Quick hits Illinois 24, Nebraska 13.
Illinois · NebraskaComplementary football came via a trick play on special teams that set up a touchdown and an Illinois defense that bent, but rarely broke, in giving ... Building a consistent winner was Bret Bielema's primary goal when he took the Illinois job in December 2020.
It's a characteristic the program's never really had throughout its long history. Where these Illini are ahead are the bowl wins the past two seasons compared to Mackovic's teams going 1-3 in the postseason during his tenure.
Illinois' four-game winning streak has been built on the backs of teams either near the bottom of the Big Ten (Michigan State and Maryland) or trending that direction (Oregon, maybe, and Nebraska for sure). One of the top teams in the conference.
The Illini are headed westward next week with another Friday night game scheduled against UCLA at the historic Rose Bowl. Four wins in a row is impressive no matter the opponent.
KEY POINTS
- Nov. 7—What happened Collin Dixon etched his name in the Illinois record book, the recipient of two of Katin Houser's three touchdown passes on a night when the passing game had to be productive against a Nebraska team known for its run defense.
- A 24-13 Illinois victory that extended the team's winning streak to four and furthered Nebraska's downfall.
- Securing bowl eligibility for a third straight season— something Illinois last did in the early '90s under John Mackovic in charge — is certainly a big step in that direction for Bielema and Co.
- To be in this job where we're at right now, 6-3 and we beat another 5-3 team.