Nebraska caps losing season with 37-29 bowl win over UCLA

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are taking on the UCLA Bruins Saturday in the Foster Farms Bowl. Rosen squared his shoulders and hurled the ball, just as he was crushed by Rose-Ivey. (8 pt diff) Score: 37-29 Huskers. Backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel was needed to lift Rosen up, and help him from falling again to the Levi’s Stadium turf.

In addition to discussing Saturday’s game with UCLA, Langsdorf mentioned the benefits of extra bowl practices for the younger players on the Husker roster. By coach in bowl games, Nebraska was 0-1 under Biff Jones, 0-1 under Bill Glassford, 6-3 under Bob Devaney, 12-13 under Tom Osborne, 2-3 under Frank Solich, 1-1 under Bill Callahan, 4-3 under Bo Pelini, and 0-1 under Barney Cotton.

The Cornhuskers’ recipe was simple. UCLA was hoping this was going to be a magical year that landed them in the playoffs but they really weren’t even close.

Nebraska ran for 326 yards, becoming the fifth opponent to eclipse 200 yards rushing against UCLA. The Huskers’ first drive resulted in a touchdown, too.

The first drive of the second half at least offered some variation. The Nebraska signal caller has thrown 16 interceptions on the season, which he will need to limit in the bowl game, but he has also proven he can step up in big games. D’Angelo Brewer ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns. And it was just the second pass of the drive.

It was Armstrong’s touchdown pass that put the Cornhuskers ahead to stay. Ford’s 227 yards receiving on 12 catches set an Independence Bowl record. Imani Cross, Devine Ozigbo, Terrell Newby, Andy Janovich and QB Tommy Armstrong sliced through UCLA.

Mike Riley is the ninth Nebraska coach to guide the Huskers in a bowl game.

14- Nebraska trailed 21-7 before scoring 30 straight points en route to tonight’s victory.

It was over when: Nebraska led, 37-29, late in the fourth quarter with UCLA threatening deep in Husker territory.

The junior had been a mainstay on the Bruins’ offensive line since he arrived in 2013 as a four-star recruit. Before the game, it lost two starting guards, one to early entry in the National Football League draft, and another to injury.

Redmond’s departure leaves the Bruins thin at guard.

Only three of UCLA’s original starters remained: left tackle Conor McDermott, center Jake Brendel, and Caleb Benenoch – who moved from right tackle to right guard.

Duke’s Ross Martin kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give the Blue Devils a 44-41 win against in in the Pinstripe Bowl and their first bowl win in 54 years. Prior to throwing two picks against USC in his last game, Rosen had established a new school record with 245 passing attempts without an interception. By now, everyone knows about the team’s opening game loss to BYU on the “Hail Joseph Smith”, but Nebraska has also suffered losses by three points, one point, and twice by two points. We’ll see which Rosen shows up.

“That’s a serious medical condition he has”, Mora said.

“It feels like our responsibility as an offense to hold the ball a little longer”, Rosen said.

The Bruins scored twice more in the second quarter: on a 60-yard bomb to receiver Kenneth Walker III and a 26-yard pass to backup tailback Nate Starks. Walker didn’t have to slow down. Groza Award victor Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a field goal for UCLA, and Rosen’s final heave toward the end zone on a fourth-down pass play was intercepted. On top of that, Nebraska only won three games in the Big Ten in 2015. Still, he’s the Panthers’ most risky offensive threat and adds experience in the return game to his resume.

UCLA clung to life.

Instead, the focus of the conversation was: how can UCLA turn it around? There was no Bay Area fog on this clear night, but if there had been, it’s nearly as if Nebraska would have run right under it. Boots were on the ground. It was Nebraska’s 12th possession, and the 11th one it had rushed more often than it passes. Morgan Jr. caught the touchdown pass one-handed to break a 21-21 tie and put the Cornhuskers in control.