2014 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

2014 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Holiday Bowl vs. USC, L 42–45
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	West Division
2014 record	9–4 (5–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Pelini (Regular Season; 7th Year) Barney Cotton (Bowl Game)
Offensive coordinator	Tim Beck (4th year)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	John Papuchis (3rd year)
Base defense	4–3 defense
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 87,091)
Seasons ← 2013 2015 →

2014 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
#1 Ohio State x$#^		8	–	0					14	–	1
#5T Michigan State		7	–	1					11	–	2
Maryland		4	–	4					7	–	6
Rutgers		3	–	5					8	–	5
Michigan		3	–	5					5	–	7
Penn State		2	–	6					7	–	6
Indiana		1	–	7					4	–	8
West Division
#13 Wisconsin x		7	–	1					11	–	3
Minnesota		5	–	3					8	–	5
Nebraska		5	–	3					9	–	4
Iowa		4	–	4					7	–	6
Illinois		3	–	5					6	–	7
Northwestern		3	–	5					5	–	7
Purdue		1	–	7					3	–	9
Championship: Ohio State 59, Wisconsin 0
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions As of January 13, 2015; Rankings from AP Poll

Florida Atlantic at Nebraska

1 2 3 4 Total Florida Atlantic 7 0 0 0 7 • #22 Nebraska 14 17 17 7 55 Date: August 30 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 2:43 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:20 Game attendance: 91,441 Game weather: Sunny, 81°F, Wind N@2mph, Humidty 68% Referee: Greg Blum TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Eric Crouch, Damon Benning Source:

Scoring summary 1 9:19 Nebraska Tommy Armstrong Jr. 5-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 7–0 1 4:56 FAU Lucky Whitehead 20-yard pass from Jaquez Johnson (Greg Joseph kick) 7–7 1 1:22 Nebraska Jordan Westerkamp 36-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 14–7 2 12:18 Nebraska Drew Brown 44-yard field goal Nebraska 17–7 2 6:29 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah 47-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 24–7 2 2:30 Nebraska Imani Cross 3-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 31–7 3 10:18 Nebraska Terrell Newby 2-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 38–7 3 6:41 Nebraska Demornay Pierson-El 8-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 45–7 3 3:09 Nebraska Mauro Bondi 45-yard field goal Nebraska 48–7 4 13:20 Nebraska Terrell Newby 1-yard run (Mauro Bondi kick) Nebraska 55–7

Scoring summary
1	9:19	Nebraska	Tommy Armstrong Jr. 5-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 7–0
1	4:56	FAU	Lucky Whitehead 20-yard pass from Jaquez Johnson (Greg Joseph kick)	7–7
1	1:22	Nebraska	Jordan Westerkamp 36-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 14–7
2	12:18	Nebraska	Drew Brown 44-yard field goal	Nebraska 17–7
2	6:29	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah 47-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 24–7
2	2:30	Nebraska	Imani Cross 3-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 31–7
3	10:18	Nebraska	Terrell Newby 2-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 38–7
3	6:41	Nebraska	Demornay Pierson-El 8-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 45–7
3	3:09	Nebraska	Mauro Bondi 45-yard field goal	Nebraska 48–7
4	13:20	Nebraska	Terrell Newby 1-yard run (Mauro Bondi kick)	Nebraska 55–7

McNeese State at Nebraska

1 2 3 4 Total McNeese State 7 7 0 10 24 • #19 Nebraska 14 7 3 7 31 Date: September 6 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 11:01 AM CST Elapsed time: 3:23 Game attendance: 91,082 Game weather: Sunny, 64°F, Wind N@7mph, Humidty 66% Referee: Shawn Smith TV announcers (ESPNU): Adam Amin, John Congemi Source:

Scoring summary 1 8:26 McNeese State Derrick Milton, 9-yard run (Alex Kjellsten kick) MSU 7–0 1 6:44 Nebraska Jordan Westerkamp, 40-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick) 7–7 1 3:00 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah, 2-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 14–7 2 10:08 McNeese State Aaron Sam, 98-yard INT return 14–14 2 5:47 Nebraska Tommy Armstrong Jr., 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 21–14 3 3:51 Nebraska Drew Brown, 31-yard field goal Nebraska 24–14 4 13:45 McNeese State Tyler Bolfing, 1-yard run (Alex Kjellsten kick) Nebraska 24–21 4 4:21 McNeese State Alex Kjellsten, 24-yard field goal 24–24 4 0:20 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah, 58-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 31–24

