With both teams sitting at 2-3 and needing to build some momentum into November, Friday’s Big Ten West matchup in Champaign held plenty of importance.
From that importance came a 20-7 victory for Nebraska. The Huskers improved to 3-3 on the season.
The sense of urgency was there from the opening drive. Illinois drove into the red zone and had second and goal form the NU three yard line. The Blackshirts stopped the run short of the goal line, setting up the Illini with a pair of chances inside the one to punch in a touchdown.
On both opportunities, the Blackshirts held.
Nebraska’s offense answered with a drive into the Illinois red zone that finished with a Tristan Alvano field goal, his first make since Minnesota in the season-opener.
Of Nebraska’s first five drives, two resulted in three-and-outs, one in a field goal, and the other two in touchdowns. Those touchdowns came just 10 seconds apart, with Nebraska falling on the ball after the Illinois return team had issues catching the kickoff.
Meanwhile the Illini had three three-and-outs, a goal line failure, and a touchdown.
A 17-7 difference at the half felt both massive and too close. But the second half proved to be as Big Ten West as possible.
Nebraska’s second half drives ended with one field goal made, one field goal missed, one punt, two fumbles lost, and an interception. Illinois’s second half drives ended with two punts, two turnovers on downs, a fumble lost, and an interception.
But as the dust settled on an ugly third and fourth quarter, Big Red emerged victorious.
In his fourth start of the season, Heinrich Haarberg completed 12-of-24 passes for 154 yards and an interception, taking one sack. Haarberg led the rushing attack with 82 yards and a touchdown.
As a team, NU ran for 258 yards and two scores.
On the other side, Illinois slung the ball around 47 times, completing 29 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown. Luke Altmyer was sacked three times and threw one interception.
The Illini rushing attack was stifled to just 21 yards.
Nebraska is off next week, making Friday the first NU victory heading into a break since Mike Riley was at the helm. The Huskers return to action hosting Northwestern Oct. 21.
Nebraska Athletics Postgame Notes
- With the win, Nebraska snapped Illinois’ three-game win streak in the series. The Huskers improved to 14-6-1 overall against the Illini including a 7-4 record since joining the Big Ten.
- Nebraska improved to 4-0 in Friday night road games since 2017. In addition to tonight’s win, Nebraska also won at Illinois in 2017, at Rutgers in 2020 and at Rutgers in 2022.
- Tonight’s win marked Matt Rhule’s 50th victory as a college head coach.
- Nebraska held Illinois scoreless in the first quarter, marking the fourth time in six games the Huskers have blanked the opponent in the opening quarter. NU has shut out the opponent in the first quarter in all three road games.
- In its last five games against Big Ten West opponents, Nebraska has allowed only 10 first-half points. The Huskers shut out Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa in the first half in their final three divisional games in 2022 and at Minnesota in this year’s season opener, the Huskers limited the Gophers to three points. Illinois scored seven first-half points on Friday.
- Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg had a 25-yard TD run in the second quarter, marking his fifth run of at least 20 yards this season.
- Haarberg accounted for 236 total yards in the game, including 82 rushing yards and 154 passing yards. Haarberg has accounted for better than 200 total yards in three of his first four starts.
- Nebraska’s 14-play touchdown drive in the second quarter matched Nebraska’s longest of the season in terms of plays. The Huskers had a 14-play TD drive against Northern Illinois.
- The Huskers had two first-half drives covering at least 6:30 on the clock. Nebraska has four drives this season of 6:30 or more.
- Illinois rushed 19 times for 21 yards in the game. This marked the fifth time in six games Nebraska has held its opponent to less than 60 yards rushing.
- Nebraska’s defense had a season-high seven pass breakups in the game, led by a career-high three breakups from Isaac Gifford, all in the fourth quarter.
- Senior cornerback Quinton Newsome made his 30th consecutive start in tonight’s game. He had an interception (with a 39-yard return) in the fourth quarter to mark his first career interception.
- Receiver Ty Hahn had a 21-yard reception on a Nebraska scoring drive in the second quarter, marking his first career reception.
- True freshman Malachi Coleman had a 5-yard reception in the second quarter, good for his first career reception.
- Receiver Marcus Washington had a 39-yard reception in the first quarter before being injured. His 39-yard catch pushed his career receiving yardage total to 1,013 yards.
- Linebacker John Bullock had a 4-yard sack in the second quarter, marking his first career sack.
- Defensive end Jimari Butler had 1.5 sacks in the second quarter. He had a total of two career sacks entering the game.
- Tonight’s game captains were DE Jimari Butler, TE Thomas Fidone, CB Tommi Hill and WR Marcus Washington.