The Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0) were anxious heading into their biggest non-conference game of the season, hosting the (2-2) Miami Hurricanes. They needed a win to keep the Big 10 at having a chance at a National Championship contender, since it is only the Cornhuskers and the Penn State Nittany Lions that are undefeated in conference. But they also need to win to try to break Bo Pelini's streak of 9-4 or 10-4 seasons. They have done that every year since he has arrived, but there is hope for improvement in this 2014 season.
Much of that hope has to do with running back Ameer Abdullah. He had the game winning play against the McNeese State Cowboys, when the Huskers dreadfully played down to their opponent and won 31-24. Through 4 games, he already has 625 rushing yards and 7 total touchdowns. In the game against the Hurricanes he had 35 carries for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 81 kickoff return yards and 3 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. He was accountable for the majority of the yards and helped Nebraska win a primetime game. That is something that the Huskers have desperately needed in recent years. Abdullah is the VAVEL player of the game in this contest.
It was an excellent contest though, with the Hurricanes jumping out to an early lead as Duke Johnson had a 7 yard rushing touchdown to open up the scoring. Tommy Armstrong Jr. would find Kenny Bell for a 40 yard touchdown on the next possession to tie the game up for the Huskers. Then it was punting time for the rest of the quarter as it would end in a 7-7 tie.
Clive Warford caught two passes including a touchdown but Duke Johnson had a 32 yard reception to get the Hurricanes into the red zone. Miami would take a 14-7 lead, and that would be the last time that the Hurricanes would lead in this ball game.
Abdullah and Armstrong Jr. were running the ball down the field and then Abdullah caught a 3 yard touchdown pass from Armstrong Jr. to tie the ball game back up. Nebraska would drive down the field again before the end of the half, but were stopped at the 2 yard line and would kick a field goal for a 17-14 halftime lead.
Both teams scoring on their first possession of the second half, just like they did in the first half. Abdullah had a six yard rushing touchdown, and then Brad Kaaya passed it to Malcolm Lewis for a 9 yard receiving touchdown. The Huskers lead was 24-21, then they may have had their biggest play of the game.
Trevor Roach forced a fumble from Duke Johnson near midfield, and Josh Mitchell picked up the ball and ran back 57 yards down field for a defensive touchdown that would give the Huskers a 10 point advantage again. The teams would then exchange field goals and Miami would try to convert a 4th and 4 from the Huskers 35 midway through the fourth quarter. Joshua Kalu would intercept the ball and then the Huskers would score after just 5 Ameer Abdullah runs to put the Huskers up 41-24. Miami would score a garbage time touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to achieve the final score, when Kaaya would find Braxton Berrios for a 4 yard touchdown.
Next up for the Cornhuskers will be their conference opener on Saturday, September 27th against the Illinois Fighting Illini. On the other hand, Miami will be looking to bounce back and avoid falling to 0-2 in the conference when hosting Duke at Sun Life Stadium.