Scoring summary
1	8:26	McNeese State	Derrick Milton, 9-yard run (Alex Kjellsten kick)	MSU 7–0
1	6:44	Nebraska	Jordan Westerkamp, 40-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick)	7–7
1	3:00	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah, 2-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 14–7
2	10:08	McNeese State	Aaron Sam, 98-yard INT return	14–14
2	5:47	Nebraska	Tommy Armstrong Jr., 1-yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 21–14
3	3:51	Nebraska	Drew Brown, 31-yard field goal	Nebraska 24–14
4	13:45	McNeese State	Tyler Bolfing, 1-yard run (Alex Kjellsten kick)	Nebraska 24–21
4	4:21	McNeese State	Alex Kjellsten, 24-yard field goal	24–24
4	0:20	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah, 58-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 31–24

Nebraska at Fresno State

1 2 3 4 Total • Nebraska 14 13 14 14 55 Fresno State 2 3 7 7 19 Date: September 13 Location: Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, California Game start: 7:40 PM PST Elapsed time: 3:41 Game attendance: 41,031 Game weather: 99°F, Wind SSE@6mph, Partly Cloudy Referee: Ron Snodgrass TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, Jamie Erdhal Source:

Scoring summary 1 13:14 Nebraska Jordan Westerkamp 70 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 7–0 1 12:03 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah 57 yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 14–0 1 9:09 Fresno State Team safety Nebraska 14–2 2 12:18 Nebraska Drew Brown 38 yard field goal Nebraska 17–2 2 9:11 Nebraska Demornay Pierson-El 86 yard punt return (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 24–2 2 5:40 Nebraska Drew Brown, 22 yard field goal Nebraska 27–2 2 2:08 Fresno State Kody Kroening 27 yard field goal Nebraska 27–5 3 11:50 Nebraska Cethan Carter 20 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 34–5 3 4:42 Fresno State Brian Burrell 66 yard run (Kody Kroening kick) Nebraska 34–12 3 2:47 Nebraska Imani Cross 62 yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 41–12 4 10:48 Nebraska Sam Cotton 23 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 48–12 4 6:25 Fresno State Delvon Hardaway 9 yard pass from Brian Burrell (Kody Kroening kick) Nebraska 48–19 4 3:04 Nebraska C. Bailey 10 yard pass from Ryker Fyfe (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 55–19

Scoring summary
1	13:14	Nebraska	Jordan Westerkamp 70 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 7–0
1	12:03	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah 57 yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 14–0
1	9:09	Fresno State	Team safety	Nebraska 14–2
2	12:18	Nebraska	Drew Brown 38 yard field goal	Nebraska 17–2
2	9:11	Nebraska	Demornay Pierson-El 86 yard punt return (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 24–2
2	5:40	Nebraska	Drew Brown, 22 yard field goal	Nebraska 27–2
2	2:08	Fresno State	Kody Kroening 27 yard field goal	Nebraska 27–5
3	11:50	Nebraska	Cethan Carter 20 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 34–5
3	4:42	Fresno State	Brian Burrell 66 yard run (Kody Kroening kick)	Nebraska 34–12
3	2:47	Nebraska	Imani Cross 62 yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 41–12
4	10:48	Nebraska	Sam Cotton 23 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 48–12
4	6:25	Fresno State	Delvon Hardaway 9 yard pass from Brian Burrell (Kody Kroening kick)	Nebraska 48–19
4	3:04	Nebraska	C. Bailey 10 yard pass from Ryker Fyfe (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 55–19

Miami (FL) at Nebraska

1 2 3 4 Total Miami (FL) 7 7 7 10 31 • #24 Nebraska 7 10 14 10 41 Date: September 20 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE Game start: 7:06 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:24 Game attendance: 91,585 Game weather: Sunny, 76° F, Wind NNW@5-12mph, Humidty 42% Referee: Dennis Hennigan TV announcers (ESPN2): Joe Tessitore, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake Source:

