Postgame Notes
Illinois at Nebraska
- Tonight's game marked the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1962. The first game in the sellout streak was on Nov. 3, 1962 against Missouri.
- Tonight's game marked the first non-Black Friday weekday game at Memorial Stadium since Sept. 20, 2001 against Rice. That game was originally scheduled for Sept. 15, 2001 but was rescheduled following the 9/11 terrorist attacks
- Nebraska opened Big Ten Conference play at home for the first time since 2017. Nebraska fell to 6-8 in Big Ten openers, including 4-1 in Big Ten openers played at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska is 3-3 in Big Ten openers against Illinois
- The Huskers played their first overtime game since a 24-17 loss at Wisconsin in November of last season. Nebraska fell to 8-9 all-time in overtime contests, including 2-2 at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska has lost eight consecutive overtime games dating back to a 37-34 win at Cockeye on Nov. 28, 2014
- Nebraska's 18-play first quarter drive that ended in a field goal was Nebraska's longest in terms of plays since a 19-play touchdown drive at Illinois in the 2021 season opener
- Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 24-of-35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The 297 passing yards were a career best for Raiola, bettering his 247 yards last week against Northern Cockeye
- Raiola's three touchdown passes marked the first time a Husker has thrown for more than three TDs since Casey Thompson at Cockeye in 2022
- Senior receiver Jahmal Banks had eight catches for 94 yards, including a five catches for 61 yards in the first half. Banks increased his career receiving yardage total to 1,574 yards
- Senior receiver Isaiah Neyor had a 6-yard TD reception in the first quarter and an 11-yard TD catch in the second quarter, giving him a team-leading four TD receptions this season. Neyor finished the game with four catches for 90 yards. He also tied his career high with two touchdown catches.
- Neyor had catches of 44 and 29 yards in the second half and has three catches this season of at least 29 yards. He entered tonight's game averaging 20.4 yards on his 65 career catches
- Tight end Thomas Fidone caught two passes for 46 yards in the game. His 46 receiving yards were a career best and his 29-yard reception in the third quarter tied his career long reception (also vs. Louisiana Tech in 2023)
- Running back Dante Dowdell had a career-high 20 carries for 72 yards, two shy of his career high
- Senior linebacker John Bullock finished with a career-high-tying nine tackles, including a sack. He also forced a first quarter fumble that resulted in a Nebraska touchdown. Bullock's forced fumble was the second of his career
- Illinois had a field goal in the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. That was the first points Nebraska has allowed in the second quarter in 2024. The Huskers have outscored opponents 58-3 in the second quarter and 86-13 in the first half
- Illinois TD drive on its first series of the game marked the first time in 11 games the opposition has scored a touchdown on its first possession
- Illinois was just the second team in 11 home games under Coach Matt Rhule to score more than 14 points against Nebraska
- Tonight's game captains were center Ben Scott, rover Isaac Gifford, nose tackle Nash Hutmacher, and cornerback Tommi Hill
Illinois at Nebraska
- Tonight's game marked the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1962. The first game in the sellout streak was on Nov. 3, 1962 against Missouri.
- Tonight's game marked the first non-Black Friday weekday game at Memorial Stadium since Sept. 20, 2001 against Rice. That game was originally scheduled for Sept. 15, 2001 but was rescheduled following the 9/11 terrorist attacks
- Nebraska opened Big Ten Conference play at home for the first time since 2017. Nebraska fell to 6-8 in Big Ten openers, including 4-1 in Big Ten openers played at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska is 3-3 in Big Ten openers against Illinois
- The Huskers played their first overtime game since a 24-17 loss at Wisconsin in November of last season. Nebraska fell to 8-9 all-time in overtime contests, including 2-2 at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska has lost eight consecutive overtime games dating back to a 37-34 win at Cockeye on Nov. 28, 2014
- Nebraska's 18-play first quarter drive that ended in a field goal was Nebraska's longest in terms of plays since a 19-play touchdown drive at Illinois in the 2021 season opener
- Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 24-of-35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The 297 passing yards were a career best for Raiola, bettering his 247 yards last week against Northern Cockeye
- Raiola's three touchdown passes marked the first time a Husker has thrown for more than three TDs since Casey Thompson at Cockeye in 2022
- Senior receiver Jahmal Banks had eight catches for 94 yards, including a five catches for 61 yards in the first half. Banks increased his career receiving yardage total to 1,574 yards
- Senior receiver Isaiah Neyor had a 6-yard TD reception in the first quarter and an 11-yard TD catch in the second quarter, giving him a team-leading four TD receptions this season. Neyor finished the game with four catches for 90 yards. He also tied his career high with two touchdown catches.
- Neyor had catches of 44 and 29 yards in the second half and has three catches this season of at least 29 yards. He entered tonight's game averaging 20.4 yards on his 65 career catches
- Tight end Thomas Fidone caught two passes for 46 yards in the game. His 46 receiving yards were a career best and his 29-yard reception in the third quarter tied his career long reception (also vs. Louisiana Tech in 2023)
- Running back Dante Dowdell had a career-high 20 carries for 72 yards, two shy of his career high
- Senior linebacker John Bullock finished with a career-high-tying nine tackles, including a sack. He also forced a first quarter fumble that resulted in a Nebraska touchdown. Bullock's forced fumble was the second of his career
- Illinois had a field goal in the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. That was the first points Nebraska has allowed in the second quarter in 2024. The Huskers have outscored opponents 58-3 in the second quarter and 86-13 in the first half
- Illinois TD drive on its first series of the game marked the first time in 11 games the opposition has scored a touchdown on its first possession
- Illinois was just the second team in 11 home games under Coach Matt Rhule to score more than 14 points against Nebraska
- Tonight's game captains were center Ben Scott, rover Isaac Gifford, nose tackle Nash Hutmacher, and cornerback Tommi Hill
