Game Week: UTEP
NEBRASKA vs. UTEP
Aug. 31, 2024 | MEMORIAL STADIUM
LINCOLN, NEB. | 2:30 PM CT
HUSKERS
Record: 0-0, 0-0 B1G
Last Game: vs. Iowa (L, 13-10 in 2023)
Rankings: AP – RV/Coaches - RV
Head Coach: Matt Rhule
Career/NU Record: 52-50 (9th Year)/5-7 (2nd Year)
vs. UTEP: First Meeting
MINERS
Record: 0-0. 0-0 CUSA
Last Game: vs. No. 22 Liberty (L, 42-28 in 2023)
Rankings: NR
Head Coach: Scotty Walden
Career/UTEP Record: 34-20 (7th Year)/0-0 (First Year)
vs. Nebraska: First Meeting
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: First meeting
At Lincoln: --
Last Game: --
Win Streak: --
BROADCAST INFO
TV – Fox (Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, Allison Williams)
RADIO NETWORK – (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
INTERNET RADIO – Huskers.com
APP AUDIO – Official Huskers App
The Matchup
Nebraska kicks off its 135th season on Saturday when the Cornhuskers begin the 2024 campaign with their first-ever matchup against UTEP. Saturday's season opener at Memorial Stadium will be televised on FOX with radio coverage on the Huskers Radio Network. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
Nebraska is coming off a 5-7 record in Matt Rhule's first season in 2023. The five wins in Rhule's first season in Lincoln were more than the win total from his first season at Temple and Baylor combined, which is notable considering it took only three years for Rhule to lead both programs to school-record win totals.
The Huskers narrowly missed a bowl game last season, falling one win short of bowl eligibility. Five of Nebraska's seven losses were by three points or in overtime, including four November losses by a total of 16 points. The Huskers return 10 offensive and seven defensive players who started at least six games last season. NU also returns its starting punter and place-kicker.
Nebraska is playing its first game of the season at home for the first time since the 2019 season. The Huskers are also beginning the season with a non-conference opponent for the first time since 2019. Each of the past four seasons, Nebraska began the year by facing a Big Ten opponent either on the road or at a neutral site.
Saturday's opener against UTEP marks the first of four straight home games to begin the season for the Big Red. The five-game homestand is Nebraska's longest season-opening homestand since the 2013 season when the Huskers opened the season with five consecutive home games.
Nebraska Boasts 14-3 Record in August
Saturday's season opener will mark the 18th August game in the history of Nebraska football. The Huskers are playing an August game for the fourth straight season but are looking for their first win in the month since 2019, which is also the last year Nebraska opened a season at home.
• Nebraska is 14-3 all-time in the month of August. NU is a perfect 12-0 against non-conference opponents in the month and is also a perfect 10-0 at Memorial Stadium in August.
• The Huskers have lost their last three August games. Those three losses came by a combined 14 points, with each game on the road or at a neutral site against a Big Ten opponent.
Husker History in Season Openers
Nebraska has an impressive history in season openers. The Huskers have won 98 of their 134 season openers, winning their first game 75 percent of the time while posting a 98-31-5 record. NU is opening a season at home for the first time since 2019. Since 1980, Nebraska has lost only twice when playing its season opener at home (1986 and 2015).
• SEASON OPENER RECORD: 98-31-5 (.750) • AT HOME: 85-14-3 (.848)
• BIGGEST WIN: 117-0 vs. Kearney St. (1911) • BIGGEST LOSS: 54-0 at Minnesota (1943)
• LONGEST WINNING STREAK: 29 (1986-2014) • LONGEST LOSING STREAK: 6 (1942-47)
Nine Huskers Earn Spots on Preseason Watch Lists
Nine Nebraska Cornhuskers made a preseason watch list for a major national award this summer.
• True freshman Jacory Barney Jr. was named to the watch list for The Jet Award, presented to the nation's top returner. The award is named after Husker Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers.
• Bryce Benhart was one of 75 linemen named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy. Benhart was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection as Nebraska's starting right tackle in 2023. The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the nation's best interior lineman.
• Brian Buschini, the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year, was one of 33 punters named to the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best punter.
• Thomas Fidone II was one of 48 tight ends named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the nation's best tight end. Fidone led Nebraska with four touchdown catches in 2024, the most by a Husker tight end since 2010.
• Isaac Gifford was honored for his work on the field and in the community with an appointment to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. Gifford led Nebraska with 86 tackles while earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades. Off the field, he earned a Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award in 2024 and was named to both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams.
• Nash Hutmacher was one of 90 players - and 37 defensive linemen - named to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. Hutmacher was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection last season.
• Dylan Raiola was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list.
• Isaiah Neyor was one of 93 players named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list. The award is presented to the top offensive player who played high school or college football in Texas.
• Ben Scott, an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection in 2023, was one of 40 centers named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. The Rimington Trophy - named after former Husker center Dave Rimington - is presented annually to the nation's top center.
Notes From Nebraska’s 2023 Season
Nebraska finished with a 5-7 record in Matt Rhule's first season in 2023. Four of the seven losses were by three points with a fifth loss by a touchdown in overtime. Due to injuries, Nebraska used three different starting quarterbacks in its five one-score losses.
• Nebraska had the program's fewest penalty yards per game (42.8) since 1998.
• The Huskers ranked among the nation's 15 most-improved teams in rushing offense, rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. Nebraska had the nation's No. 2 most-improved rush defense, the No. 3 most-improved total defense and the No. 10 most-improved scoring defense. Offensively, the Huskers had the 14th most-improved rushing attack from the 2022 to the 2023 season.