Scoring summary 1 10:26 Miami Duke Johnson 2 yard run (Michael Badgley kick) Miami 7–0 1 8:12 Nebraska Kenny Bell 40 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) 7–7 2 13:52 Miami Clive Walford 6 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick) Miami 14–7 2 7:10 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah 3 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick) 14–14 2 0:00 Nebraska Drew Brown 19 yard field goal Nebraska 17–14 3 10:06 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah 6 yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 24–14 3 5:09 Miami Malcolm Lewis 9 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick) Nebraska 24–21 3 2:23 Nebraska Josh Mitchell 57 yard fumble recovery (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 31–21 4 13:37 Miami Michael Badgley 34 yard field goal Nebraska 31–24 4 9:21 Nebraska Drew Brown 39 yard field goal Nebraska 34–24 4 4:13 Nebraska Ameer Abdullah 10 yard run (Drew Brown kick) Nebraska 41–24 4 0:18 Miami Braxton Berrios 4 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick) Nebraska 41–31

Scoring summary
1	10:26	Miami	Duke Johnson 2 yard run (Michael Badgley kick)	Miami 7–0
1	8:12	Nebraska	Kenny Bell 40 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)	7–7
2	13:52	Miami	Clive Walford 6 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick)	Miami 14–7
2	7:10	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah 3 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)	14–14
2	0:00	Nebraska	Drew Brown 19 yard field goal	Nebraska 17–14
3	10:06	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah 6 yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 24–14
3	5:09	Miami	Malcolm Lewis 9 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick)	Nebraska 24–21
3	2:23	Nebraska	Josh Mitchell 57 yard fumble recovery (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 31–21
4	13:37	Miami	Michael Badgley 34 yard field goal	Nebraska 31–24
4	9:21	Nebraska	Drew Brown 39 yard field goal	Nebraska 34–24
4	4:13	Nebraska	Ameer Abdullah 10 yard run (Drew Brown kick)	Nebraska 41–24
4	0:18	Miami	Braxton Berrios 4 yard pass from Brad Kaaya (Michael Badgley kick)	Nebraska 41–31

The 2014 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. Following losses to both Wisconsin and Minnesota and a come from behind win in overtime at Iowa, Pelini was relieved of his coaching duties following the conclusion of the regular season on November 30, 2014. On December 4, 2014, Mike Riley was announced as the next head coach of the Nebraska football team, and would begin his duties immediately. However, he would not coach the Huskers in the Holiday Bowl, with that job instead handled by Barney Cotton. The Cornhuskers lost the Holiday Bowl to USC.

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Nebraska opened the 2014 season, the 125th season in program history, with a home game against the Florida Atlantic Owls. Nebraska dominated the game and led from start to finish in a 55–7 rout. The Huskers ended the game with a Big Ten Conference record 784 yards of total offense, while allowing just 200 total yards to FAU. Nebraska now leads the all-time series with FAU 2–0.

Nebraska struggled with FCS opponent McNeese State. Running back Ameer Abdullah broke five tackles on a 58-yard touchdown reception with 20 seconds remaining in the game to lead Nebraska to a 31–24 win at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers totaled 437 yards in offense and allowed 338 to the Cowboys. Tommy Armstrong was 16-of-31 for 242 yards with 2 TDs and an INT passing, and was also the leading rusher with 11 carries for 131 yards and a score. Abdullah added 54 yards rushing with a TD on the ground and was the top receiver with three catches for 96 yards and the game-winning score. Jordan Westerkamp added four catches for 61 yards and a TD.

This was Nebraska's first road game of the 2014 season, taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs in Fresno, California. The two teams had only met once before, a 42–29 Nebraska win in Lincoln in 2011. Nebraska gained 562 yards of offense and never trailed in a 55–19 win over Fresno State. Tommy Armstrong threw for 260 yards and Ameer Abdullah rushed for 110 to lead the Huskers to a 3–0 start on the season. For the first time since 2007, Nebraska wore all-white uniforms whereas Fresno State wore alternate all-red ones.

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