Week 1 of the faculty soccer season kicked off Thursday, and it delivered loads of drama, highlights and insights, capped by an exhilarating end in Nebraska’s 20-17 win over Cincinnati (in entrance of energy couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, nonetheless). It was simply a part of an unsightly however unbeaten evening for the Huge Ten, which had 4 groups in motion.
Rutgers topped Ohio 34-31, Minnesota beat Buffalo 23-10 and Wisconsin edged Miami (Ohio) 17-0. However the headliner was Nebraska, which is predicted to take a step towards nationwide relevance in coach Matt Rhule’s third season following this system’s first bowl bid since 2016.
That step ahead almost grew to become a giant step again as Cincinnati launched a possible game-winning drive late within the fourth quarter. Finally, Huskers defensive again Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby with 39 seconds remaining to protect the victory for Nebraska.
His pivotal choose got here only one play after he dedicated a holding penalty that inched the Bearcats nearer to field-goal vary. One second he was the goat. Then the following, he was the hero. It was quintessential faculty soccer drama and only a style of what is forward over Labor Day weekend.
Right here is the rundown of Thursday evening’s prime winners and losers.
The Six Pack: Picks for Ohio State vs. Texas, LSU vs. Clemson and Tom Fornelli’s lock for Week 1 motion
Tom Fornelli
Winner: Nebraska finds a manner
So usually over the previous decade, Nebraska has found torturous new methods to lose soccer video games to its followers. Even whereas reaching bowl eligibility final season, the Cornhuskers completed simply 2-5 in one-possession video games as they struggled to shed the scars of the Scott Frost period. That is why Thursday evening’s win was so huge. It was no masterpiece, nevertheless it was a gritty victory for a program that has so usually fallen briefly in pressure-packed moments over time. Nebraska now has tune-up possibilities in opposition to Akron and Houston Christian over the following two weeks earlier than issues get actual in opposition to Michigan on Sept. 20.
Loser: Boise State appears to be like rudderless
No. 25 Boise State failed to achieve 10 factors for the primary time since 2020 in a hapless 34-7 loss at South Florida. The Broncos ran 86 performs in comparison with simply 53 for South Florida and dominated time of possession by almost 13 minutes. However regardless of how lengthy they’d the soccer, they could not end drives. Two first half Boise State possessions ended with fumbles in USF territory, after which 4 straight possessions within the second half ended with failed fourth-down conversion makes an attempt. Adjusting to life with out Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty was at all times going to be powerful for Boise State, however Thursday introduced a sobering glimpse of simply how powerful it is going to be.
Winner: Byrum Brown lowers the increase
If there are any lingering results of the season-ending leg damage that South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown suffered final season, they weren’t evident within the Bulls’ 34-7 win over No. 25 Boise State. The 230-pound cell risk lowered the increase on a number of events, shedding would-be tacklers and confirmed why he was one of many sport’s prime breakout stars in 2023. For good measure, he additionally accomplished 16 of 24 passes for 210 yards in an announcement victory for USF.
Winner: Brawl rematch delivers drama
A brawl broke out on the finish of East Carolina’s 26-21 Navy Bowl victory in opposition to NC State in December, and the reverberations have been nonetheless being felt on Thursday as they met to open the 2025 season. Two Wolfpack gamers who have been ejected from the bowl recreation have been subsequently ineligible for the primary half of the season opener. There was no repeat of the combat, however there was loads of drama as NC State squeaked out a 24-17 win. ECU rallied from a 24-7 deficit and trailed by simply seven when it obtained the soccer again with below six minutes remaining. The Pirates plundered their manner inside NC State’s 10-yard line earlier than arising empty on a fourth-and-1 play with below a minute left. The groups have met 4 instances over the previous three seasons and every recreation has been determined by a landing or much less.
Loser: Missouri’s QB battle will get undesirable improvement
Missouri’s quarterback battle between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn remained one of many murkier QB competitions within the nation coming into Week 1. However it might have sorted itself out in the course of the Tigers’ 61-6 win over Central Arkansas. Pribula began earlier than Horn entered in the course of the center of a drive within the first quarter and plunged up the center for a fateful 6-yard achieve, taking a shot to the knees within the course of. Horn wanted assist getting off the sector and was later noticed on crutches and in a leg brace.
The redshirt junior was additionally chosen within the seventeenth spherical of the 2025 MLB Draft as a right-handed pitcher however elected to proceed enjoying soccer, even after signing with the Dodgers. With Horn injured, Pribula ended up with a higher share of the first-team reps than anticipated. Although the extent of competitors was missing, the Penn State switch regarded the a part of an SEC starter. Pribula completed 23 of 28 for 283 yards with three touchdowns whereas additionally operating for 65 yards and two scores.
Winner: Bowling Inexperienced begins with a bang
Eddie George’s teaching tenure at Bowling Inexperienced started with a bang, as Cameron Pettaway returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a landing within the Falcons’ 26-7 win over Lafayette. The remainder of the sport was a snoozer, because the Falcons mustered simply 265 yards in opposition to their FCS foe. However Pettaway’s opening spotlight made for a enjoyable begin to a extremely anticipated new period. George, a four-time Professional Bowler, went 24-22 in 4 seasons as Tennessee State’s coach and is now again in a state the place he is revered for his time as a traditionally productive Ohio State operating again.
Loser: Rutgers lets issues get tense
Rutgers appeared properly on its technique to protecting a 15.5-point unfold when it took a 31-14 lead late within the first half. However the Scarlet Knights ended up sweating till the tip of a 34-31 victory over Ohio. The Bobcats — picked to complete third within the MAC — outscored Rutgers 14-0 within the third quarter and had the soccer down simply three factors within the fourth quarter earlier than stalling out close to midfield.
As an alternative of going for it on fourth-and-10 from the Scarlet Knights’ 48-yard line with just below seven minutes remaining, Ohio punted. On the time, it appeared like a wise play, contemplating the Bobcats have been enjoying strong protection and had all three timeouts remaining. However Rutgers bled out the remaining clock with a 12-play drive that includes 4 first downs. The sport-clinching play was a 10-yard move from Athan Kaliakmanis to DT Sheffield on fourth-and-7 with below two minutes left. Had it fallen incomplete, the Bobcats would have regained possession needing only a discipline aim to ship the sport into extra time. However Rutgers coach Greg Schiano gambled, and it paid off because the Scarlet Knights averted what would have been an embarrassing Week 1 outcome for the Huge Ten.
Loser: Wisconsin loses QB
Wisconsin beginning quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. exited the Badgers’ 17-0 win over Miami (Ohio) within the second quarter after struggling a non-contact damage following a handoff. His departure solely added to the angst of a sluggish begin to an necessary 12 months 3 for coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers turned to San Diego State switch Danny O’Neil following Edwards’ damage, however their offense sputtered till O’Neil discovered Vinny Anthony II for a landing move late within the third quarter. It was solely then that Wisconsin lastly prolonged its result in 10-0. On a constructive word, the Badgers held their floor defensively. The visiting Redhawks mustered simply 117 yards and went 0 for 9 on third-down conversion makes an attempt.
