Illinois at Nebraska, Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
Friday Night’s Contest between the Illini and the Huskers is a way for both programs to take their temperature of how much each has come up the ladder of relevance and National standing.
Both programs found coaches who know how to build a program up from the bottom. Both programs have come a long way from where they have been over the years.
Where the Huskers will have a clear edge is at QB where they now have a true National elite QB. He can make things happen in creative ways to become a difference maker. The Illini need to control the ball as much as possible to keep it out of his hands.
The Husker faithful is feeling their mojo again after being so down and depressed for so long. Huskers are finally back in the Top 25 after a long absence (as are the Illini).
Husker fans are a loyal and enthusiastic bunch who love their team. But they also just enjoy good football and they appreciate the efforts of other teams who come in to Lincoln.
It’s just one game whatever happens. But it’s games like these that can propel a program further up the ladder. Big Ten ball has never been better with the addition of the West Coast teams. And all teams just keep getting better (if you don’t look to closely at the Purdue score yesterday).
Both programs found coaches who know how to build a program up from the bottom. Both programs have come a long way from where they have been over the years.
Where the Huskers will have a clear edge is at QB where they now have a true National elite QB. He can make things happen in creative ways to become a difference maker. The Illini need to control the ball as much as possible to keep it out of his hands.
The Husker faithful is feeling their mojo again after being so down and depressed for so long. Huskers are finally back in the Top 25 after a long absence (as are the Illini).
Husker fans are a loyal and enthusiastic bunch who love their team. But they also just enjoy good football and they appreciate the efforts of other teams who come in to Lincoln.
It’s just one game whatever happens. But it’s games like these that can propel a program further up the ladder. Big Ten ball has never been better with the addition of the West Coast teams. And all teams just keep getting better (if you don’t look to closely at the Purdue score yesterday).
It worked with the Jayhawks.I hereby declare this the Lucky Gif
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I mean let's be real, we would build a statue of Bret Bielema for results that would get Matt Rhule fired.
The good news is that puts ALL the pressure on the Huskers, who have lost this kind of game over and over and over again in the past decade-plus.
This time feels different. But so did last time. And the time before that.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
agree 100%
he hasn’t really been tested yet in game conditions
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
To add, we’re 30th in defense overall.
But we’re 11th in passing defense and 5th in takeaways. We have one of the better secondaries he’ll see this year.
Reggie who? /s
Never heard of him.
I'm making the drive up from DFW. Be there in Section 35. I-L-L 
Prediction: Illini 27 vs Nebraska 24.
We are better than the 2022 team.
Free Luke and February 14!
We are better than the 2022 team.
Free Luke and February 14!
My wife is also from Omaha. She thinks most Nebby fans still think it's 1995 and Tom (Jesus H.) Osborne is still the coach. Just sayin......................
I think both fan bases feel differently right now (both more positive in their own different ways) these days.
We all know that Illini football since the ‘70s and Husker football since the ‘70s (at least) have had a far different levels of success. For many years there were few or no programs that matched up to where the Huskers were at those points in time. The only programs that could challenge them were Oklahoma and whoever Nebraska played in their bowl game. They rolled over just about everyone else for years.
And the Illini have been wanting to approach that elite level where the Huskers used to be for some time now.
A big difference between the two programs is how they relate to the State’s identity. The Husker football program is simply the biggest and most important thing that defines and unites the State and its people. This can’t be said for the Illini program as our State is so much bigger and diverse with so many other large institutions. So many Notre Dame fans around Chicago and NW fans around the area. Nebraska has no such in-State (or nearby) others to challenge their own fan base. Illini fans are many but the program does not dominate the State's identity like a Nebraska or Alabama or Oklahoma.
So the overall expectations are still different at this point – but the trajectory of both programs is on the upswing. A loss by either Nebraska or Illini will not be soul-crushing for either fan base. Disappointing yes, but there are some good vibrations going on with both programs that will survive and prosper.
Anything other than a really dominating win by Nebraska can be seen a building block for the future of the Illini program.
My business office is Omaha. I can tell you with confidence that no one in the state thinks they have been nationally relevant. Every year they drink the koolaid yes. But no, they are the ones cracking jokes about how horrible they have been the past 2 decades. Also their hatred of drunken Scott Frost is hilarious. What a disaster that guy was. Rhule is legit though.
With that said, Nebby is probably a 8-9 win team this year. Probably the best they have been in a while. A huge test for both sides. I'll be there like I always am when the games in Lincoln.
lol my father in law has been resigned to the awfulness of the last 10 years. Outside of the game this week I’m happy to see those fans have a decent team back. Good people, awesome atmosphere in Lincoln.
Not sure you'll find many husker fans who'd agree with this...
I mean…here’s the thing. We’re gonna know what Raiola is after this game. He hasn’t faced a defensive secondary like what our’s has shown itself to be thus far. He’s got arm talent and is very creative, but I haven’t seen him play an intellectually-challenging defense yet. If he can pick us apart, forget about it. We’ll lose by 2 TD’s at least. If he can’t, though, we might bait him into multiple turnovers that tip the game our way.
That’s about it though. Their defense is very, very good. Our run game is not good. Line hasn’t held up well against meh defenses so far, facing a real one is gonna make everything look worse.
We can win this one but it’s not gonna be a bielema ball kinda game if we do. I think we throw it all over the yard and get a few turnovers to win it.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
It may be (as mentioned in the CMU Game Thread) that we are better using the pass to set up the run rather than the other way around.
I'm ok with that. I just don't want to abandon the running game.
Get the OL straightened out, play mistake free football, get Luke in a rhythm and let DB's make some magic happen.
Another Friday night prime time W...on the road @ a top 25 team......a 4-0 start, and our loins will be tingling all the way to Happy Valley.
voters believe they're better than us right now. Most of the polls are really based off preseason right now. there's not enough info from games to really judge. Heck, look at how our big win last week has lost some shine already.
Maybe, but that 2022, 34-10 beat down in his return to Wisconsin, and led to Chryst being fired, will be in the running.
Ignatius Shang
- Columbia, MO
Lol it's such a pity that DraftKings isn't allowed in Missouri. But I wasn't allowed to bet on IL schools in Illinois either, so whatever.You got it! Eight points.
Illinois opens as early underdog against undefeated Nebraska
Big night on Friday.www.thechampaignroom.com
Blowing out Nebraska and then beating PSU at their place again. That is what he would need.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Maybe beating defending National Championship scUM in the 100th anniversary of one of the most memorable games of all time might do the trick.