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.
Season-ending injury Number of games played () WR Jamal Turner (2) WR Sam Burtch (0) RB Adam Taylor (0) LB Michael Rose-Ivey (0) S LeRoy Alexander (0) S Charles Jackson (0)
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
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.
Jordan Westerkamp about to catch a touchdown pass during the first quarter of the Nebraska vs. Florida Atlantic game, August 30, 2014
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 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 touchdown 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.
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
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.
Nebraska hosted the Miami Hurricanes in game four of the 2014 season. This was the 11th meeting in the all-time series which was tied at five wins apiece. It was the first regular season meeting between the two since a 17–9 Nebraska win in 1976. The first meeting between the two took place in 1951 was the first-ever night game at Memorial Stadium. The Gotham Bowl matchup was Nebraska's first-ever bowl victory. Each of the past five bowl meetings for the two saw the winner declared the national champion. Nebraska won 41–31 making it the 400th win in Memorial Stadium history. The tunnel walk before the game featured the 1994 team including former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne to commemorate the 20th anniversary of defeating Miami for the national championship.
Kenny Bell 63 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 28–7
2
7:27
Illinois
Geronimo Allen 58 yard pass from Reilly O'Toole (David Reisner kick)
Nebraska 28–14
2
2:48
Nebraska
Drew Brown 29 yard field goal
Nebraska 31–14
3
7:56
Nebraska
Imani Cross 4 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 38–14
4
4:58
Nebraska
Terrell Newby 6 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 45–14
Nebraska opened up Big Ten play with a game against Illinois at home on Homecoming. The Huskers improved to 9–2–1 all-time against the Illini behind the rushing of Ameer Abdullah who put up 196 yards in the first half and 208 total yards and three touchdowns. The Huskers rushed for over 400 yards as a team en route to a dominating 45–14 victory. Nebraska broke out their "Red Rising" alternate uniforms from Adidas in this game. During the halftime performance, Nebraska's marching band spelled out "Fear Ameer" on the field.
19th-ranked Nebraska traveled to East Lansing, Michigan to take on #10 Michigan State in a key Big Ten conference matchup. Heading into the game Nebraska was 7–1 all-time against the Spartans, with MSU picking up their first ever win over Nebraska last year in Lincoln by a score of 41–28. In the game Michigan State jumped out to a 27–3 lead going into the fourth quarter before the Huskers rallied with a 19-point final quarter. Nebraska was driving with the ball with less than a minute to go before throwing a game-ending interception to lose the first game of the year 27–22.
De'Mornay Pierson-El 16 yard pass to Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Brown kick)
14–14
2
0:03
Northwestern
Mitchell 29 yard field goal
Northwestern 17–14
3
4:27
Nebraska
Abdullah 1 yard run (Brown kick)
Nebraska 21–17
4
13:16
Nebraska
Abdullah 1 yard run (Brown kick)
Nebraska 28–17
4
7:36
Nebraska
Abdullah 1 yard run (Brown kick)
Nebraska 35–17
4
4:28
Nebraska
Brown 33 yard field goal
Nebraska 38–17
19th-ranked Nebraska traveled to Evanston, Illinois, to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big Ten West Division match-up. Coming into the game Nebraska led the all-time series with the Wildcats five games to two. Last year the Huskers captured a 27–24 victory on a last second Hail Mary touchdown pass. This year's game the two teams played even through two quarters of football before Nebraska pulled away in the second half. Ameer Abdullah recorded a career-high four TDs as the Huskers pulled out a 38–17 victory. Once again, Nebraska wore all white uniforms for this game while Northwestern wore alternate ones for Homecoming.
