On the road again.
For the first time this season, the No. 24-ranked Fighting Illini is on the road, traveling west to take on No. 22 Nebraska under the lights on Friday night.
With both teams ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll and undefeated ahead of the nationally televised primetime kickoff, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is eager for his squad to square off with a talented Cornhuskers program.
"It's a very talented Nebraska football team," Bielema said. "I have a lot of respect for not only their head coach but also several of their coaches, who have had very storied careers. It'll be a tremendous challenge and one that we're excited about to play under the lights.
"To have two Big Ten teams for a Friday night game is a little bit unusual. It doesn't happen all the time, so to see that play out and be a part of it is awesome. Give a lot of credit to their team and what they have accomplished to this point. I've told our guys to continue to keep our focus and our mentality and see where it can go."
Here are a few things to watch ahead of Friday night's 7 p.m. kickoff on FOX.
Rematch Game #2
The Orange and Blue sit at 1-0 in rematch games this season after defeating No. 19 Kansas on Sept. 7. The Jayhawks defeated the Illini in Lawrence, Kansas, last season, but for the second straight season, the home team came out on top in the form of a 23-17 Illinois victory.
The Illini will look to avenge a 20-7 home defeat against the Cornhuskers in Champaign last season, though the Orange and Blue have found success in each of their previous two trips to Lincoln. The No. 17-ranked Illini entered Lincoln in 2022 with a 6-1 record and left with a 26-9 win to extend their winning streak to six games.Â
In 2020, Illinois picked up its first road victory at Nebraska since 1924, with the Illini forcing five turnovers en route to a 41-23 win.
Friday's game will be one of the Orange and Blue's biggest tests of the year. It will be the Illini's first ranked vs. ranked game since 2008, while Illinois and Nebraska will square off as ranked foes for the first time since 1985.
"It's our first Big Ten game. It's a rematch game. There are a lot of different things that factor into it besides two Big Ten teams that are ranked," Bielema said. "Once our guys get into Big Ten play, because of our conference right now and the exposure of 18 teams coast to coast, these nine conference games mean a lot. I keep challenging these guys to keep playing their best football."
Illinois Defense Continues to Shine
Through three games this season, the Illini defense ranks tied for fifth in the FBS with nine forced turnovers thus far. With a turnover margin of 2.67, a mark that ranks joint-second in the nation, Illinois will look to continue its success in a sold-out road environment on Friday.
The Illini defense has hauled in six interceptions this year, while they have recorded a pick in four straight games dating back to the 2023 season finale. Defensive back Xavier Scott has accounted for three of those interceptions, which leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for second in the nation. He and fellow Illini DB Miles Scott are one of two sets of Big Ten teammates with multiple interceptions this season along with Maryland's Glendon Miller and Jalen Huskey.
Four different Illinois defenders have forced a fumble thus far: Gabe Jacas, Dylan Rosiek, Miles Scott, and Xavier Scott. Alec Bryant, Seth Coleman, and Kaleb Patterson each have been credited with a fumble recovery.
Not only is the Illini defense forcing turnovers, but they are also keeping teams out of the end zone. Averaging the fifth-fewest points per game in the Big Ten (8.7), Illinois has conceded only two touchdowns through three games, a mark that ranks tied for eighth in the FBS and tied for third-best in the Big Ten.
Illinois will aim to thwart a high-powered, dynamic Cornhusker offense that currently averages 34 points per game this season.
Opponent Scout
The Cornhusker offense is led by freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who averages 19.7 completions and 223.3 passing yards per game. Raiola has tallied five touchdowns and only one interception thus far, while he has completed 73.8% of his pass attempts.
On the ground, Nebraska's leading rusher is Dante Dowdell, an Oregon transfer who has team-high marks in carries (31), rushing yards (184), and rushing touchdowns (3). RB Emmett Johnson has also eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards with 124 yards on the ground, while Rahmir Johnson ranks second on the team in carries with 22.
Three receivers have double-digit receptions on the year: Isaiah Neyor (12), Jacory Barney Jr. (10), and Rahmir Johnson (10). Neyor leads the way with a team-high 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air, and he registered 121 yards on just six catches in Nebraska's season-opening 40-7 win over UTEP on Aug. 31.
Defensively, linebacker John Bullock and defensive lineman Ty Robinson both have three tackles for loss, while Robinson has been credited with two sacks. Defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. leads the Cornhuskers with two interceptions, while DB Marques Buford Jr., Bullock, and Robinson all have multiple pass breakups.
Friday's contest marks the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, while the Cornhuskers will close out a season-opening four-game homestand that included wins over UTEP (40-7), Colorado (28-10), and Northern Iowa (34-3).
The Illini will look to win their third consecutive road game at Nebraska, but Bielema knows nothing will be easy in front of a hostile crowd of over 86,000 fans.
"It's a very tenured, unbelievable fan base," Bielema said. "I remember the first time I ever went there when I was a young linebackers coach at Iowa. I had never seen it, never heard it, never been a part of it. I became very educated in a short amount of time. It's a very high football IQ crowd. They know what's going on. They understand it. They get it. They play to it. That doesn't happen by chance.Â
"Another part of this conference is playing in some very awesome and unique settings and environments. It's just an awesome experience, and I think our guys will really love the challenge."
