JD Spielman advances the ball as Stanley Morgan blocks. The two combined for 15 receptions.
Morgan and Spielman. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska 54
Illinois 35

Nov. 10, 2018 • 11 a.m. Central
Memorial Stadium •Lincoln, NE • BTN
1st2nd3rd4th F 
Illinois14701435
Nebraska21177954
First quarter
NEB: Morgan 37 pass from Martinez (Pickering kick) 13:58
ILL: Bush 11 run (McLaughlin kick) 10:39
NEB: Martinez 9 run (Pickering kick) 7:27
ILL: Bush 8 run (McLaughlin kick) 3:40
NEB: Morgan 32 pass from Martinez (Pickering kick) 1:54
Second quarter
NEB: Pickering 27 field goal, 10:36
NEB: Ozigbo 66 run (Pickering kick) 6:00
ILL: Bush 2 run (McLaughlin kick) 0:58
NEB: Stoll 12 pass from Martinez (Pickering kick) 0:03
Third quarter
NEB: Ozigbo 4 run (Pickering kick) 4:12
Fourth quarter
NEB: Safety, Dismuke blocked punt through end zone, 12:10
ILL: Bonner 2 run (McLaughlin kick) 7:44
NEB: Ozigbo 60 run (Pickering kick) 6:15
ILL: Brown 15 run (McLaughlin kick) 3:21

                             ILL      NEB
FIRST DOWNS.................. 25       22
  Rushing.................... 16        9
  Passing..................... 7       12
  Penalty..................... 2        1
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)....... 49-383   34-316
PASSING YDS (NET)........... 126      290
  Att-Comp-Int.......... 25-11-2  34-24-1
TOTAL OFFENSE ........... 74-509   68-606
Fumble Returns-Yards........ 1-2      0-0
Punt Returns-Yards........ 3--15     2-33
Kickoff Returns-Yards...... 6-83     3-26
Int. Returns-Yards.......... 1-0      2-2
Punts (Number-Avg)....... 4-32.2   4-43.2
Fumbles-Lost................ 7-3      3-1
Penalties-Yards............ 7-66     7-72
Possession Time........... 30:11    29:49
Third-Down Conversions.. 7 of 13  4 of 12
Fourth-Down Conversions.. 2 of 2   3 of 3
Red-Zone Scores-Chances..... 5-5      4-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards..... 3-20     3-16

RUSHING
ILL: Bush 25-187, Bonner 10-81, Corbin 9-59, Brown 3-51, Rivers 1-6, Team 1-minus 1.

NEB: Ozigbo 11-162, Washington 3-67, Martinez 13-55, Bunch 1-13, Rose 1-7, Wilbon 3-5, Warner 1-4; Mazour 1-3.

PASSING
ILL: Bush 11-25-2-126.
NEB: Martinez 24-34-1-290.

RECEIVING
ILL: Smalling 5-43, Davis 3-17, Mays 2-32, Corbine 1-34.

NEB: Morgan 8-131, Spielman 7-71, Warner 4-20, Ozigbo 3-36, Reimers 1-20, Stoll 1-12.


Attendance: 88,316


Embed from Getty Images

 

Coverage

Stats & recap
Complete Stats

Huskers Power Past Illini: Nebraska showcased an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense on its way to a 54-35 win over Illinois.

In a game that featured more than 1,100 yards in offense, the Huskers amassed 606 total yards, including 316 on the ground and 290 through the air. The Blackshirts also did their part, nabbing two interceptions and forcing a fumble, while the Huskers also recovered a pair of muffed punts on special teams. Freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez and the offense turned the five Illini mistakes into 24 points.

Martinez finished with 345 yards of total offense, including 290 yards on 24-of-34 passing. Senior running back Devine Ozigbo rushed for 162 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on just 11 carries. Ozigbo was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

Nebraska’s 54 points were its most against a Big Ten opponent since joining the conference in 2011, eclipsing the three-week-old mark of 53 points against Minnesota.

Omaha World-Herald*
Lincoln Journal Star*
Hail Varsity
Nebraska Athletics
Husker247
More Neb. Sources
Natl. & opponent sources
Photos/Audio/Video
Practice reports
2018 schedule
04/21Reds 49, Whites 9
09/08ColoradoL 28-33
09/15TroyL 19-24
09/22@ MichiganL 10-56
09/29PurdueL 28-42
10/06@ WisconsinL 24-41
10/13@ NorthwesternL 31-34
10/20MinnesotaW 53-28
10/27Bethune-CookmanW 45-9
11/03@ Ohio St.L 31-36
11/10IllinoisW 54-35
11/17Michigan St.W 9-6
11/23@ IowaL 28-31
Pregame links & info
Jack Stoll scores 3 seconds before halftime.

Commentary

Stryker

It’s not how this team started, but how it finishes, that will define this year’s senior class and Frost’s first season. Buckle up for a stirring last lap.

HuskerMax
Callahan

There will no doubt be questions about how the Blackshirts played on Saturday, but you cannot deny the strides the offense has made since the second half of the Wisconsin game.

HuskerOnline
Sipple

This game was largely about Nebraska showing in its actions what Frost has been saying about an improving culture in the program.

Lincoln Journal Star
Hamar

The Nebraska defense needs to get better, but it’s not going to be that dominating 1990s type of defense. The Huskers are going to win by having an explosive offense and a defense that forces turnovers.

Grand Island Independent
Hardesty

For the third consecutive game, the Huskers forced three or more turnovers. More importantly, they turned five Illinois turnovers into 24 points.

Daily Nebraskan
Shatel

The biggest takeaway from Saturday is this: Frost has an all-weather offense.

Omaha World-Herald
Vogel

Nebraska’s 54-35 win over Illinois reminded me of the well-worn Carhart dotting the stands on Saturday. It was strong overall, a little frayed and stained in spots, but it got the job done.

Hail Varsity
Tate

Lovie Smith's defense is historic. That is, historically bad.

Champaign News-Gazette
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