Nebraska Falls to Illinois, Extending November Slump to Four Games
Penalties and missed field goals defined a 24-13 loss that leaves the Huskers with just two wins in the month since the coaching change.
By Ariana Flores ·
The Nebraska football program entered the November season with high expectations under head coach Matt Rhule. Those expectations have not matched reality on the field.
The Huskers suffered a 24-13 defeat to the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday night in Champaign. The result marks the fourth consecutive loss for Nebraska. The team started the season with a 5-0 record but has now dropped four in a row.
Illinois capitalized on early mistakes by its opponents. The Huskers’ first two drives ended in punts due to penalties. An illegal motion call wiped out a first-down play on the opening possession. On the next drive, a holding penalty negated a run that had moved the ball to the Illinois 10-yard line. Quarterback John Hohl attempted a 45-yard field goal on the following drive, but the kick missed.
Nebraska’s offense found its rhythm on the third possession. The team executed a 98-yard drive that included runs by Jamal Rule, Isaiah Mozee, and Mekhi Nelson. Nelson finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. This drive stands as the longest of the season for the Huskers.
Illinois responded with sustained drives of its own. The Fighting Illini scored on their next three possessions, including the game-tying touchdown. The Illini offense managed only one negative-yard play during that stretch. They marched 75 yards for the tie and continued to score in subsequent drives.
Nebraska attempted to answer in the second half but faced hurdles. The team drove into Illinois territory but faced a penalty that pushed them back to the 36-yard line. Hohl missed another field goal, this time from 54 yards out. Later, quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-one opportunity from an empty backfield set.
The final scoring play came on a fortunate bounce. Colandrea threw a deep pass with a defender closing in. Jacory Barney Jr. secured the ball amid multiple defenders and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown. The Huskers attempted a two-point conversion but failed. Colandrea finished with 284 passing yards and 27 rushing yards. He surpassed 11,000 career total offense yards during the game, reaching a career total of 11,183.
Nebraska outgained Illinois 426 yards to 376. The Huskers rushed for 142 yards while holding Illinois to 84 on the ground. The team remains 2-11 in November games since Rhule took over. Nebraska travels to Rutgers on Saturday for its next game.
