Huskers take first loss of season, fall to Illini in overtime

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska football team took its first loss of the season on Friday, falling 31-24 to Illinois in overtime at Memorial Stadium.

The Huskers gave up a touchdown in two plays in the first overtime, but couldn’t answer back.

Luke Altmyer led the Fighting Illini completing 21 of his 27 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns.

Pat Bryant caught two of those touchdowns and added 74 yards receiving.

Dylan Raiola completed 24 of his 35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns.

Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor each had 90 plus receiving yards.

Nebraska will get their first road test of the season next Saturday at Purdue.

First Quarter

The Huskers had a slow start, something they haven’t done for the last three weeks.

Nebraska went three-and-out on their first drive and sent all the momentum to Illinois’ sideline.

The Illini used that momentum to drive 78 yards in six plays to take a 7-0 lead on a Pat Bryant touchdown catch.

Nebraska then topped off an 18-play drive with a 21-yard field goal from John Hohl, making the score 7-3 in Nebraska’s favor.

The Blackshirts had something to say about Illinois’ last drive.

John Bullock stripped the ball from an Illinois receiver to give the offense the ball back.

The offense used that opportunity to put more points on the board. Dylan Raiola threw a dart to Isaiah Neyor in the back of the end zone to give the Huskers a 10-7 lead.

Second Quarter

Illinois used a penalty-aided drive to tie the game at 10 with a field goal from David Olano.

Nebraska then drove down the field and got a long touchdown pass from Raiola to Neyor, but it was taken out of Neyor’s hands and ruled an interception.

Nebraska’s defesne then took a stand. A fourth down stop got the ball back to the offense.

The Huskers have been excellent in the two-minute drill this season, and they showed that tonight.

Nebraska used all but 16 seconds of the last two minutes of the half to drive down the field and score.

Raiola threw yet another dart to Neyor, and this time it counted. Neyor drug the toe near the edge of the end zone to put Nebraska up 17-10 at the half.

Raiola finished the first half with 156 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Jahmal Banks leads the team in receiving yards with 61, while Neyor has caught two touchdown passes.

Dante Dowdell has been the workhorse back with 54 yards rushing.

The Blackshirts have been lackluster in the secondary, but have only allowed 37 yards on the ground.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was a back-and-forth defensive battle.

Illinois finally broke through late in the third quarter with a long touchdown drive ending in a 3-yard pass from Luke Altmyer to Tanner Arkin, tying the game at 17.

Nebraska ended the third quarter with two long passes to Neyor and Thomas Fidone to take them all the way to the 1-yard line.

Fourth Quarter

The Huskers only need one play in the fourth quarter to score.

Raiola flipped the ball to Janiran Bonner on a jet sweep and he punched it in, giving Nebraska a 24-17 lead.

But the Illini answered right back. Another penalty-aided drive ended in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer to Brandon Henderson, tying the game at 24.

The Blackshirts stepped up again. Cornerback Ceyair Wright got a strip sack on Altmyer, giving the ball back to the offense.

Raiola missed a wide open Luke Lindenmeyer in the end zone, and then Hohl missed the go-ahead field goal to keep the game tied at 24.

Nebraska got a stop on defense and we are headed to overtime.

First Overtime

Illinois got the ball first and it didn’t take long for them to score. A 23-yard run from Feagin and a 2-yard pass to Bryant gave the Illini a 31-24 lead.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE — It’s the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium as the Huskers open up Big Ten play against No. 24-ranked Illinois at Memorial Stadium.

The No. 22-ranked Huskers come into this one at 3-0 following a 34-3 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday.

Aside from its traditional Black Friday game, Friday will mark Nebraska’s first weekday home game since 2001.

This is the 12th straight year Nebraska and Illinois will play each other, with the Huskers winning seven of those games.

The Illini have won the last two times they’ve made the trip to Memorial Stadium.

SEE ALSO: Huskers one man down for top-25 matchup against Illinois

Illinois need-to-knows

The Fighting Illini also enter Friday’s game with a 3-0 record following a 30-9 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday.

Illinois’ calling card has been their aggressive defense, forcing nine turnovers and a +8 turnover margin over the last three games, ranking second in the country.

Brett Bielema’s team allows just 277 yards and 8.7 points per game.

Offensively, Illinois brings a very balanced attack, rushing for 153 yards and throwing for 225 yards per game. They also average 32.7 points per game.

Starting quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown for 647 yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Kaden Feagin paces the Illini in the backfield with 173 yards and three scores.

Illinois’ biggest win of the season so far was a 23-17 win over No. 19 Kansas in week two.

This week’s numbers

400: Friday’s game will mark the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, a record dating back to 1962.

SEE ALSO: No. 400: Former Husker returns for historic milestone at Memorial Stadium

20: The Blackshirts have allowed just 20 points over the last three games. This is the least amount of points they’ve allowed over a three-game stretch since 2005.

7: Nebraska is playing its Big Ten opener at home for the first time in seven seasons. The last time they opened Big Ten play at home was in 2017 in a win over Rutgers.

Score Predictions

Nate Johnson: Huskers win, 27-17

Jake Homan: Huskers win, 27-7

Mark Fischer: 24-14

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s almost like a religion’ : Husker fans tailgating early for Friday night game