Nebraska Triumphs Over Cincinnati in Thrilling Kansas City Season Opener
The Nebraska Cornhuskers kicked off their 2025 season with a thrilling 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Head coach Matt Rhule, now in his third year, led a team that flashed both promise and the need for growth.
Over 60,000 Nebraska fans packed the stands, creating a wild, electric scene. The game overflowed with memorable moments and big plays.
The Electric Atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium
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Nebraska fans have a reputation for their loyalty, and wow, did they show up. More than 60,000 people turned Arrowhead into a sea of red, echoing the Huskers’ 1998 visit against Oklahoma State.
Big names like Patrick Mahomes and former Cincinnati star Travis Kelce, along with Taylor Swift, showed up and added a bit of celebrity sparkle to the event.
Nebraska’s Fan Takeover
The Huskers’ faithful made Arrowhead feel like home. Red shirts filled the parking lot and stands, and the energy was palpable.
Defensive line coach Terry Bradden, who spent eight years with the Kansas City Chiefs, hugged several former players during warmups. Mahomes and George Karlaftis even hung out on the Nebraska sideline before kickoff, which just made things feel even bigger.
Key Moments and Highlights
The game itself felt like a rollercoaster, with both teams showing flashes—sometimes great, sometimes shaky. Nebraska’s defense, especially safety Malcolm Hartzog, played a huge role in the win.
Malcolm Hartzog’s Game-Saving Interception
With 34 seconds left, Hartzog picked off a 33-yard throw to the end zone from Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby. That sealed the win for Nebraska.
Coach Rhule summed it up: That’s what Malcolm Hartzog does. He just makes plays.
Offensive Struggles and Bright Spots
The offense had its moments but also shot itself in the foot more than once. Dylan Raiola, now a sophomore, threw for 243 yards on 33-of-42 passing with no interceptions.
Still, miscommunications and penalties kept tripping them up. Notable offensive highlights included:
- Raiola’s touchdown passes to Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter.
- Emmett Johnson racking up 108 rushing yards on 25 carries, plus seven catches.
- Creative plays like using tight end Heinrich Haarberg in a tush push formation to pick up third downs.
Defensive Performance
Nebraska’s defense had its ups and downs. They forced turnovers and made big stops, but Cincinnati gashed them for 202 rushing yards.
Turnovers and Key Defensive Plays
John Butler, the new defensive coordinator, took some risks that paid off. Linebacker Vincent Shavers stripped Cincinnati’s Caleb Goodie, and Williams Nwaneri recovered it, setting up a touchdown pass from Raiola to Hunter.
The defense did get burned twice in the second half, letting Cincinnati score two touchdowns and making things tense down the stretch.
Areas for Improvement
Nebraska’s defense has to get better against the run. Cincinnati’s tempo and ground game gave them fits, and tougher Big Ten teams won’t make it easier.
Cincinnati’s Resilience and Areas of Concern
Cincinnati kept fighting and made it close, but their passing game just never got going. Turnovers hurt them badly.
Offensive Struggles
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby led the Bearcats with 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns. But the passing attack only managed 69 yards.
Sorsby did spark the team with a 29-yard scramble in the fourth quarter, keeping hope alive.
Defensive Highlights
Cincinnati’s defense had its moments. Safety Christian Harrison made a huge tackle at the 1-yard line, forcing Nebraska to settle for a field goal.
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The Bearcats also had a fourth-down stop early in the third quarter, which they quickly turned into a touchdown drive.
Looking Ahead
Nebraska needs to cut down on offensive mistakes and get tougher against the run. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has to fix its passing game and find ways to turn defensive stops into points.
Nebraska’s Upcoming Challenges
The Huskers host Akron and Houston Christian next, then face a big test against Michigan on September 20 at Memorial Stadium. Coach Rhule put it simply: The good thing, we’re going right back to work tomorrow. We’ll be in the weight room at 11 o’clock.
Cincinnati’s Path Forward
Cincinnati’s loss stings, especially at the start of Year 3 under Scott Satterfield in the Big 12. The Bearcats wrapped up last season with five straight losses.
They’ve now posted two losing seasons in a row. Even after keeping some key players and making upgrades, the team still has to figure out how to turn all that potential into wins.