Illinois vs Nebraska score today: Live updates, highlights from Week 4 game

Wes Huett, Peoria Journal Star

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The No. 24-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini football team leads 31-24 against No. 22 Nebraska in overtime in their Big Ten Conference opener tonight at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Fighting Illini are 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2011 when they started 6-0 to start the regular season under Ron Zook. Illinois has wins over Eastern Illinois, No. 19 Kansas and Central Michigan at home.

Behind freshman sensation Dylan Raiola, Nebraska is off to a 3-0 start to the season. The first-year signal-caller is 59-of-80 passing (73.8%) for 670 yards, five touchdowns and one interception to begin his collegiate career.

Here are our live updates as Illinois football take on Nebraska, including highlights, score and more:

Watch Illinois football vs Nebraska live (free trial)

Illinois vs Nebraska score updates

1

2

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F

ILLINOIS

7

3

7

7

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24

NEBRASKA

10

7

0

7

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24

Illinois-Nebraska OT | Illini take lead

Illinois strikes first in the overtime, with a 6-yard TD pass from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant. The TD was set up on a 19-yard run from Kaden Feagin to open the drive, which started at the 25.

Illinois punts away the ball in final minute; we head to overtime

The Illinois drive is stalled and they must punt it away with 30 seconds remaining. The Huskers are pinned inside the 10 to start. Nebraska will kneel down the ball and we head to overtime.

Nebraska misses go-ahead field goal

Nebraska kicker John Hohl missed a 39-yard field goal wide left, keeping the game tied at 24-24 with 3 minutes remaining. Illinois will take over with a chance to drive for the win.

Big man touchdown for Illinois vs Nebraska

Brandon Henderson, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive lineman, scored the game-tying touchdown for Illinois, which pulled even with the Huskers with 10:36 remaining in the Big Ten opener.

QB Luke Altmyer hit Henderson, lined up at tight end, for a 6-yard score on fourth down to cap a 9-play, 75-yard drive.

Illinois-Nebraska score update | Huskers 24, Illini 17

Nebraska need just 1:58 to go 75 yards in five plays to grab a late lead. Janiran Bonner's 1-yard TD catch from Dylan Raiola capped the drive.

Illinois-Nebraska score update | Illini 17, Nebraska 17

Illinois quiets the crowd in Lincoln, Nebraska, when QB Luke Altmyer hits wide-open TE Tanner Arkin to tie the game at 17-17 with 1:55 left in the third quarter.

WATCH: Josh McCray one-handed catch

Illinois running back Josh McCray made an extremely tough one-handed catch look very easy, taking a third-and-7 outlet pass and snagging it with his outside left hand and stumbling to nearly pick up the first down. Illinois went for it one play later and got it.

Watch the play below.

Illinois, Nebraska trade punts to start half

The first two possession after halftime end in the first punts of the game for Illinois and Nebraska. The second punt return, by Illinois' Hank Beatty for 37 yards, is stopped by Nebraska punter Brian Buschini who saved what could have been a return TD.

What is simultaneous possession? Illinois-Nebraska had example

It appeared Nebraska scored a touchdown on a 50-50 ball in the second quarter to take a 17-10 lead over Illinois football on Friday night, however, Fighting Illini cornerback Torrie Cox Jr. ended up with an interception after review.

That's when simultaneous possession came into play. Read all about it here.

Illinois-Nebraska halftime score: Huskers 17, Illini 10

The defenses ruled the day in the late part of the second quarter in this Big Ten opener — but Nebraska was able to make one late push. Isaiah Neyor secured his second TD of the game with 16 seconds left in the second, making a great grab while dragging his feet to complete the catch.

  • Illinois stats: QB Luke Altmyer — 9-for-12, 123 yards TD; WR Pat Bryant — 2 catches, 56 yards, TD; RB Kaden Feagin — 6 carries, 20 yards.

  • Nebraska state: QB Dylan Raiola — 16-for-23, 156 yards, 2 TDs; WR Isaiah Neyor — 2 catches, 17 yards, 2 TDs; RB Dante Dowdell 13 catches, 54 yards.

Illinois defense: Interception total equals 2023

The interception for Illinois defensive back Torrie Cox was the seventh of the season for the Illini — equalling the team's total from the entire 2023 season, according to Illini Inquirer's Joey Wagner.

Torrie Cox interception for Illinois

Cornerback Torrie Cox came away with an incredible interception in the Nebraska endzone, pulling away a near catch from Huskers receiver Isaiah Neyor. Officials initially ruled the catch an touchdown, but further review gave the Illini the ball and a touchback.

