Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
For three games, Nebraska’s problem was an inability to finish off fourth quarters with the lead. Friday, the Cornhuskers problem was not finishing off drives. Four times, Nebraska mounted 11-play drives, only to be held scoreless, and Illinois surged late to win, 24-13, Friday in Champaign, Ill. The loss was the Huskers’ fourth in a row after starting the season 5-0, with Nebraska’s margin for error for bowl eligibility virtually spent with three games to go. The Huskers (5-4/2-4 Big Ten) must either win a road game at Rutgers, or score an upset over nationally-ranked Ohio State or Iowa, which would snap a 31-game losing streak to Top 25 foes.
Anthony Colandrea paced the Nebraska offense, going 32-for-43 through the air for 284 yards and a touchdown. Jamal Rule carried 15 times for 69 yards. Jacory Barney, Jr., was the Huskers’ leading receiver, with six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Vincent Shavers, Jr., was Nebraska’s leading tackler, with seven stops and a tackle for loss. The Fighting Illini (6-3/4-2) were led by Houser, who was 22-for-36 passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Aidan Laughery was Illinois’ leading rusher with 55 yards on 15 carries. The leading receiver for the Illini was Collin Dixon. He pulled in eight catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Matthew Bailey led the Illini defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble, while James Kreutz added 10 tackles. Despite a meager second half offensive, Nebraska outgained Illinois 426-376 while running 74 plays to 65 by UI. The difference in the game was penalties: The Huskers had 11 penalties for 82 yards while the Illini had six for 55 yards. Illinois was also highly efficient on third down, converting 8-for-15 against an NU defense that had led the nation in third-down defense coming in.
Nebraska’s second drive of the game saw the Huskers advance to the Illinois 28, but John Hohl, just elevated to NU’s starting kicker role, missed a 46-yard field goal. The Fighting Illini punted on the following possession, and buried Nebraska at its 2. But the Huskers marched down the field, chipping away until Mehki Nelson ran a jet sweep around the right side for a 15-yard touchdown to put Nebraska on the board with 9:29 to go until halftime. The teams traded punts and Illinois took over at its 27, marching down the field on seven plays. Houser connected with Dixon for a three-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven with 1:48 to play in the second quarter.
Illinois took the lead on the first drive of the third quarter. After starting their drive at the 25, the Fighting Illini picked up three first downs before lining up for what appeared to be a 51-yard field goal attempt. But holder Lars Rau took the snap and ran around the left end for 30 yards, setting up first-and-goal at the 3. Jordan Anderson lost two yards on a first down run, with Vincent Shavers, Jr., making the tackle in the backfield. After a second-down incompletion, Houser hung back in the pocket and found Anderson for a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving Illinois a 14-7 lead with 8:33 to play in the third quarter.
Nebraska seemed on its way to responding, driving from its 25 to the Illinois 25. But on 4th and 1 at the 25, Colandrea’s pass was broken up by Pat Farrell, and the Huskers turned the ball over on downs. The Illini took over and marched down the field, picking up four first downs before Houser hit Dixon for a six-yard touchdown that boosted Illinois’ lead to 21-7 with 13:38 to play in regulation.
Nebraska finally answered on the ensuing drive, quickly chopping up the field from the NU 9 to midfield. Then on 2nd and 3 from the Nebraska 49, Colandrea dropped back for a deep pass. As left guard Paul Mubenga was driven right into his lap, Colandrea wound up and threw down the middle of the field, where two Husker receivers and two Illini defenders were converging. Barney snatched the ball out of the pack near the 20 and angled in for the score from there. Nebraska went for two but the pass was incomplete, and the score was Illinois 21-13 with 10:44 remaining.
Illinois looked like they would land a knockout blow on the next drive, as Houser hit Dixon for a 60-yard pass. A facemask penalty pushed the ball to the NU 2, but the Blackshirts stiffened and held the Illini to a field goal, pushing the lead to 24-13 with 7:51 remaining. The Huskers mounted one last drive, working from their 11 all the way to the Illinois 35. But facing a 4th and 4, Colandrea’s pass was incomplete for Kwazi Gilmer and Nebraska turned the ball over on downs.
Nebraska will try to snap its four-game losing streak on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Rutgers. Kickoff is slated for 11:30 a.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. on KLIN and Froggy 98.