Leonte Carroo 71 yard pass from Gary Nova (Kyle Federico kick)
7–7
2
13:39
Nebraska
Ameer Abdullah 53 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 14–7
2
10:28
Nebraska
Ameer Abdullah 48 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 21–7
3
12:08
Nebraska
Sam Cotton 8 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 28–7
3
9:10
Rutgers
Kyle Federico 41 yard field goal
Nebraska 28–10
3
6:35
Nebraska
Jordan Westerkamp 4 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 35–10
3
0:04
Rutgers
Desmon Peoples 3 yard run (Kyle Federico kick)
Nebraska 35–17
4
8:07
Nebraska
Ameer Abdullah 23 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 42–17
4
5:11
Rutgers
Robert Martin 4 yard run (Kyle Federico kick)
Nebraska 42–24
Nebraska returned home for the first time in four weeks as the Huskers hosted Big Ten newcomer Rutgers. This was the first ever visit to Memorial Stadium by the Scarlet Knights, and was just the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The only other meeting came back in 1920, with the Huskers prevailing 28–0 at the New York Polo Grounds. The 94-year gap between games in the series is the longest for Nebraska against any opponent in school history.
In the matchup, Ameer Abdullah rushed for 225 yards and set a single-game school record with 341 all-purpose yards and scored three TDs to lead Nebraska to a 42–24 win over the Scarlet Knights. Abdullah now has 6,604 career all-purpose yards, extending his school record and moving past Ohio State's Archie Griffin into second place in Big Ten history. Also, wide receiver Kenny Bell became Nebraska's career receptions leader with 167.
Ameer Abdullah running for a 53-yard touchdown (Nebraska vs Rutgers, 2014)
Bo Pelini on the sideline (Nebraska vs. Rutgers, 2014)
Rutgers' quarterback Chris Laviano runs for a long gain (Nebraska vs. Rutgers, 2014).
Tommy Armstrong Jr. rolls out to pass (Nebraska vs. Rutgers, 2014).
Purdue visited Memorial Stadium for the first time in program history on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Nebraska came away with a 35–14 victory in a game that saw Heisman Trophy candidate Ameer Abdullah suffer a knee injury early in the game that knocked him out of the contest.
Sam Arneson 5 yard pass from Joel Stave (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 24–17
3
8:06
Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon 1 yard run (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 31–17
3
5:46
Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon 6 yard run (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 38–17
3
1:00
Wisconsin
Tanner McEvoy 11 yard run (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 45–17
3
0:00
Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon 26 yard run (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 52–17
4
5:34
Wisconsin
Dar Ogunbowale 8 yard run (R. Gaglianone kick)
Wisconsin 59–17
4
2:54
Nebraska
Terrell Newby 2 yard run (Drew Brown kick)
Wisconsin 59–24
Nebraska traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a key Big Ten West Division game on Saturday. Melvin Gordon ran for a new FBS single-game rushing record 408 yards. The Badgers scored 56 unanswered points after the Huskers started the game with a 17–3 lead to win the contest and the inaugural Freedom Trophy by a 59–24 score.
De'Mornay Pierson-El 18 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 14–7
2
5:18
Nebraska
Nate Gerry 85 yard blocked field goal return (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 21–7
3
11:14
Minnesota
David Cobb 17 yard run (Ryan Santoso kick)
Nebraska 21–14
3
7:19
Nebraska
Drew Brown 30 yard field goal
Nebraska 24–14
3
1:47
Minnesota
Rodrick Williams 19 yard run (Ryan Santoso kick)
Nebraska 24–21
4
3:25
Minnesota
Mitch Leidner 3 yard run (Ryan Santoso kick)
Minnesota 28–24
Nebraska completed its 2014 home schedule when Minnesota came to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, November 22 for Senior Day. The Golden Gophers lead the all-time series 30–22–2, and Nebraska leads 2–1 since joining the Big Ten Conference. The Gophers overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Nebraska for the second straight season and clinch a winning Big Ten season for the first time since the 2003 season with a 28–24 win.
