Huskers Topple Boston College in Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Nebraska recorded its first winning season since 2016 with a 20-15 win against Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskers finished the 2024 campaign with a 7-6 overall record after securing their first bowl victory since 2015.

Dylan Raiola completed 23-of-31 passes for 228 yards, a touchdown and an interception to set a school record for passing yards by a freshman with 2,826 passing yards this season, surpassing Adrian Martinez’s 2,617 yards in 2018. Emmett Johnson led the NU rushing attack with 14 carries for 68 yards, followed by Rahmir Johnson with 10 rushes for 60 yards and a score.

Jahmal Banks hauled in four receptions for 79 yards, while Thomas Fidone II caught five passes for 50 yards.

Senior offensive tackle Bryce Benhart and senior defensive lineman Ty Robinson each played in their 60th career game at Nebraska, setting a school record. Benhart set a new Nebraska record with his 54th career start, surpassing place-kicker/punter Alex Henery who started 53 games.

The Huskers broke open the scoring on their second drive of the day after Rahmir Johnson capped off a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown with 14:56 remaining in the first half.

The Blackshirts forced a turnover on downs on their own 33-yard line, while NU offense marched 67 yards down the field in seven plays and 2:46 to reach the end zone for the second time in the opening half. Raiola found Fidone II for 13 yards to open the drive, while an 18-yard reception by Banks and a 22-yard scamper from Rahmir Johnson brought the Big Red within two yards of the goal line.

Kwinten Ives reached the end zone from two yards out for his first career rushing touchdown to give Nebraska a 13-0 lead with 3:39 left in the half. Boston College capitalized on the poor snap and returned NU’s blocked extra-point attempt 87 yards to score the Eagles’ first two points on the afternoon.

The Big Red took the 13-2 lead into halftime after forcing Boston College into three consecutive drives where the Eagles turned the ball over on downs. The BC offense drove the ball down the field and reached NU’s nine-yard line in the final minute of the second quarter.

Facing third-and-1, Vincent Shavers Jr. stuffed the Eagles for no gain, while Riley Van Poppel and MJ Sherman combined to stop Kye Robichaux for no gain on fourth down with 39 seconds remaining to maintain the 11-point advantage.

Elijah Jeudy recovered John Bullock’s strip sack of Boston College’s Grayson James to set up the NU offense at midfield with 6:14 left in the third. A seven-play, 50-yard drive capped off by a 13-yard scoring pass from Raiola to Emmett Johnson on 4th-and-3 stretched the lead to 20-2 with 3:02 to play in the third quarter.

Boston College scored their first touchdown of the afternoon with 6:11 left in the game to make it a 20-8 game after failing on the two-point conversion. Turbo Richard’s one-yard touchdown run concluded the Eagles’ eight-play, 64-yard drive that took 2:52 off the clock.

The Eagles capitalized on Nebraska’s second special teams blunder, returning Brian Buschini’s blocked punt 17 yards down to the NU two-yard line. Jordan McDonald found the end zone on first and goal to bring Boston College within 20-15 with 4:18 left in the game.

The Huskers ran out the clock on the following drive after Rahmir Johnson ran for 11 yards on 4th-and-1 on BC’s 35-yard line coming out of the two-minute timeout. A trio of kneel downs from Raiola in victory formation clinched the 20-15 victory for the Big Red.

Javin Wright led the Blackshirts with eight tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, followed by Shavers Jr. with five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. John Bullock had five tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.