LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Dylan Raiola threw for 293 yards and a touchdown, Dante Dowdell ran for three scores and Nebraska defeated Wisconsin 44-25 on Saturday to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

Nebraska (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) stopped a four-game losing streak and defeated the Badgers for the first time in 11 meetings. The Cornhuskers sprinted to the Wisconsin sideline as time expired to claim the Freedom Trophy as students poured from the stands onto the field to celebrate.

The win was the Cornhuskers’ first in nine tries under second-year coach Matt Rhule as they played for bowl eligibility.

The Huskers entered the season with the longest bowl drought among power conference teams and the program’s longest since 1955-61.

“The cloud hanging over everything is gone,” said Rhule, who has bigger and better things in mind for the Huskers. “This will be the last time we ever celebrate six wins.”

Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) dropped its fourth straight game a week after losing 16-13 to No. 1 Oregon, the Ducks’ lowest point total of the season.

“We played really well against the No. 1 team in the country and then we come out today – and I’m not saying Nebraska isn’t a good program, but they’re not No. 1 in the country – and we gave up three times as many points as Nebraska,” Badgers defensive lineman Ben Barten said. “This is in our defense today.”

Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson surpassed 100 yards for the first time in his 27 career games, finishing with 113 on 16 carries.

The Huskers, who blew an early 14-0 lead at Wisconsin last year and lost 24-17, came away with points on six straight possessions before Raiola took a few knee’s as the clock neared the end.

“I remember that feeling after being up 14-0 and not finishing the game,” Johnson said. “Finishing was a big focus in the offseason, and that’s what we did tonight.”

Chants of “Go Big Red!” began echoing through Memorial Stadium late in the fourth quarter after Dowdell dove over the pile for his final touchdown, giving Nebraska its most points in a game since 2021.

Raiola completed 28 of 38 passes, eight of which were for at least 15 yards. His 5-yard TD pass to Jahmal Banks late in the second quarter helped the Huskers take a 24-10 halftime lead.

Braedyn Locke was 20 of 30 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. His fourth-quarter interception extended his streak of at least one pick-off to eight games.

The loss came at the end of a tumultuous week for the Badgers. Coach Luke Fickell fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo on Sunday and held a controversial news conference two days later where he refused to say who would be the play-caller going forward. Tight ends coach Nate Letton called the plays against Nebraska, the Big Ten Network reported.

Wisconsin was also short on both sides of the ball. Will Pauling, who leads the team in receptions, and safety Hunter Wohler, its leading tackler, remained injured.

“I have no excuses,” Fickel said. “We didn’t play complementary football like we should on the road. It snowed. We played very, very poorly, especially in the tackles in the second half. We have to challenge ourselves, look very deeply in a short week and find out who is with us and who is willing to risk everything for these seniors coming up.

The takeaway

Wisconsin: The Badgers will have to beat Minnesota in the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Ax to avoid their first losing record since 2001 and an end to their 22-year bowl streak.

Nebraska: Dana Holgorsen, in his second game as offensive coordinator, effectively mixed the run and pass to keep the Badgers off balance, and he got the Huskers’ top playmakers more involved.

Next

Wisconsin: Hosts Minnesota on Friday.

Nebraska: At Iowa on Friday night.

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