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Illinois and Nebraska every are coming off a primary win of the 2020 season — the Illini by defeating Rutgers and the Cornhuskers by holding off Penn State. Certainly one of these groups will earn its first win streak of the marketing campaign immediately as Illinois and Nebraska kick off at 11 a.m. in Lincoln, Neb.
Proceed to comply with alongside all afternoon with beat author Colin Likas, who will present updates remotely because the groups battle it out on the Cornhuskers’ Memorial Stadium.
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Brandon Peters is getting the decision at quarterback, in accordance with 247sports activities’ Jeremy Werner.
Peters is accessible immediately after lacking the final three video games with a constructive COVID-19 take a look at. He began in Illinois’ season opener in opposition to Wisconsin, and Isaiah Williams additionally obtained some repetitions.
Williams broke out in final week’s win at Rutgers, making his first collegiate begin and later incomes Huge Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith stated earlier this week he needed to maintain Williams concerned within the Illini assault no matter who begins at QB.
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Out at Nebraska
LB Eifler
TE D. Imatorbhebhe
RB Norwood
OL Palczewski
DL Randolph
QB Robinson
WR Sidney— Illini Stats & Notes (@IlliniStats) November 21, 2020
Standing adjustments between RUT and NEB video games
DL Avery (out → accessible)
DB Marchese (out → accessible)
DL Mondesir (out → accessible)
TE Moore (out → accessible)
QB Peters (out → accessible)
DL Woods (out → accessible)OL Palczewski (performed → out)
DL Randolph (performed → out)— Illini Stats & Notes (@IlliniStats) November 21, 2020
Defensive lineman Jamal Woods is again within the fold for Illinois after lacking the final two video games with damage. That is particularly excellent news since Keith Randolph Jr. is out from that unit after being injured final week.
Additionally sidelined is offensive lineman Alex Palczewski, who went down early within the win over Rutgers with a proper leg damage. Danville product Julian Pearl is prone to obtain his first collegiate begin consequently.
And linebacker Milo Eifler is also out for a second consecutive sport. The trio of Jake Hansen, Khalan Tolson and Tarique Barnes is prone to fill out the linebacker unit immediately.
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We wait to see if Jamal Woods can return to the Illini defensive position immediately after lacking the final two video games with damage. Regardless, the Cornhuskers will not be fully wholesome in that unit.
Junior D-lineman Deontre Thomas is out for immediately’s sport, in accordance with the Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon. Thomas performed in all of Nebraska’s video games final season and has seen time this 12 months in two of its three contests.
Fellow junior Jordon Riley will fill in on the road, in accordance with McKewon.
Nebraska’s roster has suffered one other blow as effectively, with KLKN TV’s Andrew Ward reporting that Cornhuskers working again Dedrick Mills is just not in uniform. Mills was the Cornhuskers’ main rusher final season and began in Nebraska’s first three video games this 12 months.
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One thing must give from an offensive perspective when Illinois and Nebraska meet. Neither group has blown the doorways off their opponents up to now, because the Illini common 17 factors per sport and the Cornhuskers 22 factors per outing.
One space of obvious benefit for Illinois is within the run sport. Nebraska’s two main rushers are its quarterbacks, Luke McCaffrey (196 yards) and Adrian Martinez (187). Not one of the Cornhuskers’ precise working backs have accounted for triple-digit yards throughout the group’s first three video games.
That is a statistic each Mike Epstein and Chase Brown have posted in single video games this 12 months. Brown (247 yards), Esptein (225) and quarterback Isaiah Williams (197) key a floor sport that erupted final week in opposition to Rutgers.
On the passing entrance, either side have an apparent standout. Illinois’ Josh Imatobhebhe has introduced in 11 catches for 144 yards and a landing, whereas Nebraska’s Wan’Dale Robinson has snagged 15 passes for 92 yards.