Take a look at the play below:

Illinois-Nebraska score: Illini 10, Huskers 10

Illini kicker David Olano nails a 26-yard field goal to even things up in Lincoln with 11:37 left before halftime.

Nebraska football has 400th sellout

The Illinois vs Nebraska game is the 400th consecutive sellout in Memorial Stadium history in Lincoln. The attendance for the milestone game is 86,936.

Illinois-Nebraska score: Huskers 10, Illini 7

Four plays after the turnover, QB Dylan Raiola finds Isaiah Neyor for a 6-yard touchdown with 32 seconds to play in the first quarter. Turnovers, as always in football, are devastating.

Nebraska forces a turnover

Illinois receiver Hank Beatty has the ball stripped after grabbing a pass, and Nebraska takes gets the ball back in Illinois territory.

Illinois-Nebraska score: Illini 7, Huskers 3

Illinois should feel fortunate to get limit Nebraska to a field goal after quarterback Dylan Raiola had the Huskers with first-and-goal from the 5 after an 18-play drive. Nebraska kicker John Hohlcapped the drive with a 21-yard field goal. Usual Huskers placekicker Tristan Alvano is unavailable.

Kaleb Patterson of Illinois with great tackle

Illini cornerback Kaleb Patterson made an incredible tackle to set up a third-and-7, battling a defender — who committed a penalty on the play — to stop the Nebraska player in the backfield.

Illinois-Nebraska score: Illini 7, Huskers 0

Pat Bryant streaks in for a 27-yard touchdown with 11:54 left in the first quarter and the Illini strike first. Bryant, who now has five TDs this season, had a big third-and-1 catch earlier in the drive.

Illinois vs Nebraska injury updates

The Big Ten Conference availability report lists six players out, four for Illinois and two for Nebraska. Another two are listed as questionable.

The Big Ten Conference availability report for the Illinois vs Nebraska game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.
The Big Ten Conference availability report for the Illinois vs Nebraska game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.

Illinois vs Nebraska time today

  • Date: Sept. 20, 2024

  • Time: 7 p.m. CT

  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Nebraska

The Big Ten matchup between Illinois and Nebraska kicks off at 7 p.m. CT on Friday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

What channel is Illinois vs Nebraska game on today?

The Fighting Illini and Cornhuskers will be broadcast nationally on FOX. Tim Brando and Devin Gardner will call the game from the booth, with Josh Sims reporting from the sidelines. The game can also be streamed on Fubo, which offers potential subscribers a free trial.

Illinois vs Nebraska history

Illinois vs Nebraska predictions

Two of the Journal Star's reporters pick Nebraska to win the game, and one has Illinois pulling off an upset. All of them expect a close game, each picking the Big Ten opener to be decided by one possession.

Illinois vs Nebraska odds, money line, over/under

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, as of Friday.

As of Friday, the Illinois Fighting Illini are a 7.5-point underdog on the road in their first Big Ten game, at Nebraska. The money line is +260 and the over/under is 42.5 points.

Illinois vs Nebraska weather update

Expect another beautiful game day for the Fighting Illini. The forecast calls for temperatures of about 85 degrees to start the game in Lincoln, Nebraska, and dropping to the mid-70s by game's end. Expect clear skies and no precipitation.

Illinois schedule 2024

See Illinois football ticket prices for every game this season

  • Thursday, Aug. 29: Illinois 45, Eastern Illinois 0

  • Saturday, Sept. 7: Illinois 23, Kansas 17

  • Saturday, Sept. 14: Illinois 30, Central Michigan 9

  • Friday, Sept. 20: Illinois at Nebraska* | 7 p.m. | Fox (Fubo free trial)

  • Saturday, Sept. 28: Illinois at Penn State*

  • Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE

  • Saturday, Oct. 12: Illinois vs. Purdue*

  • Saturday, Oct. 19: Illinois vs. Michigan*

  • Saturday, Oct. 26: Illinois at Oregon*

  • Saturday, Nov. 2: Illinois vs. Minnesota*

  • Saturday, Nov. 9: BYE

  • Saturday, Nov. 16: Illinois vs. Michigan State*

  • Saturday, Nov. 23: Illinois at Rutgers*

  • Saturday, Nov. 30: Illinois at Northwestern*

Nebraska schedule 2024

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois vs Nebraska: Game updates, live score in college football

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