That’s coach Matt Rhule’s attitude as No. 22 Nebraska enters its game against No. 24 Illinois on Friday night.
“Now the season starts, this is the first game in the Big Ten for us and we’ll find out where we are,” he said.
The Cornhuskers (3-0) have opened with stress-free nonconference wins over UTEP, Colorado and Northern Iowa — “the preseason,” Rhule calls it — for their best start since 2016. Now comes Illinois (3-0), which has beaten a then-ranked Kansas on its way to its best start since 2011.
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The Huskers will try to end a 24-game losing streak against Top 25 teams and win a conference opener for the first time in five years.
“We’re trying to compete to win the Big Ten,” Rhule said. “All of these games matter. All of these games are important. This is a great opportunity. It’s our first league game. We didn’t certainly approach this preseason like the (NFL) preseason. To me it’s just now we’re entering Big Ten play. Our approach doesn’t change but just the gravity of the situation is a little bit different.”
Nebraska beat Illinois 20-7 in Champaign in a Friday night game last year, ending a three-game losing streak in the series. Illini coach Bret Bielema said he notices pep in his players’ steps this week.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema watches his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast
“I think when you throw in the element of they’re ranked we’re ranked, I think that’s a unique game to these guys,” he said. “It’s kind of interesting to see the energy that that brings out — not for me, I really don’t care — but from what I get from the outside world and from a young man’s perspective, to have that has been pretty good.”
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Altmyer vs. Raiola
Quarterbacks Luke Altmyer of Illinois and Dylan Raiola of Nebraska have put up nearly identical passing numbers. Altmyer has the better feet, with three runs of at least 15 yards. Raiola can take off if necessary — he scrambled for 15 yards and a first down against Northern Iowa — but passing is his calling card. The five-star recruit is the top true freshman passer in the nation.
“You can see why he’s everything that I would say he’s built up to be,” Bielema said, “and probably even more.”
Hurrah for TeRah
TeRah Edwards is becoming a force in the middle of Illinois’ defensive line. Never mind his lack of big numbers, Bielema said, because the 6-foot-2, 305-pound senior stands out on film.
Edwards has been credited with six quarterback pressures in three games by Pro Football Focus, matching his total over his previous 25 games. He’s still looking for his first sack and tackle for loss of the season.
“NFL scouts have asked about him. Just very impressive,” Bielema said, adding that having Edwards play alongside Dennis Briggs Jr. gives the Illini a formidable duo up front.
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Putting the O-Line to test
Nebraska brought back three starters and one part-time starter on the offensive line, and it has allowed one sack compared with six through three games last year. The Huskers’ early schedule has not been as difficult, so Rhule is reserving judgment.
“We don’t know anything about those guys until we play in the Big Ten,” he said. “They’ve done a really good job versus who we’ve played against. This will be such a different challenge facing these guys.”
400th straight sellout
Nebraska will celebrate its 400th consecutive sellout, an ongoing NCAA record that has been kept alive at times by boosters buying up unsold tickets. When the streak was teetering on extinction in 2022, for example, a benefactor swooped in and bought the last 2,100 tickets at a bulk rate of $10 per ticket.
Actual attendance has visibly increased since Rhule’s arrival last year, and the stadium was full for the first three games this season.
“I think getting to 400 sellouts will be great,” Rhule said. “My job, though, is to make sure that we win that game so that people leave happy about it.”
Heavy storms caused major damage to at least two school buildings in Vermilion County last night.
Joel Bird is the Director of the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency. He said the damage is widespread.
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“Danville has several homes with trees that have fallen near the garage or the home,” said Bird.
Mark Denman Elementary School in Danville lost its roof and that wasn’t all.
“Up in Hoopeston, there’s several spots where a tornado went through on the South side… some damage at the high school, east of town at the local bridge,” said Bird.
The Nutrien Plant also took a direct hit. Bird said as of late Thursday night, there are no reports of injuries or deaths.
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The sounds of chainsaws will fill the air in many Champaign County communities on Friday.
Kandy Powell was at home around 7:30 Thursday night when a storm blew through east Urbana.
“But then the winds got really strong. And as you looked out the window you can see that the trees were kind of bowing down a little bit. And from there we heard a very large snap,” said Powell.
The large branch of one tree fell onto her driveway just missing the house. A branch from another tall, mature tree fell, blocking her street. Powell did not lose power, but thousands of people in Champaign-Urbana had a long wait to get the lights back on overnight.
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Tree branch lying on East Washington Street in Urbana after severe storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)
Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 8:30 p.m.
There are multiple reports of damage after severe storms passed through Champaign and Vermilion Counties on Thursday night. The National Weather Service issued Tornado Warning for Champaign County at 7:28 p.m.
As of 8:42 p.m., Ameren reports more than 78,000 customers have lost power. Thousands of homes and businesses in the Springfield, Champaign-Urbana and Danville areas do not have electricity. To report a downed power line, call 800.755.5000.
Ameren Outage map at 8:42 p.m. on June 11, 2026
Below are some pictures of storm damage. This story will be updated through the evening.
Large tree branch lying across driveway in Urbana after storms on June 11, 2026.
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Tree damage in Champaign after storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)Tree damage in Champaign after severe storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)
“Any cold brews and cold foam combination,” Bosi explained. “And our sourdough sandwiches sell like crazy. When we first opened, we did not open with a focus on food.”
Since adding seven sourdough sandwiches to the regular menu, the most popular selections include the Golden Hour, Fresco Italiano, Sunrise Sausage, Garden Glow and the Spicy Social.
The address for Social Butterfly Coffee is 310 N. Ottawa St., now known as the 3TEN Building. Back in 2018, the Old Steelworkers Union Hall property was purchased and remodeled by Joliet businessman Cesar Cardenas, who now serves on the Joliet City Council.
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The inside of Social Butterfly Coffee can accommodate around 75 people. There is plenty of seating, sofas, tables and chairs for people to relax, either by themselves or to strike up a conversation with someone else.
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – Thousands of people lost power late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning as severe storms moved across Central Illinois.
At 12:30 Thursday morning, PowerOutage.com reported the following counties with outages in Central Illinois.
Sangamon County – 12,500
Menard County – 2,500
Piatt County – 1,200
Macon County – 1,100
Cass County – 700
Vermilion County – 600
Piatt County – 300
Strong storms produced several tornado warnings Wednesday night and early Thursday. As of midnight, there have been no confirmed tornadoes but some severe storms were producing high winds and heavy rains. NWS Lincoln received reports of spotted tornados, but any surveys wouldn’t start until daylight Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln was getting reports of downed trees in several counties.
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The EMA Director in Sangamon County reported trees down along several streets. Public Works crews were being called in to remove them from the road. Drivers should use caution if driving at night as down trees may be hard to see.
The Macon County EMA reported downed trees in Maroa, Argenta, and Orena. There were no reported injuries from the storms in that county.
Viewer pictures to WAND News showed trees and power lines down along Taintor Road in Springfield near Turasky Meats.
