Northwestern went into Memorial Stadium seeking its sixth win of the season, but the 'Cats will have to wait a bit longer before they can clinch bowl eligibility. Nebraska (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) outlasted the Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) on Saturday, 28-21, in a game with countless missed opportunities.

Although Northwestern rallied from a 15-point deficit, David Braun's squad wasn't able to take the late lead over the Cornhuskers, which never trailed. Quarterback Preston Stone went 15-for-29 with 129 passing yards and two interceptions, including one in enemy territory on the Wildcats' penultimate drive. Caleb Komolafe ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns after leaving last week's game early with an upper-body injury.

The Wildcats' defense forced two turnovers from Dylan Raiola, who also had 141 passing yards and a touchdown, but Northwestern didn't have an answer for running back Emmett Johnson. The Big Ten's leading rusher went for 124 yards and two scores on the ground.

Nebraska marched right down the field on its first drive of the game, led by 38 yards from Johnson. The Wildcats appeared to initially stuff Johnson on 3rd-and-2, but he managed to stay on his feet and pick up the first. On the ensuing play, Johnson found the edge and gave the Huskers the lead with a nine-yard touchdown.

Northwestern then drove the ball into Husker territory, thanks to a 37-yard grab by Griffin Wilde on a jump ball. Jack Olsen knocked down a 40-yard field goal, and after a missed field goal by Nebraska, the 'Cats' kicker made it a 7-6 game with a 26-yarder. The Cornhuskers looked poised to score before the half, but Braden Turner ripped the ball out of Raiola's arms on fourth down to keep it a one-point game at the break.

Kenneth Williams quelled all Northwestern momentum with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter. Two drives later, Stone was picked off on a pass thrown behind Wilde, and Nyziah Hunter capitalized with a 12-yard diving touchdown catch to give Nebraska a 21-6 lead.

The 'Cats finally responded to find the end zone. After a fourth-down catch from Hayden Eligon continued the drive, Komolafe took it for a four-yard score. "The Beast" lived up to his namesake on Northwestern's next possession, bouncing to the outside for a 56-yard touchdown on third down. Eligon hauled in the two-point conversion, evening the game at 21 apiece in the final quarter.

Raiola and Stone traded interceptions, and the Cornhuskers proceeded to go 64 yards in 13 plays to take the lead. Johnson scored his second touchdown from four yards out to pull ahead, 28-21.

With an opportunity to tie the game, the Wildcats advanced the ball to Nebraska's 35-yard line, but Stone's pass to Wilde fell incomplete on fourth down. No flag for defensive holding was called on the play, despite Wilde's route being slowed by Nebraska defensive back Andrew Marshall.

Northwestern has a bye next week before taking on USC in Los Angeles on Friday, November 7.

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