On a beautiful night at Memorial Stadium celebrating its 400th consecutive sold-out game, the Illinois Illini defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 31-24 in overtime. If you can play the Huskers and take the game to overtime, you have a pretty good chance of success, as the Huskers have now failed to score a point in eight consecutive overtimes since their win at Iowa in 2014. It was Nebraska’s fifth straight loss in a Big Ten opener and the 24th straight time they’ve been beaten by a higher-ranked opponent dating to the 2016 season. And to add to the misery, it was another one-point loss, the kind of game Nebraska has only had twice in the last three years.

After beating three inferior non-conference opponents, the Huskers seemed unprepared for the physical nature of the Big Ten. They were beaten badly in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and the hype videos on the big screen only seemed to make the opponent tougher. Despite leading for most of the game and having several chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter, the Huskers faded in the home stretch and Illinois dominated.

Although Nebraska has improved as a team under Matt Rhule, Illinois seemed to get even stronger under Bret Bielema, a team that beat Nebraska 20-7 in Champaign last year. Illinois particularly hammered the Blackshirts in the second half. After gaining just 37 yards in the first half, Illinois gained 129 yards after halftime and 79 yards in the fourth quarter. They did to Nebraska what Nebraska wants to do to its opponents: play smashmouth football and open up huge gaps for the backs to run through.

As in previous games, Nebraska played well in the first half, converting 7 of 10 third downs and burning 18:32 of the clock. But in the second half, Nebraska failed to convert a first down in the third quarter, and managed 1 of 5 third downs and 0 of 1 fourth downs. Meanwhile, the Illini held the ball for 10:45 in the third quarter, converted 4 of 6 third downs and managed 2 of 2 fourth downs in the second half (though one of those attempts appeared to be the result of a suspect spot).

Speaking of the referees, they were generally bad across the board, missing decisions by both teams. But the three points that probably hurt the most were 1) not calling a defensive pass interference call on a 2nd-and-goal from the three on Nebraska’s second possession. After a 1st-and-goal at the five, Nebraska settled for a field goal; 2) not calling a block in the back on the Illini’s 37-yard punt return in the third quarter that tied the game, and 3) not calling a late hit out of bounds on Nebraska’s disastrous overtime possession that would have given the Huskers a first down even though it was a 3rd-and-42. But let’s face it, Big Ten referees are by and large incompetent and inept.

Despite being dominated in the trenches and the Blackshirts putting on a very forgettable performance, the game may never have gone to overtime had the Huskers capitalized on just one of their numerous opportunities to score more points. As mentioned, a 1st and goal at the 5 and a 3-0, a touchdown pass to Isaiah Neyor that was stolen by an interception, Dylan Raiola missing a completely free Luke Lindenmeyer in the end zone on a 3rd and 3 from the 21-yard line with about three minutes left in regulation, and finally a missed 39-yard field goal on the following play because of a suspect snap. Good teams don’t leave that many points on the field. Illinois led twice the entire game, after the TD on their opening drive and after their two-play touchdown drive in overtime.

Dylan Raiola completed 24 of 35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, his first time this year with a sub-70% completion rate. The 297 passing yards were Raiola’s career-high, topping his 247 yards last week against UNI. Raiola was also sacked 5 times for -46 rushing yards and had two more runs that lost another 6 yards. At times in this game he looked like a true freshman prone to the mistakes of his inexperience, and at times he showed the maturity we’ve seen in previous games. The bottom line is that if the Huskers can establish a running game, he will be a more consistent and accurate passer.

Dante Dowdell led the Nebraska runners with 20 carries for 72 yards, a career-high, and Rahmir Johnson added 17 yards on 4 carries. Overall, the Huskers had 107 yards gained and 59 yards lost, a pathetic 48-yard rush (a 1.5-yard average). Losing Turner Corcoran on a field goal in the first quarter didn’t help, but the line failed to consistently open gaps and then failed in pass protection late in the game.

Jahmal Banks was the top receiver with eight catches for 94 yards, including five catches for 61 yards in the first half. Isaiah Neyor caught a 6-yard TD pass in the first quarter and an 11-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, giving him the team lead with four touchdown catches this season. Neyor finished the game with four catches for 90 yards. Neyor caught passes for 44 and 29 yards in the second half and has three catches of at least 29 yards this season. Before tonight’s game, he averaged 20.4 yards on his 65 career catches. Tight end Thomas Fidone caught two passes for 46 yards in the game. His 46 receiving yards were his career high and his 29-yard catch in the third quarter was his career best. Janiran Bonner scored a 1-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer dominated Nebraska in the short and intermediate passing game, completing 21 of 27 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns. He even scored the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 4th-and-6 pass to a 335-pound tackle who was eligible for the play. Nebraska continues to struggle with mobile quarterbacks, as Altmyer gained 28 yards on a run. The defense will need to make some serious adjustments before Nebraska faces pass-happy Purdue next Saturday. Not least, it will need to learn to play more disciplined, as Husker penalties extended three Illinois drives that resulted in points.

Linebacker John Bullock led the defense with nine tackles, which was a career-high, including a sack, a forced fumble in the first quarter that led to a touchdown for Nebraska, and he also had a pass breakup. Deshon Singleton (6 tackles) recovered that fumble. Ceyair Wright replaced the injured Tommi Hill and had 6 tackles and the Huskers’ only other sack on a corner blitz that forced a fumble recovered by Mikai Gbayor (6 tackles).

With Tristan Alvano still battling an injury, John Hohl made a 21-yard field goal and then missed from 39 yards with three minutes left. With the Huskers’ place-kicking disarray, will Matt Rhule opt to keep the offense on the field on fourth down attempts? Brian Buschini averaged 50.3 yards on three punts but twice appeared to outperform his coverage. Kickoff and punt coverage was consistently spotty. Special teams must improve for the Huskers to win consistently.

It was a thrill to be in the stadium on Friday night. The crowd was loud and the Fan Day experience and light show were exceptional. The card tricks in honor of the 400th sold-out stadium were a feast for the eyes. But the result was incredibly disappointing for most spectators. Before the game, more than one person said that competing in Illinois would show just how far the Huskers have come on their road to excellence. Unfortunately, it seems we’ll have to start over again to see if the Huskers can exorcise the demons and win close games, let alone perform through four quarters. Next Saturday, the Huskers will once again try to make it 1-0 in their first road game against the Boilermakers in West Lafayette. Let’s go, Big Red!!!

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