John Lowdermilk 17 yard interception return (Marshall Koehn kick)
Iowa 7–0
2
1:44
Iowa
Marshall Koehn 22 yard field goal
Iowa 10–0
2
0:20
Nebraska
Ameer Abdullah 5 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Iowa 10–7
3
11:21
Iowa
Tevaun Smith 37 yard pass from Jake Rudock (Marshall Koehn kick)
Iowa 17–7
3
8:45
Iowa
Drew Ott 12 yard punt return (Marshall Koehn kick)
Iowa 24–7
3
1:44
Nebraska
Taariq Allen 34 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Iowa 24–14
4
13:24
Nebraska
Kenny Bell 32 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
Iowa 24–21
4
12:06
Nebraska
De'Mornay Pierson-El 80 yard punt return (Drew Brown kick)
Nebraska 28–24
4
1:49
Iowa
Jordan Canzeri 5 yard pass from Jake Rudock (Marshall Koehn kick)
Iowa 31–28
4
0:08
Nebraska
Drew Brown 20 yard field goal
31–31
OT
0:00
Iowa
Marshall Koehn 25 yard field goal
Iowa 34–31
OT
0:00
Nebraska
Kenny Bell 9 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong
Nebraska 37–34
Kenny Bell caught a 9-yard TD pass in overtime as Nebraska rallied to beat Iowa 37–34 in the Heroes Game on Black Friday. The Huskers trailed at one point 24–7 before starting their comeback. The game featured turnovers, big special teams play and stretches of solid defense. Nebraska improves to 3–1 against Iowa since joining the Big Ten and 29–13–3 overall.
Jordan Westerkamp 65 yard pass from Tommy Armstrong (Drew Brown kick)
USC 45–34
4
6:52
Nebraska
Tommy Armstrong 15 yard run (Kenny Bell pass from Tommy Armstrong)
USC 45–42
Nebraska traveled to San Diego to take on the USC Trojans in the Holiday Bowl. This was the fifth all-time meeting with the Trojans, but the Huskers have never won in this series, with USC leading all-time 0–3–1 before the game. The Huskers nearly came back from an 18-point second half deficit, but the Trojans prevailed 45–42. Nebraska was led by interim-coach Barney Cotton in this contest.
USC game starters
Position
Player
Quarterback
Tommy Armstrong
Running back
Ameer Abdullah
Wide receiver
Kenny Bell
Wide receiver
De'mornay Pierson-El
Wide receiver
Jordan Westerkamp
Tight end
Cethan Carter
Left tackle
Alex Lewis
Left guard
Jake Cotton
Center
Dylan Utter
Right guard
Mike Moudy
Right tackle
Givens Price
Position
Player
Defensive end
Greg Mcmullen
Defensive tackle
Maliek Collins
Defensive tackle
Vincent Valentine
Defensive end
Randy Gregory
Linebacker
Josh Banderas
Linebacker
Zaire Anderson
Cornerback
Daniel Davie
Free safety
Corey Cooper
Strong safety
Nate Gerry
Cornerback
Josh Mitchell
Nickelback
Byerson Cockrell
Big Ten Players of the Week
Week 1: Ameer Abdullah (offensive player of the week)[27]
Week 2: Sam Foltz (special teams player of the week)[28]
Week 3: De'Mornay Pierson-El (special teams player of the week)[29]
Week 4: Ameer Abdullah (co-offensive Player of the Week)[30]
Week 5: Ameer Abdullah (offensive player of the week)[31]
Week 9: Ameer Abdullah (offensive player of the week)[32]
Week 14: Nate Gerry (defensive player of the week)[33]
Week 14: De'Mornay Pierson-El (Co-Special Teams Player of the Week)[33]
RB – Ameer Abdullah (CBS Sports – 2nd Team | Walter Camp – 2nd Team | Athlon Sports – 2nd Team | AP – 2nd Team | Scout – 2nd Team | SI – 2nd Team | Phil Steele – 3rd Team)
RET – De'Mornay Pierson-El (USA Today – 2nd Team | Athlon Sports – 3rd Team | SI – 2nd Team | Sporting News – 2nd Team | FWAA – 2nd Team | Phil Steele – 2nd Team)
DE – Randy Gregory (AP – 3rd Team | FWAA – 2nd Team | Phil Steele – 2nd Team)
NFL draft
Ameer Abdullah (2nd round, 54th pick, Detroit Lions)
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