College football top plays: Northwestern takes down Nebraska in Week 0
College football is back! The 2022-23 season kicks off with an action-packed Week 0 slate, which will play out in its entirety Saturday.
The action started on FOX, as Northwestern took down Big Ten West rival Nebraska, 31-28, in Dublin, Ireland.
Currently, defending Mountain West champion Utah State hosts UConn in Jim Mora‘s first season as head coach of the Huskies. Elsewhere, Wyoming traveled across the country to take on Illinois.
Later, two of the ACC‘s biggest names — North Carolina and Florida State — hit the field, followed by Vanderbilt battling Hawaii in Honolulu to close things out this evening.
Here are the top plays from Week 0.
Light work
The Huskies made the most of their first possession, capping off a nine-play, 79-yard drive with six points.
Off to the races
It only took the Fighting Illini two plays to get on the board, as Tommy DeVito connected with running back Chase Brown for a 14-yard TD.
And we’re off!
Nebraska was the first to strike in this one, as quarterback Casey Thompson, a transfer from Texas, hit Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda with a 32-yard touchdown that brought Cornhuskers fans to their feet in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Casey Thompson tosses 32-yard TD
Nebraska takes the early lead over Northwestern after a 32-yard touchdown pass from QB Casey Thompson to WR Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda.
Closing the gap
Northwestern came up big on third down, as Illinois transfer Donny Navarro reeled in a monster catch from QB Ryan Hilinski while taking a big hit. The big gain helped the Wildcats get on the board with a field goal, making it 7-3.
No quit
On the first play of the second quarter, Thompson turned a potential colossal mistake into a 15-yard gain for the Cornhuskers.
Coming through!
Thompson capped that drive off with a 1-yard TD rush on third down to extend Nebraska’s lead, 14-3.
Casey Thompson punches it in for a 1-yard touchdown
Nebraska QB Casey Thompson’s 1-yard rush gives him his second touchdown on the day and gives the Cornhuskers a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.
Returning the favor
Northwestern answered with a score of its own, going 74 yards in just four plays — including this clutch 41-yard throw from Hilinski to a wide-open Raymond Niro — to make it a four-point game, 14-10.
Ryan Hilinski connects with Raymond Niro on 41-yard TD pass
Northwestern QB Ryan Hilinski connected with Raymond Niro on a beautiful 41-yard touchdown pass to cut into Nebraska’s lead.
Mayhem!
Nebraska’s first major mistake came in the middle of the second quarter when Garcia-Castaneda fumbled.
Northwestern running back Evan Hull made the most of the turnover, taking off for 42 total yards on the following drive, including this tough 25-yard pickup that required some fancy footwork.
Hull, now a junior, led Northwestern in all-purpose yards (1,276) last season as a redshirt sophomore.
Unfortunately for Northwestern fans, the drive ended without any points.
It wasn’t all bad, however, as fans from both sides lucked out at the concession stand …
The tables have turned
Northwestern converted on a massive fourth-and-1 play with 1:45 remaining in the first half. The risky moved paid off when the Wildcats capped off the 13-play, 82-yard drive with six points.
Ryan Hilinski connects with Donny Navaro on a 6-yard TD pass
Ryan Hilinski finds Donny Navaro in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass that gives Northwestern a 17-14 lead in the second quarter.
With that score, Northwestern took a 17-14 lead heading into the break. Nebraska is 5-20 in one-possession games and 3-20 overall when trailing at the half under head coach Scott Frost.
Magic!
Nebraska opened up the second half with some fireworks. Thompson scrambled for nearly 12 seconds before launching the ball to Garcia-Castaneda for a 59-yard gain for a crucial first down.
The drive ended with a touchdown, as the Cornhuskers regained the lead, 21-17, early in the third quarter.
Casey Thompson’s wild scramble and pass leads to touchdown
Nebraska Cornhuskers QB Casey Thompson’s scramble and 58-yard pass to Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda leads to 3-yard TD run from Anthony Grant.
Textbook fumble
What started off looking like a strong run for the Wildcats ended in disaster when Cam Porter lost the ball near midfield.
To the house!
The fumble resulted in six quick points for Nebraska, as Anthony Grant took off for 46 yards on the following drive, making it an 11-point game.
Anthony Grant rushes for a 46-yard TD after a Northwestern fumble
Anthony Grant rushed for a 46-yard touchdown after a critical Northwestern Wildcats’ fumble, giving the Nebraska Cornhuskers a 28-17 lead.
Back and forth
It didn’t stay that way for long, however, as Nebraska opted for an onside kick early in the third quarter.
Northwestern came away with the ball and went 43 yards in five plays, as Porter redeemed himself with a short TD run. Just like that, it was a four-point game, 28-24.
One-possession game
It was a one-score game to start the fourth quarter, but that was short-lived after a Nebraska turnover. Then, Hull found the end zone on a 4-yard rush, giving the Wildcats a three-point edge, 31-28.
Northwestern sealed the win with a late fourth-quarter interception, handing Frost his 21st one-score loss as Nebraska’s head coach.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
First!
It was Western Kentucky that served up the first touchdown of the 2022-23 season when Hilltoppers QB Austin Reed connected with wideout Malachi Corley for a score against Austin Peay.
Pick-Six!
Governors QB Mike Diliello‘s pass was intercepted by WKU’s Upton Stout and taken 34 yards to the house.
STILL TO COME:
Duquesne at Florida State (5 p.m. ET, ACC)
Florida A&M at North Carolina (8:15 p.m. ET, ACC)
Vanderbilt at Hawaii (10:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
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