Gut reactions to a gutsy road win by Nebraska over UCLA

TJ Lateef was as good as advertised on Saturday night. Heck, he was even better as the true freshman completed 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-21 win for Nebraska football over UCLA.

Lateef was poised throughout the night, then connected on two key pass plays on the final drive of the game as the Huskers milked the final seconds from the clock.

As much as Lateef will get the headlines, Emmett Johnson should be the story. He was incredible. The junior carried the ball 28 times for 129 yards and a rushing touchdown, one of three total. Johnson added two receiving touchdowns on three receptions that went for 103 yards.

So 31 touches for 232 total yards. Give credit to Lateef. Give credit to Dana Holgorsen, the offensive line, and the defense, which might have won the game with its fourth-down stop late in the first half.

After the stop, when the score was 14-7, Nebraska got in scoring range thanks to a Lateef pass to Dane Key. Johnson finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown before a touchdown on a wheel route in the third made it 28-7.

UCLA came back. It felt like the game would have been tied if the Bruins got the ball back. They didn’t, though. Lateef was able to run out the clock, thanks to the O-line and Johnson. Nebraska rushed for 156 yards and allowed 157.

The Huskers had three sacks but didn’t allow any. That was massive. It was a total team effort, and here are the gut reactions from Nebraska’s win over UCLA.

Gut reactions to Nebraska football win over UCLA

• TJ Lateef is a player. It will be very interesting to see what happens over the next two games. It’s clear, though, that Nebraska football has two good quarterbacks.
• If the Huskers had a better record, Emmett Johnson would be a Heisman candidate. He’s got 1,431 total yards this season with three games to go.
• It felt like this team was determined to make up for Dylan Raiola’s absence.
• Dana Holgorsen had a good night, but so did the entire staff.
• This was one of Matt Rhule’s best wins.
• Every Big Ten road win is a good win.
• 10 wins feel possible.
• The run defense was better. QB scrambles killed Nebraska again.
• This was another sign of progress.
• Finding a way to win is progress.
• Go Big Red!