Revival No. 22 Nebraska and No. 24 Illinois conflict in Huge Ten opener

For the primary time since October 2011, No. 22 Nebraska and No. 24 Illinois are among the many prime 25 in the identical AP ballot. They may have their Huge Ten opener on Friday night time in Lincoln, Nebraska, to resolve which staff stays there.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) are off to their greatest begin since 2016 (their most up-to-date bowl season), whereas the Illini are 3-0 for the primary time since 2011.

After going by their respective non-conference schedules, the 2 groups may have a greater concept of ​​their strengths after they face off in Nebraska’s four-hundredth consecutive dwelling sport.

“It is a bit uncommon to have two robust groups ranked in Friday night time’s sport,” mentioned Illinois coach Bret Bielema, whose program seems within the ballot for simply the second time prior to now 13 years. . “This does not occur on a regular basis. It has been superior to see it play out and be part of it. A number of credit score to their staff and what they’ve achieved to date. I instructed our guys to proceed to maintain our Consideration, our mindset, and see the place it goes.

The Huskers have already got three wins — they led UTEP, Colorado State and Northern Iowa by a mixed rating of 79-10 at halftime — however head coach Matt Rhule hasn’t. Leaving too deep an impression.

“I feel any time you do not wager on a sport, you are feeling good,” Rule mentioned. “So I really feel actually good about how our offense carried out on Saturday (towards Northern Iowa). But it surely’s all preseason for me. Now the season begins. We’ll know the place we’re with these balls. Group video games are going to be a really totally different problem guys.

The Illini enter Friday’s sport tied for second within the nation in turnover margin (+8) and tied for fifth in pressured turnovers (9). Defensive again Xavier Scott is considered one of 4 FBS gamers with not less than three interceptions in three video games, and he has pressured a complete of 4 turnovers.

However Scott and his workers have but to face a passer like Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola. Even on the uncommon events when the cross rush pressured him to improvise, the five-star freshman seemed calm and composed, finishing 73.8 p.c of his passes for 670 yards, 5 touchdowns and only one interception.

“He instantly introduced a special component,” Bielema mentioned. “He is a really gifted younger man with nice deep passing potential. They’ve executed a superb job of getting the most effective out of him. There are some issues you possibly can actually see him getting higher in each sequence — Actually spectacular.

Rhule appeared curious to see how Raiola would fare towards an Illinois staff that ranks twelfth nationally in cross effectivity protection (87.98 factors to Raiola’s 162.22).

“They modified loads of what they have been doing,” Rhule mentioned, noting how Illinois second-year defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is utilizing extra disguises this season. “They are going to present protection and play protection 2. They are going to present protection and zone protection. For a younger quarterback, he is bought to acknowledge that as a result of they don’t seem to be going to indicate it to you. He is bought to acknowledge the zone within the snap. They Is taking the ball away at a excessive stage.

Bielema, however, wish to see his speeding assault grow to be extra dependable. Illinois’ again 4 carried out satisfactorily (153.3 yards per sport), however Illinois did not face a protection just like the Huskers, giving up simply 2.5 yards per carry and permitting 70.3 yards per sport. .

“If we wish to win within the Huge Ten, we have now to run the ball in sure conditions,” Bielema mentioned. “I feel the largest definition of a staff is a staff that may run the ball successfully and compete nicely.”

–Scene-level media