Nebraska Football: Huskers Demolish Florida Atlantic 55-7

Nebraska and Florida Atlantic traded touchdowns on their first offensive series, but it was all Cornhuskers after that as they racked up 784 yards of total offense while holding the Owls to 200. Nebraska won its nation leading 29th straight season opener easily, 55-7, while star running back Ameer Abdullah had a Heisman-worthy performance.

Abdullah finished with a career high 232 rushing yards and a touchdown. His 232 yards moved him past the 3,000 yard career mark, passing the late Ken Clark (3,037 yards) and Calvin Jones (3,153 yards) to move into the No. 6 spot on the Nebraska career rushing list. Abdullah has 3,209 career rushing yards.

Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr completed 15-of-29 passes for a career-high 271 yards and two touchdowns, and added another 62 yards rushing on seven carries and a touchdown. Armstrong looked in control of the offense throughout the game.

Terrell Newby added 107 yards on 16 carries and Imani Cross had 32 yards on three carries and a tough running touchdown. Nebraska had 498 total rushing yards, a best in the Bo Pelini era.

Jordan Westerkamp caught seven passes for 125 yards, setting career highs in both categories. Kenny Bell caught four passes for 116 yards, increasing his career yardage total to 2,018 yards becoming only the third player in school history with 2,000 career receiving yards (Johnny Rodgers - 2,479 yards,Nate Swift -2,476 yards. Bell and Westerkamp are the first pair to both top 100 receiving yards in a game since Marlon Lucky and Maurice Purify against Colorado in 2007. Bell and Westerkamp are the first pair of wide receivers to go over 100 yards each in school history.

Kickers Drew Brown connected on a 44-yard field goal while Mauro Bondi hit a 45-yarder later in the game.

The Nebraska defense looked rough on FAU's opening drive, giving up 75 yards as the Owls used numerous screens to confuse the defense. The defense gave up only 125 yards total after that. Zaire Anderson lead the tacklers with seven, three solo, while David Santos had six tackles, two solo.

Nebraska had five penalties the first quarter, but only one after that.

The bad news of the day was Randy Gregory, who only played a few plays, apparently spraining his knee (ACL). Bo Pelini's commented that Gregory is "day to day".

Nebraska had zero turnovers for the first time since the season opener against Southern Mississippi in 2012.

Westerkamp had the highlight play of the game, with a reception that might be the reception of the year:

Note From Athletic Department:

Despite ranking fifth in school history, Nebraska's 784 yards of total offense today against Florida Atlantic set a new Big Ten Conference modern-era record. The previous record was 763 yards by Purdue against Indiana on Nov. 20, 2004.