Huskers show improved talent, depth in 40-7 win over UTEP

Earlier this week, several Nebraska Cornhuskers football players talked about how much they were looking forward to opening the season at home, the first time for the program since 2019.

Junior defensive lineman Jimari Butler, one of 12 players to earn a Blackshirt entering Week 1, said, “To be able to come out and open in front of the fans this season is super exciting,” before adding, “and we’re gonna go out there and we’re gonna give them a show.”

Butler was exactly right about that as Nebraska showed its improved play in a 40-7 rout of UTEP on Saturday.

Right from the start of the game, the Huskers gave the fans plenty of reasons to cheer. The offense got the ball first and went 72 yards over 12 plays to find the endzone. True freshman Dylan Raiola, just the second Husker to ever start a season-opener for Nebraska, went 5 of 7 for 54 yards on the drive.

That was just the beginning for the Big Red.

The true freshman finished his debut before the end of the third quarter but not before completing 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. For reference, the Huskers didn’t have a 200-yard passer in any game last season.

He looked poised and under control throughout, making smart decisions to throw passes away when there was nothing to be had and showing his ability to extend plays and make high-difficulty throws.

Related: Patrick Mahomes reacts to Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola's 59-yard TD pass

Eleven different receivers caught a pass for Nebraska against the Miners, led by senior transfers Isaiah Neyor (6 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD) and Jahmal Banks (4 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD).

All four lead running backs rolled, each averaging at least 4 yards per carry. Emmett Johnson led the way with 71 yards on 8 carries; Oregon transfer Dante Dowdell had 55 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries; Rahmir Johnson had the most carries (11) and racked up 50 yards; and Gabe Ervin Jr. had just six carries but racked up 24 yards while finding the endzone twice.

In total, the Huskers racked up 507 total yards (284 passing) and averaged 6.1 yards per play, an astounding number after last year’s offensive struggles, particularly through the air.

It wasn’t just the passing game that looked so different than last year but also the explosiveness. The Huskers produced six plays of at least 15 yards through the air and six more of at least 10 on the ground.

“I think that’s gotta be one of the big parts of our offense,” Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said this week of explosive plays.

The offense stalled a couple of times but really the lone serious miscue was a Dowdell fumble when the Huskers seemed to be driving for another touchdown early in the second quarter. While that’s something the coaches certainly took notice of after last year’s 31 turnovers and -17 turnover margin (second-worst in the country), and as they try to determine a pecking order in the backfield, it wasn’t costly on Saturday.

Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg, who is expected to have a decent role as a do-it-all guy on offense this season, went completed all five of his passes for 35 yards in relief of Raiola but also had two carries for 8 yards on a couple sub-package plays earlier in the game. Expect to see him share the field with Raiola at times in the coming weeks.

The defense, meanwhile, intercepted two passes to help Nebraska win the turnover battle on the day and allowed just 205 total yards and zero red zone appearances. They added one sack, nine tackles for loss and the program’s first defensive safety since 2009.

Even special teams was solid. Coverage could’ve been better at times but Tristan Alvano converted Nebraska’s lone field goal attempt and Isaiah Garcia-Casteneda had three punt returns for 25 yards, including a long of 13. For reference, the Huskers had just 48 total punt return yards last year with a long of 8 yards.

The schedule will get more difficult for Nebraska but, for a team with more hype than this program has had in several years, Saturday was a fantastic start and provided proof of the improvement from last year.

The Huskers’ next test will come in primetime when Colorado comes to town next Saturday.