OPENING KICK
• On the Road Again: Fresh off a blowout win over Minnesota, the Fighting Illini hit the road to face Nebraska on Saturday (11 am CT on BTN), looking for back-to-back Big Ten victories.
• O on Fire: Over the last two games (at Maryland and vs. Minnesota), the Illini are averaging 44.0 points, 569.5 total yards and 331.0 rushing yards per game. The offense is averaging 9.0 yards per play and 9.5 yards per rush in those two games.
• Runnin' Reggie: Junior RB Reggie Corbin has been the Illini's home run hitter this season.
» Earned Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for a career-high 213 yards on 13 carries (16.4 ypc) and two touchdowns (72 and 77 yards) in the win over Minnesota. It was the eighth-best rushing performance in Illini history and the best since 2010 (Mikel Leshoure school-record 330 yards against Northwestern at Wrigley Field).
» Ranks 12th in the nation in rushing yards with 952, needing 48 to become Illinois' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010 (Mikel Leshoure school-record 1,697 yards).
» Ranks second nationally and first in the Big Ten in yards per carry (9.07).
» Is averaging 9.8 yards per carry on the road and 10.5 yards per carry in conference games. Both lead the nation for any players with at least 50 carries.
» Leads FBS in runs of 80+ yards (1), 70+ yards (4), 60+ yards (5) and 50+ yards (7).
» Ranks second in FBS in runs of 40+ yards (7) and 30+ yards (9).
» Ranks second in FBS with eight scrimmage plays of 50+ yards (seven runs and one reception).
» Has four 100-yard in the last five games, all against Big Ten foes – 213 vs. Minnesota (11/3), 155 at Maryland (10/27), 137 at Rutgers (10/6), 100 at Wisconsin (10/20).
• Big Play Run Game: The Illini running game is not only one of the best in the nation, it's also very explosive.
» The Illini are averaging 249.4 rushing yards per game, good for 11th in FBS and second in the Big Ten. It is over 140 rushing yards per game better than last season's average per game (105.6).
» Ranks sixth in the nation in yards per carry (6.08) and second in yards per carry in conference games (6.74), behind only Clemson's 7.42.
» Ran for 430 yards last time out against Minnesota on 35 carries (12.3 ypc), the eight-best rushing performance in program history.
» Leads FBS in runs of 80+ yards (1), 70+ yards (5), 60+ yards (6) and 40+ yards (13).
» Illinois had three 70+ yard runs against Minnesota, a feat accomplished only once before in 129 years of football – 9/16/1944 vs. Illinois-Normal (now Illinois State).
» Reggie Corbin's 80-yard touchdown run at Wisconsin tied for the 10th-longest run in Illinois history. It was the longest run by an Illini since Daniel Dufrene ran for 80 yards at Ohio State on 11/10/2007.
» Illinois has had nine 100-yard rushing performances in nine games – four by RB Reggie Corbin, three by QB A.J. Bush Jr., and two by RB Mike Epstein. Last season, the Illini had one 100-yard rushing game.
• Chase McLongkick: Senior K Chase McLaughlin has emerged as one of the best long range kickers in the nation.
» Leads Big Ten and fourth in FBS in field goals made per game (1.89), hitting 17-of-22 on the season.
» Leads the Big Ten and ranks 17th in FBS in both scoring average (9.0 ppg) and total points scored (81).
» Leads the nation in 50+ field goals made (4, tied with two others) and 40+ field goals made (9, tied with UTSA's Jared Sackett) this season.
» Already owns Illinois single season (4) and career (5) records for most 50+-yard field goals made.
» Has as many 50+ field goals this season (4) as the rest of the Big Ten kickers combined (4).
• Take Your Pick: Illinois has been among the top teams in the nation in interceptions all season.
» The Illini's 13 interceptions is tied for seventh in FBS and ranks second in the Big Ten (16, Maryland).
» A pair of Illini are tied for 16th in FBS and third in the Big Ten in interceptions – CB Jartavius Martin and LB Del'Shawn Phillips with three picks each.
HOMEGROWN O-LINE
The starting offensive line consists of all players from Illinois. The group of senior Nick Allegretti (Frankford, Ill.), redshirt freshman Kendrick Green (Peoria, Ill.), sophomore Doug Kramer (Hinsdale, Ill.), sophomore Vederian Lowe (Rockford, Ill.) and sophomore Alex Palczewski (Mount Prospect, Ill.) have started all nine games and have played a majority of the snaps together, paving the way for Illinois' potent rushing attack (249.4 yards per game, 11th-best in FBS).
