Kickoff is three hours away in Champaign. Nebraska (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) plays at Illinois (5-3, 3-2) Friday at 7 p.m. CT on FOX from Gies Memorial Stadium, with Jack Kizer and Mark Helfrich on the call. The Huskers need a win for bowl eligibility after three straight one-score losses. Here is the checklist.
1. Protect the football
Three interceptions decided last Saturday’s 17-10 loss to Washington, including one returned for the go-ahead score. Illinois has won its last two Big Ten games by one score, and Bret Bielema’s team just walked off Maryland with a field goal. One giveaway can end this one.
2. Finish the fourth quarter
Nebraska led entering the fourth at Oregon and for most of the fourth against Washington. It lost both. Illinois won at Maryland on the final snap. Late-game execution is the whole matchup between two 5-3 teams that keep living in close finishes.
3. Account for Collin Dixon
Illinois wide receiver Collin Dixon has 60 catches, 781 yards and 10 touchdowns and ranks among the national leaders in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Per 247Sports’ keys package, holding him closer to 60-70 yards would count as a win for the Blackshirts while Illinois tries to get its run game going.
4. Trust what still works
Nebraska ranks among the top 15 nationally in total defense (270.8 yards, 8th), scoring defense (15.6 points, 14th), rushing defense (91.1 yards, 11th), pass-efficiency defense and sacks, and leads the country in third-down defense at 21.4 percent. Washington managed 32 rush yards and 267 total. Illinois ran for 184 at Maryland, including a 64-yard freshman touchdown. If the run fits travel, the defense keeps Nebraska in it.
John Hohl takes over place-kicking after Kyle Cunanan’s 4-of-9 season, and Archie Wilson continues to flip field position. Bowl eligibility is on the line under the lights.
Featured image: Photo: I am One of Many. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tommy_Armstrong_Jr._rolls_out_to_pass_(Nebraska_vs._Rutgers,_2014).jpg.
