Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, October 25
Lincoln, Neb.
11 am CT
Northwestern
5-3 , 3-2
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at
28
Nebraska
6-2 , 3-2
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Northwestern
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Nebraska
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Northwestern’s Comeback Falls Short in 28-21 Defeat at Nebraska
10/25/2025 2:44:00 PM | Football
Komolafe piles up career-high 125 rushing yards to lead 'Cats
LINCOLN, Neb. (October 25, 2025) — Northwestern football dropped a 28-21 decision to Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, ending the Wildcats' winning streak at four games.
"Hurt for our guys right now, obviously disappointed in the result," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "We had a football team that was certainly prepared to come into a difficult place to play against a good Nebraska team and put ourselves in a situation to win a football game."
The 'Cats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) erased a 15-point second-half deficit, but the Cornhuskers (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) pulled away late to deny Northwestern's pursuit of its first win in Lincoln since 2017.
"Ultimately, there's no doubt in my mind that our team showed their true colors today," Braun said. "They continued to fight, continued to battle."
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe continued his breakout campaign with a career-high 125 yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II added 37 yards on eight attempts.
Leading the defense, redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald recorded a team-high nine tackles, while graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein and junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane combined for 14 stops. Uihlein also snagged his fourth interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska posted the game's first points on a nine-yard rushing score from Emmett Johnson. The Cornhuskers' nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive gave the hosts a 7-0 lead with 7:49 remaining in the first quarter.
Backed into an early third down on their ensuing drive, graduate student quarterback Preston Stone and junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde connected for a 37-yard gain through the air. The explosive play ultimately led to a 40-yard field goal from graduate student kicker Jack Olsen, who cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Wildcat defense bent but did not break on Nebraska's next drive, with graduate student defensive end Aidan Hubbard's sack forcing a long field goal attempt that sailed wide right.
Northwestern settled into a rush-heavy approach once the offense returned to the field. The two-pronged attack of Komolafe and Himon helped the 'Cats methodically march down the field. At the 15-play drive's conclusion, Olsen knocked in a second field goal to reduce the margin to 7-6 with 3:01 left in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner punched the ball free from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola's grasp, and graduate student cornerback Fred Davis II pounced on the fumble to settle a 7-6 margin heading into halftime.
Turner is the first Wildcat defensive back to record forced fumbles in consecutive games since Ibraheim Campbell did so against Notre Dame and Purdue during the 2014 campaign.
On the second half's opening kickoff, Nebraska return specialist Kenneth Williams found daylight for a 95-yard score, extending the hosts' advantage to 14-6 just 13 seconds into the third quarter.
Northwestern forced a punt on Nebraska's first offensive drive of the second half, but a turnover placed the Cornhuskers in plus-territory one play later. Raiola hit Nyziah Hunter for a 12-yard passing score to stretch the Nebraska lead to 21-6 with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
Following a key fourth-down conversion on a Hayden Eligon II reception, Himon picked up a 17-yard rush and set the stage for a four-yard Komolafe rushing touchdown. The Olsen extra point made the margin 21-13 with 2:35 to play in the third quarter.
After the Wildcats secured a defensive stop, Komolafe provided the exclamation point on a four-play, 80-yard drive with a 56-yard rushing score. Stone and Eligon connected on the two-point conversion, tying the game at 21-21 with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter.
On the next play from scrimmage, Uihlein picked off Raiola for his fourth interception of the season — the most from a Wildcat since Brandon Joseph in 2020 — but Northwestern could not capitalize on the short field.
The Cornhuskers recaptured a 28-21 lead with 2:44 remaining, when Johnson powered in his second touchdown of the game.
Although the Wildcats moved into threatening territory, their would-be tying drive stalled out with a turnover-on-downs.
"As a program, we have to respond," Braun said. "This one has the potential to sting for a while going into the bye week, and we can't allow that to happen."
Northwestern will return to action after a bye week with a road test at USC on Friday, November 7. The 8 p.m. CT kickoff will air on FOX.
Gallery: (10-25-2025) Football vs. Nebraska
"Hurt for our guys right now, obviously disappointed in the result," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "We had a football team that was certainly prepared to come into a difficult place to play against a good Nebraska team and put ourselves in a situation to win a football game."
The 'Cats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) erased a 15-point second-half deficit, but the Cornhuskers (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) pulled away late to deny Northwestern's pursuit of its first win in Lincoln since 2017.
"Ultimately, there's no doubt in my mind that our team showed their true colors today," Braun said. "They continued to fight, continued to battle."