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The revamped Illinois offense, directed by new offensive coordinator Rod Smith, has made huge improvements in 2018. The Illini have made huge jumps in the national rankings from 2017 to 2018 in several key offensive categories, including a 100+ jumps in rushing offense (+111) and 90+ jumps in big rushing plays (+94) and big scrimmage plays (+91).
| ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2018 |
| Category |
2017 (Final Nat'l Rk) |
2018 (Current Nat'l Rk) |
Difference |
| Rushing Offense (ypg) |
105.6 (122) |
249.4 (11) |
+111 |
| Rushes of 40+ Yards |
2 (95) |
13 (1) |
+94 |
| Scrim. Plays of 60+ Yards |
2 (92) |
9 (1) |
+91 |
| Total Offense (ypg) |
280.4 (126) |
416.0 (59) |
+67 |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) |
15.4 (126) |
29.0 (66) |
+60 |
GOPHERS BURIED
The Fighting Illini put up some staggering numbers in Saturday's 55-31 win over Minnesota.
» 646 total yards were…
…fifth most in a game in Illinois history.
…the most gained in a game since 655, also against Minnesota, on 11/3/2007.
» 430 rushing yards were…
…eighth most in a game in Illinois history.
…the most since a program-record 519 against Northwestern 11/20/2010.
…the eighth time rushing for more than 200 yards in nine games this season.
» 55 points scored were…
…a season high and the most of the Lovie Smith era at Illinois.
…most for Illinois in a regulation Big Ten game since 10/18/2008 (55 vs. IU)
(Illinois scored 65 at Michigan in 2010 in a 3OT game)
…the most given up by Minnesota since 10/1/2011 (58 vs. Michigan)
QUICK STRIKE O
The revamped Illini offense has shown its explosiveness with 16 scoring drives of less than a minute this season, third-most in FBS behind only Alabama and Utah State, and tied with Clemson. Twelve of the 16 drives have come against Big Ten competition – three each against Minnesota, Wisconsin and Rutgers, two at Maryland and one against Penn State. In 2017, the Illini had four such drives all season.
Most Scoring Drives Under One Minute
Alabama – 21
Utah State – 21
Illinois – 16
Clemson – 16
THE ILLINOIS-NEBRASKA SERIES
• Illinois trails the all-time series against Nebraska, 3-11-1.
• Illinois is 1-8 against Nebraska in Lincoln. Illinois is 0-4 in Lincoln since winning 9-6 in 1924, when the Huskers held Red Grange scoreless for the first time in his career but Earl Britton's field goal with Grange holding won the game for the Illini in the fourth quarter.
• Illinois' 14-13 win in Champaign 10/3/2015 was the Illini's first against the Cornhuskers since 1924.
• The 2015 Illini win over the Huskers ended in dramatic fashion, as QB Wes Lunt found WR Geronimo Allison for a 1-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to give the Illini a 14-13 victory in Champaign. Illinois went 72 yards in the final 41 seconds for the winning score. WR Sam Mays had a 15-yard reception on the first play of the game-winning drive.
• In 2016 at Nebraska, Illinois led 16-10 entering the fourth quarter before allowing 21 points to lose 31-16. Nebraska went on an 18-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 10:42 and gave the Cornhuskers a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter. The Illini hit three field goals but scored just one TD, a 31-yard run by Kendrick Foster.
• The 2016 meeting was a breakout game for Reggie Corbin, who had then-career highs in carries (9), rushing yards (72) and all-purpose yards (101).
• Last season, Nebraska beat Illinois 28-6 in Champaign while holding the Illini to 199 yards of total offense.
NEBRASKA SUPERLATIVES
• Red Grange set Illinois' punt return yardage record against Nebraska in 1923 (125 yards).
• Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Nebraska: 142 J.C. Caroline 9/26/1953, 114 Josh Ferguson 10/5/2013
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Nebraska: 119 David Williams 9/21/1985, 118 Geronimo Allison 9/27/2014
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. Nebraska: 292 Jack Trudeau 9/21/1985
• Illinois' longest rush vs. Nebraska: 73 J.C. Caroline 9/26/1953, 65 Red Grange 10/6/1923
• Illinois' longest pass vs. Nebraska: 58 Reilly O'Toole to Geronimo Allison 9/27/2014
NEBRASKA CONNECTIONS
• Illinois senior QB AJ Bush Jr. was a member of the Nebraska football team in 2014 and 2015. Bush Jr. redshirted as a freshman in 2014 and did not play in a game in 2015 before transferring to Iowa Western in 2016, Virginia Tech in 2017 and Illinois in 2018.
• Illinois Passing Game Coordinator/Safeties Coach Gill Byrd was the Green Bay Packers' Executive Director of Player Development/Community Relations in 2001 when the Packers picked up safety Scott Frost, the current head coach of Nebraska.
