Illinois Football: Illini Host Nebraska in Big Ten

Illinois and Nebraska desperately need a victory to stay in contention for the Big Ten West title and bounce back from humbling defeats.

Illinois and Nebraska are both in desperate need of a victory in order to stay in contention for the Big Ten West title and recover from their disappointing losses in the previous week.

Last week, Nebraska suffered a crushing defeat at home, losing 45-7 to the second-ranked team in the nation, Michigan. The game took place in front of a crowd of over 87,000 fans, marking the 392nd consecutive sellout in Lincoln. On the other hand, Illinois was defeated 44-19 by Purdue.

Illinois' quarterback, Luke Altmyer, has struggled this season, throwing seven interceptions and losing four fumbles. The team has only managed to score 10 points in the first quarter of games. Altmyer has surprisingly emerged as the team's leading rusher, gaining 278 yards on the ground. However, Reggie Love III, who has accumulated 258 yards, missed the Purdue game due to a foot injury and his availability for Friday's game is uncertain.

One player to watch out for on Illinois' offense is Virginia transfer Billy Kemp IV. Kemp is a dangerous pass catcher who is currently tied for seventh place nationally among active receivers with 209 career receptions. Throughout his five years at Virginia, he played in 50 games and accumulated 1,967 receiving yards. Kemp's eligibility to play this season was granted by the NCAA due to the additional year given to Virginia football players in their final year of eligibility. At Virginia, he ranks fourth in career pass receptions (192) and tenth in career receiving yards (1,774).

Another key player for Illinois is Isaiah Williams, who leads the Big Ten in receptions (30) and receiving yards (446). He is also tied with Penn State's KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the most first-down catches (20). Williams made the switch from quarterback before the start of the 2021 season and has recorded at least one catch in all 30 games since then. He has also had at least three catches in 19 consecutive games. With 162 career receptions, Williams currently holds the fifth spot on Illinois' all-time list.

It's worth noting that Illinois has been exceptional in blocking kicks this season, leading the nation with four blocked kicks, including two on field-goal attempts and two on punts. Jer'Zhan Newton, an All-American player, is responsible for the two field-goal blocks. On the other hand, Nebraska's upcoming game against Illinois is their only road game in a six-game stretch. Historically, Nebraska has had the upper hand in their Big Ten matchups against Illinois, winning six out of the first seven games. However, the Illini have turned things around recently, winning the last three meetings between the two teams. In fact, Illinois emerged victorious in their last encounter on August 28, 2021, with a 30-22 win over Nebraska. This game marked the first game for Bret Bielema as the head coach of the Illini.

Finally, there was some concern earlier in the week when a fire broke out in a maintenance area under the horseshoe portion of the seating area at Memorial Stadium. However, a structural engineering firm inspected the area and confirmed its safety, according to a spokesperson from the school.

In conclusion, both Illinois and Nebraska are eager to secure a victory in their upcoming game to keep their hopes alive for the Big Ten West title. With key players on both teams and intriguing storylines surrounding the matchup, it promises to be an exciting and pivotal game for both programs.