Raiola threw for 192 yards on 15 of 22 passing — including a 21-yard jump ball to Jahmal Banks in the back of the end zone with two seconds left — to spark Nebraska to a 30-7 halftime lead over UTEP. The Huskers outscored the Miners 339-114 while more than doubling their offensive game (48-21).

A near-perfect start to the Raiola era energized fans on an opening drive that produced a touchdown on 12 plays and 72 yards. A flip to Jacory Barney for 10 yards. A rollout to Janiran Bonner for 7. A dart to Banks for 19 yards on second-and-30, then a step-up swing to Isaiah Neyor for 16.

The true freshman QB completed 5 of 7 passes while in possession — the incomplete passes included a deep ball through Neyor’s arms and a ball to a receiver’s feet to avoid a sack.

Meanwhile, an early mover in the running-back swamp with four co-No. 1s, transfer Dante Dowdell plowed ahead to capitalize on a third-and-2 and third-and-3, using his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame to run over UTEP defenders. He capped the opening possession by rumbling untouched into the end zone for a 5-yard score.

The Big Red’s momentum continued as the 398th sold-out game at Memorial Stadium led to two false starts by the Miners and a timeout, while the Blackshirts quickly scored a point.

Then came the misfortune. The offense stalled after seven plays when a NU pass play fell short on a fourth-and-5 try near midfield. The Miners went into hyperspeed from there, running three quick plays, capped by a deep pass from quarterback Skyler Locklear to Kam Brown for a 38-yard score past safety Malcolm Hartzog.

The teams traded points from that point on — a miscommunication between Raiola and receiver Jaylen Lloyd caused the third-and-5 play to fail.

Murmurs ripped through the Memorial Stadium crowd of 86,072 at the end of NU’s next drive. The Huskers had been running the ball — mostly with Rahmir Johnson — for a flashback to last year. Dowdell scampered 12 yards but gave up the ball near the goal line.

Nebraska’s defense responded with more than a stop. On second-and-10, defensive lineman Ty Robinson wrapped up Jevon Jackson in the end zone for a safety — the Huskers’ first since 2018 Illinois — and a 9-7 lead.

The highlight of the half followed. Raiola unfurled a pass to Neyor deep down the right sideline and the transfer wideout reeled it in, threw down two tackles and kept his balance for a 59-yard touchdown and a 16-7 lead.

“Lil cuzzo!” Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes tweeted on social media with a video clip of the play.

UTEP switched to quarterback Cade McConnell for a three-and-out. Nebraska came back with a run-heavy possession from running back Gabe Ervin, whose third tote set up a 3-yard score and a 23-7 lead. Emmett Johnson’s 42-yard dash set up the finish.

When Kai Wallin applied pressure and Hartzog intercepted the ball on the Miners’ next chance, the Huskers got the ball back.

Dowdell entered the half with 55 rushing yards on eight carries. Emmett Johnson was 3 for 54, Rahmir Johnson was 10 for 37 and Ervin was 3 for 7.