• Nebraska posted its best statistical rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense since joining the Big Ten in 2011. The Huskers allowed their fewest points per game (18.3) since 2010, their fewest yards per game (303.5) since 2009 and their fewest rushing yards per game (92.9) since 1999.
• NU ranked eighth nationally in rushing defense, 11th nationally in total defense and 13th nationally in scoring defense in 2023. The Huskers posted their highest national ranking in rushing defense since 1999 and best national ranking in total and scoring defense since 2010.
• Nebraska held eight opponents to 14 or fewer points in 2023, a first for the program since the 2009 season, when the Huskers led the nation in scoring defense.
• The Huskers held six of their 12 opponents in 2023 to fewer than 300 total yards, while also limiting eight of 12 opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards.
• Nebraska totaled its most sacks (32) since 2014 and most tackles for loss (76) since 2016.
• Offensively, the Huskers ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing last season (176.8 ypg).
• Nebraska also had one of the best big-play offenses in the Big Ten. The Huskers ranked second in the Big Ten with eight plays of 50 yards or longer in 2023 while leading the league in rushes of 40 yards or longer, 60 yards or longer and 70 yards or longer.
• From a special teams standpoint, Nebraska ranked third nationally with four blocked kicks in 2023. The Huskers recorded their most blocked kicks since the 2014 season.
Huskers Possess Veteran Offensive Line
The most experienced unit on the Nebraska team is the offensive line. Husker offensive linemen have combined to play in 224 career games with 153 career starts entering this season.
• According to research compiled by West Virginia's Mike Montoro, Nebraska's 153 combined offensive line starts ranks as the fifth-most in the country entering the 2024 season. Husker offensive linemen have also combined for 224 career games played, a total that ranks ninth nationally entering the season.
• Bryce Benhart, a member of the Outland Trophy watch list, leads the way with 41 career starts, starting 41 of Nebraska's 44 games at right tackle the past four seasons. Benhart's 41 career starts are tied with Jeremiah Sirles for the most starts by an offensive lineman in program history.
• Turner Corcoran has started 31 games for the Huskers with 26 starts at left tackle, three starts at left guard and two starts at right tackle. Corcoran had started 30 consecutive games before suffering a season-ending injury against Northwestern last season.
• Ben Scott returns for his second season as Nebraska's starting center. A member of the Rimington Trophy watch list, Scott started 11 games for the Huskers last season, and he has made 39 career starts including his three seasons at Arizona State.
• Bolstering the line is the addition of transfer Micah Mazzccua. Mazzccua has started 21 games in his career, including 11 starts at right guard for Florida in 2023 and 10 starts at Baylor in 2022.
• Teddy Prochazka has started 11 games for Nebraska, but he will miss the 2024 campaign after suffering an injury during fall camp. The injury marked the third time in four seasons that Prochazka has suffered a season-ending injury.
• Justin Evans (5 starts), Henry Lutovsky (4 starts) and Joey Mancino (1 start) have also started at least one game on the Nebraska offensive line.
Transfers Add Experience to Nebraska Roster
During the offseason, Nebraska added 60 newcomers to its roster. That number includes a large freshman class of 48, but adding experience to the roster are 12 first-year transfers.
• Six of Nebraska's 12 first-year transfers are FBS transfers with three junior college transfers, two FCS transfers and one NAIA transfer.
• The group of six FBS transfers all came from Power Conference programs. The six players have combined for 160 games played and 81 starts in their careers. Five transfers have started at least 13 games in their careers.
• Stefon Thompson played in 36 games with 21 starts at linebacker for Syracuse. He enters the season with 169 career tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Thompson owns the most tackles, TFLs and sacks of any Husker on the 2024 roster.
• Micah Mazzccua started 21 games on the offensive lines at Baylor and Florida. In 2022 at Baylor, PFF ranked Mazzccua as the best run-blocker in the Big 12 and the 15th-best run blocker in the country.
• Ceyair Wright made 15 starts at cornerback for USC in 2022 and 2023. He totaled 41 tackles as a Trojan with 1.0 tackle for loss, one interception and five pass breakups.
• Isaiah Neyor has started 13 games in his career. He was a second-team All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2021 at Wyoming before spending two seasons at Texas. Neyor has caught 53 passes for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. Neyor ranks second to fellow first-year transfer Jahmal Banks in career receptions, career receiving yards and career receiving touchdowns among all active Huskers.
• Jahmal Banks played in 43 games with 11 starts at Wake Forest before transferring to Nebraska. Banks totaled 107 receptions for 1,404 yards and 13 touchdowns as a Demon Deacon. He owns the most career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns of any Husker on the 2024 roster.
• Dante Dowdell spent one season at Oregon before transferring to Nebraska. Dowdell had 17 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown in 2023 for a Duck team that went 12-2 and ranked second nationally in total offense and scoring offense.
This Week’s Numbers
2 -- Dylan Raiola is expected to start at quarterback against UTEP. If Raiola does start against the Miners, he would join Adrian Martinez (2018) as the only true freshmen quarterbacks to start a season opener in school history.
15 – Nebraska returns the majority of its defensive production from a unit that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense (8th), total defense (11th) and scoring defense (13th) in 2023.
42 -- Offensive tackle Bryce Benhart is expected to start at right tackle against UTEP. The start would be the 42nd of Benhart's career and would establish a new record for career starts by a Husker offensive lineman.