Huskers topple Boston College in Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – University of Nebraska

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

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

Dylan Raiola completed 23 of 31 passes for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception, setting a school record for passes by a freshman with 2,826 passes this season, surpassing Adrian Martinez’s 2,617 yards in 2018. Emmett Johnson led the NU Rushing offense with 14 carries for 68 yards, followed by Rahmir Johnson with 10 carries for 60 yards and a score.

Jahmal Banks caught four balls 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 their 60th career game at Nebraska, setting a school record. Benhart set a new Nebraska record with his 54th career start, surpassing placekicker/punter Alex Henery, who started 53 games.

The Huskers scored their first score on their second drive of the day after Rahmir Johnson capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown with 14:56 left in the first half.

The Blackshirts forced a turnover on downs at their own 33-yard line while the 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 first half. Raiola found Fidone II for 13 yards to open the drive, while an 18-yard reception from Banks and a 22-yard rush from Rahmir Johnson brought the Big Red to within two yards of the goal line.

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

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

Vincent Shavers Jr. gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead, while Riley Van Poppel and MJ Sherman combined to stop Kye Robichaux with 39 seconds left to maintain the 11-point lead.

Elijah Jeudy recovered John Bullock’s strip sack on Boston College’s Grayson James, setting 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, extended the lead to 20-2 with 3:0 left in the third quarter. 02 were to be played.

Boston College scored its first touchdown of the afternoon with 6:11 to play, making the score 20-8 after the two-point conversion failed. Turbo Richards’ one-yard touchdown run capped the Eagles’ eight-play, 64-yard drive that lasted 2:52.

The Eagles took advantage of Nebraska’s second special teams error and returned Brian Buschini’s blocked punt 17 yards down to the NU two-yard line. Jordan McDonald reached the end zone first, bringing Boston College within 20-15 with 4:18 to play.

The Huskers ran out of time on the ensuing drive after Rahmir Johnson ran 11 yards on 4th-and-1 at the BC 35-yard line following the two-minute timeout. Three knockdowns from Raiola in victory formation secured the Big Red a 20-15 win.

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 rush and a forced fumble.