LINCOLN, Neb. — — The final time Illinois gained its sixth sport by mid-October to attain bowl eligibility, it went on to lose six straight.

That was in 2011, and the subsequent 10 seasons weren’t form to the Illini. Their 20 Large Ten wins between 2012-21 have been fewest of any staff within the convention that whole span.

An upbeat vibe round Champaign is palpable in coach Bret Bielema’s second season. The Seventeenth-ranked Illini (6-1, 3-1 Large Ten) are alone in first place within the West Division, they drew their largest house crowd since 2013 for the Oct. 15 win over Minnesota, and the staff with the nation’s main rusher and prime protection has been bathed in adulation.

Given Illinois’ historical past, this could possibly be a harmful time for a coach who’s making an attempt to construct a program that may have sustained fairly than fleeting success. Whereas Bielema needs his gamers to have enjoyable with all that comes with their accomplishments, he additionally encourages them to maintain on preserving on.

“Consistency is a extremely good thing while you discuss success,” Bielema stated, “but it surely has an evil cousin referred to as complacency that may carry you failure, proper? And that is the driving edge proper now’s to maintain complacency out of our enterprise, out of our constructing, offensively, defensively, particular groups and particularly the teaching workers as effectively.”

Subsequent up for Illinois is a Saturday go to to Nebraska (3-4, 2-2) for a gathering of groups coming off open dates.

Nebraska has misplaced two straight to the Illini and 19 in a row in opposition to Prime 25 opponents.

“I’m certain they’re feeling good,” Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson stated, “however we like what we have now as effectively and are excited in regards to the matchup.”

Illinois most likely will pound away with a well-rested Chase Brown, who went over 1,000 yards for the season in opposition to Minnesota and is coming off a school-record eight straight 100-yard performances. Nebraska has the Large Ten’s worst run protection and has allowed allowed a 100-yard rusher in 5 of its seven video games.

“We are going to give him the respect that he deserves,” linebacker Eteva Mauga-Clements stated, “however a man like him, he is aware of what he’s doing. He’s going to hit laborious, and if he is aware of there may be nothing else he can do, he’s going to maneuver ahead and get as many yards as he can get.”

GRANT’S STRUGGLES

The yards have not been straightforward to return by currently for Nebraska’s Anthony Grant. He went over 100 yards in 4 of the primary 5 video games however was restricted to a mixed 82 yards on 30 carries by Rutgers and Purdue. He has not had a run of 10 yards or extra in 54 carries since having 15 in his first 90.

“We now have to get him going,” interim coach Mickey Joseph stated. “We now have to get a operating sport going this week.”

Illinois is permitting 77.9 speeding yards per sport and a couple of.77 yards per carry.

HELP ON THE WAY

Brown has 97 speeding makes an attempt the final three video games, together with a nationwide season-high 41 in opposition to Minnesota two weeks in the past, and averages 27.4 per sport. Assistance is on the best way.

Josh McCray, who has been out for the reason that Illini’s season opener, resumed training final week and ought to be obtainable. Chase Hayden and Reggie Love III, restricted by accidents in opposition to Minnesota, have carried a complete of simply 16 occasions the final three video games. McCray was Brown’s major backup final season.

TOUGH IN SECOND HALF

Illinois has allowed solely 17 second-half factors, together with seven in fourth quarters. The Illini are outscoring opponents 77-17 in second halves.

PASSING TO PALMER

LSU switch Trey Palmer has been a revelation for the Huskers, who will go in opposition to the nation’s prime cross effectivity protection. Palmer set a college file along with his 237 yards on seven catches in opposition to Purdue on Oct. 15, and his 111.6 receiving yards per sport is fourth nationally.

BIELEMA IN LINCOLN

Bielema’s earlier two journeys to Lincoln have been memorable. He was Iowa linebackers coach in 2000 when the Hawkeyes misplaced a nonconference assembly 42-13 and obtained a few of that well-known Nebraska fan hospitality.

“I bear in mind going over there and getting the cheers operating on the sphere,” he stated, “after which they cheered louder while you left since you misplaced.”

He was Kansas State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2003 when the Wildcats gained 38-9 for his or her first victory in Lincoln since 1968.

Nebraska moved from the Large 12 to the Large Ten in 2011, and Bielema by no means coached at Memorial Stadium earlier than he left Wisconsin in 2012.

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