Freshman Ameer Abdullah returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, and Taylor Martinez rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns as No. 10 Nebraska defeated upset-minded Fresno State 42-29 on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

After the Bulldogs pulled to within 28-26 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Josh Harper, Abdullah restored the Cornhuskers' two-score lead.

Fresno State narrowed the deficit to 35-29 with 5:24 remaining on a 37-yard field goal from Kevin Goessling before Martinez put the game out of reach when he broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs had the lead three times in the first half before the Cornhuskers took the lead for good when Martinez found Quincy Enunwa with a 16-yard scoring strike to make it 21-20 midway through the third quarter.

Rex Burkhead pushed the lead to 28-20 early in the fourth on his second rushing score from 6 yards out.

Following the second three-and-out by the Cornhuskers’ offense to start the game, Fresno State struck when Devon Wylie returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.

Nebraska answered on the next possession as Martinez sprinted 57 yards on the first play and capped off the drive four plays later by leaping over the pile for a 1-yard score.