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe continued his breakout campaign with a career-high 125 yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II added 37 yards on eight attempts.
Leading the defense, redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald recorded a team-high nine tackles, while graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein and junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane combined for 14 stops. Uihlein also snagged his fourth interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska posted the game's first points on a nine-yard rushing score from Emmett Johnson. The Cornhuskers' nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive gave the hosts a 7-0 lead with 7:49 remaining in the first quarter.
Backed into an early third down on their ensuing drive, graduate student quarterback Preston Stone and junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde connected for a 37-yard gain through the air. The explosive play ultimately led to a 40-yard field goal from graduate student kicker Jack Olsen, who cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Wildcat defense bent but did not break on Nebraska's next drive, with graduate student defensive end Aidan Hubbard's sack forcing a long field goal attempt that sailed wide right.
Northwestern settled into a rush-heavy approach once the offense returned to the field. The two-pronged attack of Komolafe and Himon helped the 'Cats methodically march down the field. At the 15-play drive's conclusion, Olsen knocked in a second field goal to reduce the margin to 7-6 with 3:01 left in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner punched the ball free from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola's grasp, and graduate student cornerback Fred Davis II pounced on the fumble to settle a 7-6 margin heading into halftime.
Turner is the first Wildcat defensive back to record forced fumbles in consecutive games since Ibraheim Campbell did so against Notre Dame and Purdue during the 2014 campaign.
On the second half's opening kickoff, Nebraska return specialist Kenneth Williams found daylight for a 95-yard score, extending the hosts' advantage to 14-6 just 13 seconds into the third quarter.
Northwestern forced a punt on Nebraska's first offensive drive of the second half, but a turnover placed the Cornhuskers in plus-territory one play later. Raiola hit Nyziah Hunter for a 12-yard passing score to stretch the Nebraska lead to 21-6 with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
Following a key fourth-down conversion on a Hayden Eligon II reception, Himon picked up a 17-yard rush and set the stage for a four-yard Komolafe rushing touchdown. The Olsen extra point made the margin 21-13 with 2:35 to play in the third quarter.
After the Wildcats secured a defensive stop, Komolafe provided the exclamation point on a four-play, 80-yard drive with a 56-yard rushing score. Stone and Eligon connected on the two-point conversion, tying the game at 21-21 with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter.
On the next play from scrimmage, Uihlein picked off Raiola for his fourth interception of the season — the most from a Wildcat since Brandon Joseph in 2020 — but Northwestern could not capitalize on the short field.
The Cornhuskers recaptured a 28-21 lead with 2:44 remaining, when Johnson powered in his second touchdown of the game.
Although the Wildcats moved into threatening territory, their would-be tying drive stalled out with a turnover-on-downs.
"As a program, we have to respond," Braun said. "This one has the potential to sting for a while going into the bye week, and we can't allow that to happen."
Northwestern will return to action after a bye week with a road test at USC on Friday, November 7. The 8 p.m. CT kickoff will air on FOX.
Team Stats
NU
NEB
Total Yards
331
296
Pass Yards
159
141
Rushing Yards
172
155
Penalty Yards
29
39
1st Downs
18
18
3rd Downs
7
6
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
29:44
30:16
1st Quarter
NU 0, NEB 7
NEB - Johnson,Emmett 9 yd run (Cunanan,Kyle kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 04:02
NU 3, NEB 7
NU - Olsen,Jack 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 04:21
2nd Quarter
NU 6, NEB 7
NU - Olsen,Jack 25 yd field goal 15 plays, 67 yards, TOP 07:43
3rd Quarter
NU 6, NEB 14
NEB - Williams,Kenneth 95 yd kickoff return (Cunanan,Kyle kick)
NU 6, NEB 21
NEB - Hunter,Nyziah 12 yd pass from Raiola,Dylan (Cunanan,Kyle kick) 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 00:58
NU 13, NEB 21
NU - Komolafe,Caleb 4 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 05:08
4th Quarter
NU 21, NEB 21
NU - Komolafe,Caleb 56 yd run (Eligon II,Hayden pass), 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:13
NU 21, NEB 28
NEB - Johnson,Emmett 4 yd run (Cunanan,Kyle kick), 13 plays, 64 yards, TOP 06:27
Game Leaders
CMP
15
TD
0
YDS
159
INT
2
Players Mentioned
DB
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WR
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DB
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RB
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DL
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DL
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RB
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DB
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LB
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WR
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