Can you believe one team could pack so much excitement into just six games? Nebraska's 2025 season (so far!) has been a rollercoaster of incredible plays, moments that will be replayed for years to come. It's not every year you see a team string together this many highlight-reel moments.
This is Part Two of our countdown. If you missed Part One, check out the first half of the season's sizzlers here: [https://www.si.com/college/nebraska/football/huskers-at-halfway-point-of-promising-season]
The Huskers, sitting at a respectable 5-1 record, have given fans plenty to cheer about. So, without further ado, let's dive into the five coolest plays of 2025 (presented in chronological order), along with a few honorable mentions that deserve a shout-out.
1. Hartzog's Heroic Interception vs. Cincinnati:
Picture this: Season opener, the clock ticking down, Nebraska clinging to a narrow three-point lead. Cincinnati is driving, poised to potentially steal the win. With just 34 seconds left, the Bearcats are at Nebraska's 33-yard line. Their quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, spots wide receiver Cyrus Allen open in the end zone, a potential game-winning touchdown in sight.
Sorsby throws, but here's where it gets controversial... instead of leading Allen safely to the outside, the pass is slightly underthrown. Enter Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. He closes in with lightning speed and snags the interception!
"I looked up and seen the ball and I just made the play," Hartzog told reporters after the nail-biting 20-17 victory. "It felt unreal."
Adding to the drama, Hartzog had been flagged for holding on the previous play, gifting Cincinnati 10 crucial yards. Talk about a redemption arc!
2. Nwaneri's Scoop-and-Score vs. HCU:
This play might not have impacted the final score of the Huskers' dominant 59-7 win, but the sheer power and unexpectedness of it made it unforgettable. Who doesn't love seeing a defensive lineman rumble towards the end zone?
Huskers defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel absolutely wrecked HCU quarterback Jake Weir in the pocket. We're talking a world-rocking hit! The ball popped loose, and redshirt freshman Williams Nwaneri was there to scoop it up and score. Nwaneri rumbled 29 yards for the touchdown, extending Nebraska's lead to 31-0.
"When I picked it up, I was really trying to get my balance," Nwaneri admitted after the game. "That's why I was running like that, but I definitely have to make sure to tuck the ball away next time."
And this is the part most people miss... Nwaneri revealed that this was his first-ever touchdown, dating all the way back to little league!
3. Barney's Hail Mary Catch vs. Michigan:
Nebraska was on the verge of heading into halftime trailing 17-10 against the 21st-ranked Wolverines. But a critical timeout blunder by Michigan gifted the Huskers one last shot before the break.
Dylan Raiola, facing absolutely no pressure, rolled to his right and launched a pass from Nebraska's 45-yard line. The ball sailed into the end zone, where wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. leaped above the crowd and made an incredible catch. The 52-yard play tied the game at 17-all heading into halftime.
"We run it every week in practice," Barney explained. "It was called. I was like, I just gotta do my assignment and do what I need to do. Dylan made a good throw. I made a good catch. I'm proud of it. It wasn't enough."
Unfortunately, Michigan ultimately prevailed, winning 30-27 and handing Nebraska their only loss of the season thus far.
4. Conn's Blocked Punt and Nelson's Touchdown vs. Michigan State:
Michigan State found themselves trailing 7-0 early in the first quarter. Their punter, Ryan Eckley, stood on the MSU 13-yard line, ready to punt the ball away.
But Nebraska had other plans. Huskers defensive back Jamir Conn, looking like an Olympic sprinter, burst through untouched and blocked the punt – his second blocked punt of the season! Tight end Carter Nelson scooped up the loose ball and returned it 3 yards for a touchdown.
It might have been the easiest punt block in the history of college football.
Nelson's score marked Nebraska's second touchdown in just 1 minute and 14 seconds, propelling them to an eventual 38-27 victory.
"[I] wanted the scoop-and-score, looked up and saw Carter had it in the end zone," Conn said after the game. "We were talking about it a couple of times [during the week] saying how he was going to scoop it, and I said: 'I'll meet you in the end zone.'"
5. Hunter's One-Shoe Touchdown vs. Michigan State:
In the third quarter, with Nebraska leading 24-21, Dylan Raiola connected with Nyziah Hunter on a screen pass. Hunter turned the corner, lost one of his shoes, and proceeded to sprint 59 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Huskers' 38-27 victory.
Hunter was flying, even with just one shoe!
"That was my first one-shoe touchdown and I had a top speed, too," Hunter said. "Even if I had both shoes on, I just wonder what would be my top speed."
Honorable Mentions:
These plays didn't quite crack the top five, but they're still worth celebrating:
Lindenmeyer's Post-Game Proposal: Technically, this happened on the Memorial Stadium field, and it's a moment worth mentioning. After the Huskers' dominant 68-0 victory over Akron, tight end Lindenmeyer proposed to his girlfriend, Kailyn Storovich, a Scarlet dancer. Lindenmeyer, a former walk-on, had also scored his first career touchdown in the game. "I couldn't think of a better place to do it," Lindenmeyer told Storovich during the heartfelt proposal.
Moments from the Maryland Game: Specifically, two plays from the scintillating 34-31 Nebraska win:
- Sophomore Kenneth Williams' electrifying 85-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, setting up the Huskers at the Maryland 10-yard line.
- Emmett Johnson's incredible 50-yard run in the fourth quarter, featuring moves that would make Barry Sanders proud.
So, there you have it – Nebraska's coolest plays of the season (so far)! Which play was *your favorite? Did we miss any moments that deserve recognition? Let us know in the comments below!*
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