PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — TJ Latif was 13 of 15 for 205 yards and three touchdown passes in his first collegiate start, Emmett Johnson scored three times and Nebraska beat UCLA 28-21 on Saturday night for its first win in Pasadena since 1993.
Playing at the Rose Bowl, 25 miles from his hometown of Compton, Latif replaced Dylan Raiolawho is out for the rest of the season with a right calf injury he suffered in last week's 21-17 loss to Southern California. Latif played the final four possessions against the Trojans.
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As the first true freshman to start for Nebraska since 1950, Latif helped the Cornhuskers (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) score on their first four possessions for a 27-7 lead.
Jacorey Barney Jr. caught Latif's 2-yard pass on the slanted right pylon for Nebraska's first touchdown after video review. Latif hit Johnson with a pass at the Nebraska 41, and Johnson flew 56 yards down the left sideline past his bench for the score. Johnson's 1-yard run limited the Cornhuskers' scoring in the first half.
Nebraska extended its lead to 28-7 and opened the third on Johnson's 40-yard touchdown run from Latif. Singing “Go Big Red!” filled the Rose Bowl with red-clad fans filling the east stands of the historic stadium.
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Lateef was 10 of 10 for 173 yards heading into the fourth.
Already Nebraska's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2018, Johnson had 28 carries and ran for one touchdown. He had three catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Coming off a bye week, the Bruins (3-6, 3-3) were trying to bounce back from a 56-6 rout of No. 2 Indiana that ended their three-game winning streak.
Their only score of the first half was Jalen Berger's 1-yard run on a direct snap that tied the game 7-7. Matin Bhagani missed a 49-yard field goal wide left just before halftime.
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Niko Yamaleawa hit Anthony Woods with a 45-yard pass that left UCLA trailing 28-14 in the third.
The Bruins closed the game 28-21 on Yamaleava's scoring pass to Anthony Frias II with 4:54 left in the game, which started at their 3-yard line.
Conclusion
Nebraska: The Huskers are already bowl-eligible, and Latif's composed performance combined with Johnson's exploits bolster their hopes of a top-tier bowl berth with two games remaining.
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UCLA: The Bruins face a tough stretch with three ranked opponents to finish the regular season. They will visit No. 1 Ohio State, host No. 24 Washington and visit No. 20 USC.
Next
Nebraska has a bye week before visiting Penn State (0-6 Big Ten) on Nov. 22 when coach Matt Rhule returns to his alma mater.
UCLA visits No. 1 Ohio State next Saturday.
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Beth Harris, Associated Press
