Nebraska improved to 3-3 (1-2) on the season with a 20-7 victory over the University of Illinois. The win improved the Cornhuskers’ record on Friday night since 2017 to 4-0, with wins over Illinois (2017), Rutgers (2020), and Rutgers (2022).
The victory also marked head coach Matt Rhule’s 50th victory as a college head coach. Nebraska ended Illinois’ three-game win streak in the series with the win. The Huskers are now 14-6-1 overall against the Illini with a 7-4 record since joining the Big Ten Conference.
Illinois rushed 19 times for 21 yards in the game. It was the fifth time in six games the Blackshirts have held its opponent to less than 60 yards on the ground.
Starting quarterback Heinrich Haarberg accounted for 236 total yards in the game, with 82 yards on the ground and 154 yards in the air. Haarberg has gained more than 200 total yards in three of his first four starts.
Tonight’s game captains were DE Jimari Butler, TE Thomas Fidone, CB Tommi Hill, and WR Marcus Washington. Find social media reaction to Nebraska’s win over Illinois below.
Far From Perfect
I get ackowledging your team is far from perfect, even after a win. What I’ll never get is the fan who feels a need to respond to *every* discussion about a win that includes even a modicum of positivity by pointing out what went wrong and issuing a bleak prognosis for the future
— Jack Mitchell (@JackMitchellLNK) October 7, 2023
Quest for Six
If thinking about Nebraska’s quest to get to six wins — huge in building the program — watch Purdue at Iowa today.
It’s clear which two remaining games on the Huskers’ schedule are most winnable. That one in Iowa City game might shed light on the the identity of a third.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) October 7, 2023
You Can Pitch on the Option
I love Haarberg…But please pitch the ball sometime. Just my opinion.
— Adam Carriker (@AdamCarriker94) October 7, 2023
Don’t Speak About It
Let us never speak of this football game ever again.
— Jake Sorensen (@937JakeSorensen) October 7, 2023
Bad Nebraska team?
Illinois just lost to a bad Nebraska team by 13 at home. Nebraska tried to let Illinois back in the game but NO WAY would Illinois let that happen.
Was such a bad football game. Poorly coached by #illini and honestly no way in hell Nebraska players should have wanted this more!
— Ryan Evan (@200ColumnsRy) October 7, 2023
Another Streaming Service
They probably should have put this Nebraska-Illinois game on Peacock
— CrimsonCast (@CrimsonCast) October 7, 2023
Long Game
Sure, Illinois/Nebraska is a bad football game, but at least it’s taking forever.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 7, 2023
Good Win
Good win for Nebraska tonight. They have to own teams like Illinois in the new Big Ten and that is what they did tonight. Huskers have a chance to win their next three games (Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan State) for a chance to be 6-3.
— 🎙️Dave Robicheaux 🛜 (@DaveyRobicheaux) October 7, 2023
Trying to Lose
Nebraska is trying to lose this game and Illinois isn’t letting them
— Nathan Hollenbeck (@Nate_Hollenbeck) October 7, 2023
Look What Happened
Nebraska and Illinois entered tonight both among the top 15 in most turnovers lost and you’ll never believe what happened next. pic.twitter.com/oGgmXhIh1B
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 7, 2023
Turning the Ball Over
for the love of god can either Nebraska and Illinois stop turning the ball over
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 7, 2023
3rd Win
Matt Rhule games needed to get 3rd win by school:
Temple – 13 games
Baylor – 14 games
Nebraska – 6 games— Arbitrary Analytics (@arbitanalytics) October 7, 2023
Ugly at Times
Nebraska fans can’t get too picky. Yes, this got really ugly at times. But this is a Big Ten road win. This is a rebound from last week’s embarrassing home loss.
You take this “W” into bye week and work on flaws.
They’re not hard to find.
— Steven Sipple (@steven_sipple) October 7, 2023
Rushing Defense
The Blackshirts only allowed 21 total rushing yards from the Illinois offense
1.1 yards/play on 19 attempts #GBR 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
— Barstool ‘Skers (@BarstoolHusker) October 7, 2023
Excited to Play
“For the first time since I’ve been here, they kept running out on the field excited to play. The defense, I can’t tell you what they were saying to me but they were saying some things. They wanted to keep playing.”#Huskers beat Illinois 20-7 for Matt Rhule’s first Big Ten win pic.twitter.com/CVkyD59W5M
— Kevin Sjuts (@kevinsjuts) October 7, 2023
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