Kenny Larabee, KLIN
On a night one proud streak for Nebraska Football reached a milestone, another ugly streak continued, and the Huskers’ recent winning streak ended.
As Nebraska (3-1) fans and Husker Football celebrated the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, 24th-ranked Illinois (4-0) rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 24 Nebraska, 31-24, in overtime. The loss is the Huskers’ eighth straight overtime loss since winning in overtime over Iowa 37-34, in the final game of the Bo Pelini era in 2014. Not only has Nebraska dropped all eight of those games, the Huskers have not even scored in overtime in those eight games.
Momentum started to swing aginst Nebraska midway through the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 24. A strip-sack by Ceyair Wright was recovered by Mikai Gbayor, giving the Huskers the ball at their own 38-yard line. Dylan Raiola convered a third-and-four with a five-yard pass to Jacory Barney, Jr. An 11-yard completion from Raiola to Jahmal Banks on the next play pushed NU to the Illini 40. Back-to-back Dante Dowdell runs moved the Huskers to the Illinois 28. Facing a third-and-three later in that series, Raiola rolled left and had Luke Lindenmeyer wide open with what would’ve been a game-sealing touchdown pass. Instead, the pass was wide and fell incomplete, setting up fourth down. John Hohl, Nebraska’s backup kicker, came on for a 39-yard field goal, which he missed, giving the ball back to Illinois with the game tied at 24 and 2:59 to go in the fourth quarter. The Illini took it to near midfield, but buried Nebraska with a punt and the Huskers ran out the clock to go to overtime.
In the extra period, Illinois lost the coin toss and got first possession. A 21-yard run by Kaden Feagin set the Illini in position to score a touchdown. Two plays later, Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give Illinois its first lead since the first quarter. Nebraska took over the Illini 25 and gave up back-to-back sacks of Raiola, pushing the Huskers back 32 yards. Raiola found Banks to gain 13 yards on third down, but was sacked one more time to clinch the victory for Illinois.
The night started out well enough as the first Friday night crowd filed into Memorial Stadium, ready to celebrate the 400th consecutive sellout in a continuation of a streak that started in November of 1962. Illinois took a 7-0 lead after its first drive, as Altmyer led a six-play, 78-yard drive that was a preview of the rest of the night for Nebraska’s defense. The Huskers answered with a grinding 18-play, 72-yard slog that culminated Hohl hitting a 21-yard field goal after he was called into duty for the injured Tristan Alvano.
Illinois got the ball back leading 7-3 with 3:15 to go in the first quarter. Two plays later, Altmyer hit Hank Beatty for a 14-yard completion, but John Bullock knocked the ball loose and DeShon Singleton recovered the fumble, giving the Huskers the ball at the Illini 37. Two Dowdell runs gained 18 yards and an Isaiah Neyor run picked up 13 and took it to the four. On first and goal, Raiola hit Neyor for a six-yard touchdown pass to give NU a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.
On the Illini’s ensuing possession, they drove from their own 30 to the Huskers’ 11 before the drive sputtered. Illinois settled for a 26-yard field goal from David Olano to tie the game at 10 with 11:37 to go until halftime.
Nebraska looked like it would answer, as Raiola found Isaiah Neyor on the left sideline for what was initially ruled a touchdown, as he came down with the ball with Illinois defensive back Torrie Cox, Jr., right on top of him. But after video review, it was ruled Cox took the ball away from Neyor before he could establish possession for a touchdown, giving Illinois the takeaway. The Illini took it to the Nebraska 33, but on fourth-and-eight, Nash Hutmacher stopped an Altmyer scramble well short of a first down, giving the Huskers the ball back with 3:22 to go until halftime.
From there, Dante Dowdell went to work, rushing five times while catching another ball to move the Huskers from their own 30 to the Illinois 38. Facing third-and-six, Raiola found Banks for a 27-yard gain to the 11. On the next play, Raiola rolled left, threw the ball toward the left side of the end zone and Neyor drug his feet inbounds while flagging down the ball for a touchdown to give Nebraska a 17-10 lead late in the second quarter.
The teams traded punts to begin the third quarter, and Illinois took over at its 43 with just under seven minutes to go in the third quarter. The Illini patiently marched down the field: 11 plays, 57 yards, consuming five minutes and culminating when Altmyer found Tanner Arkin on a three-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17 with just under two minutes to go in the third quarter.
The Huskers took over on their own 25. Two plays later, Raiola hit Neyor for a 44-yard pass to the Illini 31. Another Raiola pass to Fidone took it 29 yards to the two. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Raiola hit Janiran Bonner for a one-yard touchdown pass to give the Huskers a 24-17 lead just seconds into the fourth quarter.
But Illinois wasted no time responding, again patiently marching down the field. Two Feagin runs gained 27 yards to ignite the drive. On fourth-and-two from the six, Altmyer hit Brandon Henderson, normally an offensive tackle, for a touchdown pass to tie the game at 24, and it got no better for the Huskers from there.
In addition to the loss, it was a costly night for the Huskers, as offensive tackle Turner Corcoran and cornerback Tommi Hill both went down with injuries. Coach Matt Rhule did not have updates on either player after the game.
Raiola finished the game 24-for-35 with 297 yards, a career high, two touchdowns and one interception, while being sacked five times, three on the final drive alone. Altmyer was 21-for-27 for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Dowdell ran 20 times for a tough 74 yards, while Banks had his best game as a Husker: eight catches, 94 yards. Neyor had four catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant paced Illinois receivers with five catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Nebraska now gets an extra day to regroup and prepare for its first roadtrip of the season, to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue Sept. 28 at 11 a.m.