LINCOLN, NEB. - For the first time since 2016, Husker Football is 3-0.

Nebraska rolled past Northern Iowa 34-3. In a night of firsts, two Huskers, including Jacory Barney Jr. and Carter Nelson recorded their first career touchdowns, while the Blackshirts allowed only a field goal in the win.

Matt Rhule recapped the Big Red win by complimenting the Panthers’ efforts.

“Just start by saying hoe much respect I have for the their football team… They competed to the very end,” Rhule said. “I thought the quarterback, Duane, was a competitor, gritty, tough. They came here to try to win the game. Really appt with our two’s at the end of the game, keeping them out of the end zone. That’s two out of three games we’ve had a fourth quarter shutout. going down to score a touchdown. Really happy with our two offense, they went down and scored a touchdown.”

Nebraska’s defense was tested on the ground early, as the Panthers averaged 3.6 yards per carry in the first half. However, Tony White’s defense enabled a bend don’t break mentality, for yet another strong showing. Senior defensive back Isaac Gifford says Nebraska will celebrate the win, but says it wasn’t the defense’s best night.

“I’m happy with a win, a solid win, at that,” Gifford said. “The defense, we didn’t really play to our standards in the first half, I think everyone felt that. We came out in the second half, we picked it up and felt a lot better about that second half. But we felt a lot better about that second half, but that first half wasn’t up to our standards.”

Offensively, freshmen receivers Jacory Barney Jr. and Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson scored their first touchdowns of their careers, both coming from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

“Carter, from where he came to now, I can't can't give him enough praise. He's been playing eight man his whole life and gets into a college game and gets a touchdown third game in the season. Just happy for him, happy for his family,” Raiola said. “And obviously, Jacory, that’s my guy… He's a knucklehead and he makes plays. Proud of him. And I know he's gonna make more.”

Now, Nebraska will face off in a Top 25 duel with Illinois. Nebraska enters the game ranked 22nd in the nation, while Illinois comes in at 24. With the contest set for Friday, it’s a short week for the Big Red, which Coach Rhule says leads to a change of schedule.

“Normally Sunday’s our off day, usually we do a big players family dinner get together, we won’t be able to do that, it’ll be a work day for us,” Rhule said. “We’ll work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Our off day this week will be next Saturday, Great thing is we’re not traveling.”

#22 Nebraska and #24 Illinois kick off at 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday.