Nebraska

USC Trojans Wide Receiver Duce Robinson’s Career Day Leads to Win Over Nebraska

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2024

USC Trojans Wide Receiver Duce Robinson’s Career Day Leads to Win Over Nebraska

The USC Trojans boast one of the deepest receiver rooms in college football, thanks in large part to their 2023 recruiting class. Coach Lincoln Riley signed four receivers from the west coast, Zachariah Branch (NV), Duce Robinson (AZ), Makai Lemon (CA) and Ja’Kobi Lane (AZ) in his No. 9 ranked recruiting class, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

Against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, it was Robinson who shined for the Trojans offense.

“We got such great guys in receiver room, you guys have barely seen the talent we got in that room, said USC coach Jayden Maiava. “Definitely down to the stretch, we just gotta keep feeding those play makers.”

Branch, Lemon and Lane have all turned in career day performances this season and Robinson became the latest in the Trojans 28-20 win over Nebraska on Saturday. The Arizona native caught four passes for a career-high 90 receiving yards. Although the numbers may not be eye-opening, his performance helped propel the offense.

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) runs the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

On the Trojans’ second possession, Maiava, with a defender bearing down on him as he was drifting towards the sideline, flung a dangerous pass downfield that Robinson climbed the ladder to snag. The 28-yard catch set USC up inside the 10-yard line and the very next play, Maiava connected with Branch for a 6-yard touchdown that got the offense rolling.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. He’s (Maiava) a playmaker, right. So when you have an arm like that, of course you’re gonna have confidence in it,” Robinson said.

“He does trust us to just put the ball out there and trust us to go up and get it.”

To start the second half, Maiava found a wide-open Robinson, who went untouched for a 48-yard touchdown. USC took a four-point lead and never relinquished it. Robinson’s fifth touchdown of the season is tied for first on the team with Lane.

Early in the fourth quarter, USC led by one with an opportunity to extend their lead. The Trojans faced a third-and-five, and Maiava stood tall in the pocket, delivering a dart to Robinson for a nine-yard completion. The play kept the drive alive, and seven plays later, Maiava’s 2-yard touchdown made it an eight-point game and proved too much for Nebraska to overcome.

The connection between the two was evident. Robinson spoke about his career-day after the game.

“It’s a blessing, especially being able to walk out with the W but, I mean, I did set a career high, but it’s not me, it’s the guys around me, you know, without offensive line playing the way they did, I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Robinson said. “Without Jayden playing the way he did, I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the guys around me, you know, playing the way they did. You know, the reason I got my touchdown was because of Zach, he cleared it out and so, so just having those guys around me, it’s truly a blessing.”

Robinson caught four touchdowns in five games between from weeks 3-7, but his role had begun to diminish as of late, something that can happen in a receiver room as deep as the Trojans. He recorded just one catch for five yards in the Trojans last two games.

Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) runs through tackles for a touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

It would be easy for anyone to become discouraged by the situation, let alone a 19-year-old, but Robinson stayed ready for the moment when his number would be called, and he responded in a big way on Saturday.

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Nebraska

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Published

5 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Iowa coach Ben McCollum met with the media following his team’s 77-71 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers led by three at the half but Iowa was able to outscore Nebraska 34-25 in the second half.

Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 from the 3-point line. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and played for all 40 minutes.

Iowa shot 52% (27-52) from the floor, 43% (13-30) from beyond the arc and 83% (10-12) from the free throw line. Nebraska struggled shooting 41% (24-58) from the field, 34% (13-38) from the 3-point line and 91% (10-11) from the charity stripe.

The Hawkeyes’ head coach acknowledged that his team had a poor start but a great finish and said that his team will need to play better to advance beyond the Elite Eight.

Yeah, I think to start we weren’t fantastic to start. They had an elite game plan to start. They played with elite pace. They adjusted their defense quite a bit. I think a lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It’s nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival that runs such a class program.
I think Coach Hoiberg, they have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything. I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it’s no consolation, but we still want to beat ’em every time and they want to beat us every time.
But from and internal perspective, there’s not a lot of bad blood there. It’s actually a lot of respect. I was really pleased with our second-half performance. I thought we actually decided we were going to try — not try. They had a lot to do with it, but kind of. Yeah, they’re smiling over there because they saw me break my marker.
And I thought our kids did a good job of executing offensively in both halves. We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we could score, and you saw the result of that. We didn’t defend. But we were able to score, so we were able to stay in the game long enough and then get enough stops and had some big possessions down the stretch. Really good program win for everybody, coaches, managers, everybody included.

Iowa advances to the Elite Eight with the victory. Nebraska’s season ends with a record of 28-7.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

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Nebraska

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

Published

18 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.

Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.

Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.

Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.

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Nebraska

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This is the Huskers’ first Sweet 16 in program history, while Iowa is playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa advanced after beating the defending national champion, the Florida Gators, 73-72.

CBS Sports reporter Isaac Trotter broke down Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Trotter started by looking at the two previous matchups in this series.

These teams have played twice. Iowa won at home in a 57-52 rockfight. Nebraska returned the favor by winning at home, 84-75 in overtime, in another to-the-death brawl.

It’s no secret that Nebraska’s defense caused significant problems for the Iowa offense in the second game, and if the Hawkeyes are going to win the rubber match, Trotter believes that turnovers will be the key.

There are no secrets in the rubber match. Nebraska’s no-middle defense has given Iowa real problems both times. The Hawkeyes turned it over 20% of the time in Game 1 and 26% of the time in Game 2. That can’t happen in the third encounter.

CBS Sports believes that Iowa has the best player on the floor in Bennett Stirtz, but Trotter also believes that Nebraska’s defense is just too much in the end for Iowa.

Iowa has the best player on the floor, Bennett Stirtz, and can hurt Nebraska on the glass, but the Huskers get the nod because of this pick-and-roll defense. You have to be able to guard ball screens effectively to shut down Iowa, and Nebraska has been an elite pick-and-roll defense, rating in the 99th percentile nationally, per Synergy.

In the end, Trotter selected Nebraska as his pick. Should the Huskers advance to the Elite Eight, Nebraska would play the winner of the Illinois-Houston game. Nebraska-Iowa play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

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