Dylan Raiola’s three-yard touchdown pass to Dane Key with 1:08 remaining capped a fourth-quarter rally, as Nebraska posted a 34-31 win over Maryland on Saturday.
The Huskers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) trailed 31-24 heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored Maryland, 10-0 in the final stanza to pick up a crucial road win.
Nebraska was down 31-27 and was backed up on its 19-yard line with 3:42 left, but the Huskers went 81 yards in seven plays for the go-ahead score. Raiola completed 4-of-5 passes for 72 yards on the final drive, including a 23-yard pass to Luke Linndenmeyer, a 33-yard pass to Nyziah Hunter and a 13-yard pass to Heinrich Haarberg to move the chains to set up the final score.
Raiola completed 20-of-29 passes for 260 yards and matched his career high with four touchdowns, including a pair of Hunter, who had five catches for a career-high 125 yards.
Maryland (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) had a final chance to get the game to overtime and got the ball to the NU 49-yard line with 23 seconds left. Facing fourth and four, Malik Washington’s pass to Dorian Fleming was broken up by DeShon Singleton with 18 seconds left to preserve the win.
Emmett Johnson carried the Husker ground attack with 21 carries for a career-high 175 yards – the most by a Husker in a Big Ten game since 2020 – and totaled nearly 200 all-purpose yards. NU all, the Huskers ran for 193 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry in a back-and-forth affair which saw five lead changes.
Nebraska trailed 31-24 with 14:02 left before Johnson came through, accounting for 75 of the Huskers 83 yards on a 12-play drive that pulled the Huskers within 31-27 after Kyle Cunanan’s 27-yard field goal. The big play was a career-high 50-yard rush to the Maryland 10-yard line.
Washington kept Maryland in the game, completing 27-of-37 passes for 249 yards and a score.
Early on, the teams traded fourth-down stops before NU got rolling on its second offensive possession. The Huskers needed just 12 seconds to get on the scoreboard to take a 7-0 lead, as Raiola connected found Hunter on a short screen before the receiver turned on the jets and went 64 yards to the end zone to spot the visitors a 7-0 lead.
The Husker defense forced a three-and-out before Nebraska extended the lead to 10-0 following a 43-yard field goal from Cunanan on the first play of the second quarter. Nebraska used the rushing of Johnson, who had 27 yards rushing on the drive, to get down to the Maryland 13 after a Terrapin pass interference call but were forced to settle for the field goal.
Maryland would get untracked offensively, going 75 yards in eight plays to pull to within 10-7 following Nolan Ray’s 28-yard touchdown run. The Terrapins intercepted Dylan Raiola on NU’s next possession and took advantage of the short field, going 33 yards in four plays to take a 14-10 lead. Washington found Leon Haughton Jr. on a 21-yard scoring strike for their second TD in a span of 3:07.
The Huskers responded with a play from special teams, as Kenneth Williams returning the ensuing kickoff returned it 85 yards to the Maryland 10-yard line. NU needed just two plays to cash in, as Raiola found Lindenmeyer on the sideline for a seven-yard touchdown to put Nebraska ahead 17-14.
After forcing a three and out, the Huskers extended their lead to 24-14, as Raiola found Hunter for his second score of the day. This one was a 12-yard scoring strike to cap a three-play, 46-yard march.
Maryland could claw back, ss Sean O’Haire 37-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the half pulled the hosts within 24-17. The Terrapins took the second half kickoff and went 75 yards in 10 plays to pull even at 24-all on a one-yard run by DeJuan Williams with 9:58 left in the quarter.
NU was driving on its first possession of the half and was in Maryland territory, but Raiola was picked off Dontay Joyner, who went 67 yards untouched to put the hosts ahead 31-24 midway through the third quarter. It was one of three Husker turnovers on the day that led to 17 Terrapin points.
Leading 31-24, Maryland had a chance to extend its lead to two scores, driving to the NU 31-yard line in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Facing third and two, Dasan McCullough stuffed Ray for a four-yard loss before Maryland had a delay of game penalty to push the ball to its 40-yard line and eventually punted.
That would set up the final two Husker scoring drives as Nebraska posted its first fourth-quarter comeback since 2022.
The Huskers continue their two-game road trip next Friday night as the Huskers travel to Minnesota. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on FOX and carried the Husker Sports Network.