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Can Lovie Smith’s fifth Illini group turn out to be the primary in this system’s historical past since 1924 to earn a win in Lincoln? If that’s the case, it’d finish a four-game dropping streak in opposition to the Cornhuskers. The final time Illinois knocked off Nebraska at any location was in 2015, when the Illini collected a 14-13 victory at their very own Memorial Stadium.
Since then, Nebraska has produced factors seemingly at will every time it takes on Illinois. The Cornhuskers are averaging 38.75 factors per contest in opposition to the Illini over the past 4 matchups, together with outputs of 54 and 42 factors within the final two conferences.
Quarterback Adrian Martinez performed a giant function in these totals, however he could not get the beginning immediately for the Cornhuskers. Luke McCaffrey took the reigns final week in opposition to Penn State and gave Nebraska a lift each together with his arm and legs. How will Nebraska coach Scott Frost proceed together with his quarterback scenario?
It is a query dealing with Smith as effectively. Brandon Peters is accessible for the primary time for the reason that Week 1 loss to Wisconsin, lacking the final three video games due to a constructive COVID-19 take a look at. Isaiah Williams made his first collegiate begin final week in opposition to Rutgers and succeeded to the tune of Huge Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
On the lookout for somewhat extra perception as to what you would possibly be capable of anticipate throughout immediately’s sport? Try our gameday preview and gameday Q&A, produced by Likas and Bob Asmussen, respectively.
The Illini are in search of their first victory in Lincoln, Neb., since 1924 — in addition to revenge for final 12 months’s heartbreaking 42-38 loss to the Cornhuskers in Champaign — once they make a cease in Nebraska for Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff.
The reigning Huge Ten Particular Groups Participant of the Week will look to transform extra large kicks on Saturday at Nebraska
All the Illinois soccer protection you will want shall be proper right here at IlliniHQ.com. With kickoff nonetheless a number of hours away, make amends for what you might need missed from our protection this week.
Asmussen: Who’s taking part in QB? And which group begins a streak?
Illinois soccer seems for its first profitable streak of the season Saturday at Nebraska. If Lovie Smith’s group pulls it off, will probably be the varsity’s first win in Lincoln, Neb., since 1924. Right here’s what I’m pondering earlier than the 11 a.m. kickoff on the different Memorial Stadium:
➜ 1. First issues first: Who’s going to be the Illinois beginning quarterback? Isaiah Williams simply had the most effective dashing sport for a quarterback at school historical past. And the Illini gained. However Brandon Peters is eligible to play once more after getting COVID-19 and sitting the final three video games. Go along with the senior.
➜ 2. Actually, Peters shall be desperate to get again on the sector. And based mostly on what the Illini coaches stated, he has continued to work on his sport throughout quarantine. His final trip, a loss at Wisconsin, didn’t go very effectively. However I’m pondering that was extra due to the Badgers’ stellar protection and a few breakdowns by the Illinois offense. Peters didn’t have a lot of an opportunity.
To continue reading, click here
Extra from Bob Asmussen
Doug Kramer happy to be back on the field
Handing out some Big Ten midseason hardware
Talking points with Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star columnist Steve Sipple
Big Ten power poll: After win, Illini climb out of the basement
Washington retains his head within the sport for Illini receiving corps
CHAMPAIGN — Every of Casey Washington’s catches final Saturday carried a person story.
It’s not at all times the case. A receiver would possibly haul in a lone, quiet reception or quite a few nondescript passes in any given week.
The Illinois sophomore, nonetheless, put collectively an fascinating efficiency within the Illini’s 23-20 victory at Rutgers regardless of not gathering his first catch till the third quarter.
Washington’s three catches for 52 yards paced Illinois’ receiving corps and performed an necessary function within the Illini’s first win this season.
To continue reading, click here
Extra from Colin Likas
Brown finds perfect gear to give Illini offense needed boost
Danville product Pearl prepares for likely first collegiate start
Hansen keeps rolling despite shift in linebacker duties
Illini could play two quarterbacks at Nebraska
Williams, McCourt snag Big Ten awards after win over Rutgers
Extra from The Information-Gazette employees
REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin booked for homecoming halftime
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