Nebraska topped Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl, 20-15, at Yankee Stadium to claim the program’s first winning season since 2016.

The Cornhuskers took a 20-2 lead into the 4th quarter before the Eagles made a late charge, punching one in from a yard out with just over 6 minutes to go before a 2-point try came up empty. After Nebraska had a punt blocked and taken back to the 2-yard line, Jordan McDonald’s 2-yard carry and the resulting extra point made it 20-15 with 4:18 left in regulation.

But the Huskers chewed out the remaining time to ensure the Eagles wouldn’t get the ball again. The key play came with 2 minutes to go as they converted a 4th-and-3 from the Boston College 35 on an 11-yard Rahmir Johnson carry.

It wasn’t the easiest road to this point for the Huskers, who opened the season 5-1 but lost 4 in a row before clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016 with a win over Wisconsin on Nov. 23.

After a 5-7 mark in Matt Rhule’s first season in 2023, he led the team to incremental progress in 2024. The program still has much further to go until it can enjoy the blue-blood status it once held, but Saturday’s bowl win is a step closer.