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University of Illinois Athletics

NCAA Football: Illinois at Nebraska
16
Illinois ILL 1-3 , 0-1
31
Winner Nebraska NEB 5-0 , 2-0
Illinois ILL
1-3 , 0-1
16
Final
31
Nebraska NEB
5-0 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ILL Illinois 0 13 3 0 16
NEB Nebraska 7 3 0 21 31

Game Recap: Football |

Corbin has Career Day in Tough Illini Loss at No. 15 Nebraska

Lincoln, Neb. - The Fighting Illini brought the Nebraska crowd to a hush on Saturday. Illinois led 16-10 midway through the third quarter. But a late flurry of scores by the Cornhuskers spoiled the Illini's upset bid - falling short to No. 15 Nebraska 31-16 on Saturday.

Nebraska (5-0) fell behind after turning over the ball on back-to-back possessions. But Illinois (1-3) had to settle for field goals after each takeaway, allowing the Huskers to stay close.

"We got better today. We still have a loss but I think we made improvements," Illinois coach Lovie Smith said. "We hung in there throughout, had a lead for most of the game, but it's about finishing. We didn't do that."

Super Second Quarter

The Fighting Illini turned it on in the second quarter, outscoring Nebraska 13-3 to take a 13-10 lead to halftime. The quarter was highlighted by Kendrick Foster's 31-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 60-yard drive that tied the score 7-7.

The Kick Is Good (Again, Again and Again)

Chase McLaughlin continued his perfect kicking with three field goals and one extra point. He made kicks of 43, 33 and 24 yards to move to 5-for-5 on field goals this season.

First-Time Starters Making Plays

Patrick Nelson and Tre Watson both made their first career starts on defense. Nelson made 16 tackles, 10 more than his previous career high and the most by an Illini this season. Watson had 10 tackles, tied with senior linebacker Hardy Nickerson for second on the team, and also forced a fumble which Illinois recovered.

Corbin Quick

Illinois featured more of a spread attack than what they had shown in the first three weeks of the season. Reggie Corbin was a big part with career highs in carries (9), rushing yards (72) and all-purpose yards (101). Corbin was the featured back for most of the game, a role he had not previously played.

Team Notes

  • Illinois faced its first Associated Press Top 25-ranked opponent of the season. Nebraska is No. 15 in this week's AP poll and also is No. 15 in the current USA Today Coaches Poll.
  • Illinois trails the all-time series with Nebraska, 3-10-1 (.250).
  • The Illini are 1-8 in Lincoln with the lone winning coming in 1924 (9-6). Illinois made its third trip to Lincoln in the last four years.
  • The Illini have lost 14 straight and 23 of their last 25 against foes ranked in the AP poll since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on Nov. 10, 2007. The lone win during that span came on Sept. 17, 2011, over No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14.
  • Illinois is 0-4 against Nebraska when the Cornhuskers are ranked in the AP poll with losses in 1985 (L, 52-25 at No. 17 Nebraska), 1986 (L, 59-14 vs. No. 6 Nebraska) and 2014 (L, 45-14 at No. 21 Nebraska).
  • Despite careers in both NFL and college head coaching, Illinois' Lovie Smith and Nebraska's Mike Riley faced each other for the first time.
  • Nebraska's 18-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 10:42 and gave the Cornhuskers a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter was the longest drive allowed by the Illini this season in terms of plays and time elapsed.

Individual Notes

  • Redshirt-freshman DB Patrick Nelson made his first career start. It took him just one quarter to tie his career high in tackles (6), before finishing the game with 16 tackles, the most by an Illini this season.
  • Senior CB Darius Mosely had his first career interception followed by a 24-yard return with 0:28 left in the second quarter.
  • Sophomore LB Tre Watson made his first career start. He had a career-high 10 tackles and forced a fumble for the first time in his career.
  • Redshirt-freshman DB Reggie Corbin made his first career start. Before today, Corbin had 0 career first-half carries. Today he had 6 carries for 38 yards (6.3 avg) in the first half. Corbin had career highs in carries (9), rushing yards (72) and all-purpose yards (101).
  • Senior LB Hardy Nickerson had 10 tackles, the third time in the first four game he has had 10+ tackles.
  • Senior DT Rob Bain recovered a fumble for the first time in his career.
  • Sophomore LB Julian Jones made his first career start.
  • Consecutive starts streaks extended today: DiLauro (23), Barton (17), Lunt (16), Smoot (16)
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