• Fighting Illini associate strength and conditioning coach Wille Jones spent seven seasons at Nebraska as assistant strength coach (2009-2015) before coming to Illinois in the spring of 2016.
• Some fans with split allegiances created "NEBRNOIS" shirts, as made famous by @FauxPelini's distaste for the apparel. The NEBRNOIS shirt debuted on ESPNU during the third quarter of Illinois' trip to Lincoln in 2013.
YOUTH MOVEMENT, PART II
For the second straight year, Illinois is putting one of the youngest teams in the nation on the field (roster breakdown as of Oct. 15, 2018).
» 2018 class breakdown: 8 seniors, 16 juniors, 38 sophomores, 40 freshmen (31 true-frosh, 9 RS frosh)
» The 8 seniors and 24 total upperclassmen are both the fewest in the nation
» With 78 underclassmen – 38 sophomores and 40 freshmen (31 true and 9 RS) – out of 102 players, the Illini roster has the highest percentage of underclassman in the nation – 76.5 percent
» Illinois' four fifth-year seniors – Nick Allegretti, Mike Dudek, Chase McLaughlin, Austin Roberts – is tied for the third-fewest nationally behind UConn (2) and Auburn (3). (All five years at one school)
FRESHMAN REDSHIRT WATCH
• The NCAA passed new legislation in the offseason that allows players who play in up to four games -- regardless of when they take place -- to redshirt for that season and preserve a year of eligibility. Here's look at games played for each of the 18 Illini true-freshmen that has played in 2018.
» Played in 5+ games (12): DT DL Calvin Avery (9), TE Daniel Barker (9), DB Jartavius Martin (9), LB Khalan Tolson (9), DB Sydney Brown (8), WR Jordan Holmes (8), WR Carlos Sandy (7), DB Kerby Joseph (7), DB Delano Ware (8), DB Dylan Wyatt (8), LB Jacob Hollins (6), QB M.J. Rivers (6).
» Have played in 4 or less games (6): DB Ron Hardge III (4), QB Matt Robinson (3), Jakari Norwood (2), WR Edwin Carter (1), RB DL Julian Pearl (1), DL Ezekiel Holmes (1)
SAINT NICK
Senior OL Nick Allegretti is having another big year on and off the field in his final season in orange and blue.
» Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Big Ten First Team with the second-best grade for an offensive guard (76.7).
» Allegretti has made 33 consecutive starts and has played all but five snaps this season, leading a young offensive line that features three sophomores and a RS freshman in the starting unit. The only snaps Allegretti has missed were the final drives against Western Illinois and Minnesota when Illinois led by 20+.
» Named a candidate for virtually every national community service award – Senior CLASS Award, Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and AFCA Good Works Team.
» Is the team's Uplifting Athletes chapter president and Lift for Life organizer, helping raise over $86,000 for rare disease research and awareness the last two years. Also active in the Tom Jones Challenger Baseball League.
» Voted a team captain in both 2018 and 2017, Allegretti was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last year.
CAN'T CATCH CORBIN
Junior RB Reggie Corbin is thriving in offensive coordinator Rod Smith rushing attack.
» Ranks third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (105.8).
» Ranks second in the Big Ten and 24th in FBS with nine rushing touchdowns, already tied for 10th-most in a season at Illinois.
» In Big Ten games he's been even better, rushing for 118.7 yards per game, six touchdowns, and a ridiculous 10.5 yards per carry, the most of any player in the nation with 50+ carries against conference opponents.
» Has been stellar away from home, averaging 122.5 yards per game in road/neutral games, 10th-best in the nation. His 9.80 yards per carry away from home is best in the nation for anyone with 50+ road carries.
» Is averaging 9.07 yards per carry, second most in FBS, and has eight scrimmage plays over 50 yards this season, second-most in FBS. All eight of those plays have come against Big Ten competition.
» 80 yard TD run at Wisconsin
» 77 yard TD run vs. Minnesota
» 73 yard TD run at Rutgers
» 72 yard TD run vs. Minnesota
» 69 yard TD run at Maryland
» 52 yard run at Rutgers
» 52 yard reception vs. Purdue
» 51 yard run vs. Penn State
» His 213 rushing yards against Minnesota was the eighth most in a game in Illinois history, passing Red Grange's 212 rushing yards against Michigan 10/18/1924. The week before, he rushed for a career-high 155 yards on 18 carries (8.6 ypc) in his return home to the state of Maryland.
» Is averaging more rushing yards per game this season (105.8) than he had total in 2017 (78)
» Is the 44th player in Illinois history to gain over 1,000 career rushing yards. He currently ranks 26th on the UI all-time rushing list with 1,553.
