Box Score
| | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
| Illinois (3-2, 0-1) | 0 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| Nebraska (4-1, 1-0) | 14 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 39 |
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LINCOLN, Neb. - Ameer Abdullah ran for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns and Nebraska's maligned defense was much improved in a 39-19 victory over Illinois on Saturday.
Tommy Armstrong, starting his second straight game in place of injured quarterback Taylor Martinez, led the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) to touchdowns on his first three series and was solid throughout.
Armstrong was 8 of 13 for 135 yards.
Just as big as Armstrong's performance was that of Nebraska's defense, which had been one of the nation's worst through four games.
Illinois (3-2, 0-1), which came in averaging 40 points a game, didn't score its first touchdown until the middle of the third quarter. Twice when the Illini looked as if they would make a game of it, the Huskers made big stops.
Josh Ferguson led the Illini with 114 yards on 19 carries and another 82 yards on eight catches.
