.

After a scoreless first half and a 3-0 deficit late in the third quarter, the Cornhuskers scored 28 unanswered points and kept Purdue out of the end zone until the Boilermakers scored in the final two minutes.

“They didn’t flinch,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “To get over the heartache of last week when nothing went right (in the overtime home loss to Illinois). I’m glad it ended 28-10, but it was a game we had to fight for. Boys had to make plays. We had tough decisions against us in the first half and the guys told me to keep my composure.”

Nebraska (4-1, 1-1) took a 7-3 lead on Raiola’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

“Once we did it, we were unstoppable,” Raiola said.

The Cornhuskers extended the lead to 14-3 on a 1-yard touchdown by Dante Dowdell on fourth down with 10:34 left in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska added a 25-yard TD run by Jacory Barney Jr. and John Bullock’s 29-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Purdue (1-3, 0-1) took a 3-0 lead on Spencer Porath’s 45-yard field goal with 6:42 left in the third quarter – the Boilermakers’ first field goal of the season.

In the goalless first half, every team missed scoring opportunities. Purdue blocked field goals from 44 and 32 yards from Nebraska. The Cornhuskers also missed a 42-yard field goal and the Boilermakers missed a 39-yard field goal. Each team received a touchdown called back for offensive pass interference.

“Everything that could have gone wrong happened in the first half,” Rhule said.

Purdue quarterback Hudson Card was 18 of 25 passing for 174 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to Leland Smith with 1:29 left.

“Extremely disappointing and frustrating,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said. “We’re doing the only thing I know how to do: we’re getting to work and continuing to make adjustments. I thought from a defensive standpoint we tweaked a few things and made some adjustments that I think helped us.”

The Cornhuskers limited the Boilermakers to 50 rushing yards.

“It gives us even more confidence,” Bullock said. “Just knowing we’re still a good team, we just have to play like that. That was a big step forward from last week.”

The snack bar

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers finally got going in the second half, finishing the game with 161 yards rushing. Nebraska had its fair share of errors with two blocked fields and 11 penalties for 94 yards, including an unsportsmanlike call on Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule. Rhule said he threw his headset but thought he was OK when he threw it on the sideline.

Purdue: The Boilermakers, who lost their third straight game, were hampered by 13 penalties for 165 yards, including six flags for pass interference. “I thought a couple (pass interference calls) were obvious and a couple that were judgment calls,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said. “I’ll look at the tape and see where we can improve it. What drives you crazy are the penalties before and after the snap. Stepping over the receiver (to taunt him) is stupid. This can’t happen..”

Defensive firepower

Nebraska senior linebacker John Bullock finally scored his first touchdown with a 29-yard interception return.

“The last time I had the ball in my hands in a game was probably in high school,” Bullock said. “Having the ball in my hands was incredible. I hope I can get more out of it, but that was more on the coaches than me. They told me to play this route in Cover 2 and I took it in. After that I just went numb. I didn’t know what to feel.

Next

Nebraska: Host Rutgers next Saturday

Purdue: Next Saturday at Wisconsin.

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