THE BROWNS GET THE VICTORY
Illinois RB Chase, twin brother Sydney sparkle vs. Huskers
LINCOLN, Neb. — Illinois’ breakout season keeps getting better.
The Illini’s 26-9 victory over Nebraska on Saturday was nothing flashy, just workmanlike. Chase Brown and the top defense in the country did what they’ve been doing all year, and now No. 17 Illinois is on a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2011.
“Our guys are locked into the moment,” second-year coach Bret Bielema said. “When you get better and better, everyone wants to talk about where you’re going to end up. What we need to concentrate on is the journey, and to get to where we are today has been probably one of the most enjoyable journeys I’ve ever been on in my life.”
Brown rushed for 149 yards and scored on consecutive series in the second quarter to help the Big Ten West-leading Illini (7-1, 4-1) beat the Cornhuskers for the third year in a row and secure their first winning regular-season record since 2007.
“I tell these guys all the time that I’ve been around some championship teams, and this team is that same caliber if not better,” Bielema said. “We’re an exceptional defense and have playmakers on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game.”
Nebraska (3-5, 2-3) committed four turnovers and dropped its 20th in a row against a Top 25 opponent.
The Huskers lost quarterback Casey Thompson to a right arm injury in the second quarter. Interim coach Mickey Joseph said Thompson’s elbow got hit, causing finger numbness. Logan Smothers finished the second quarter, and Chubba Purdy played the entire second half.
Illinois’ Tommy DeVito was 20for-22 for 179 yards and two touchdowns. His 91% completion rate was a Memorial Stadium record for visiting quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts.
The Illini held Nebraska to 29 yards on 20 plays in the second half and 248 for the game, the fewest by the Huskers since they finished with the same number against Michigan State in 2018. Trey Palmer, coming off a school-record 237-yard receiving performance against Purdue, caught one pass for one yard.
“Our guys took away some of their better players,” Bielema said, “and when their quarterback went out, that made a big difference.”
Brown, the national rushing leader, extended his school-record streak of games with at least 100 yards to nine. He scored on a oneyard run and a 12-yard reception in the second quarter to put Illinois up 20-9 at the half.
His short TD run came two plays after safety Sydney Brown, his twin brother, intercepted Thompson’s tipped pass and returned it 37 yards to the Nebraska 11.
The Huskers then went threeand-out, and DeVito finished an 11play, 72-yard drive with his pass to Chase Brown with 23 seconds left in the half.
Brown also made a key downfield block to give Isaiah Williams a clear path to the end zone on a 46-yard catch-and-run on Illinois’ first possession.
Williams’ unforced error in the second half put Nebraska in position to cut into the lead. He caught a pass and, untouched, dropped the ball at his 23 for the Illini’s first lost fumble in five games.
The Huskers gave the ball right back when Sydney Brown picked off his second pass on Purdy’s illadvised throw into the middle of the field.