Illinois star running back Chase Brown raced for 162 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns as the No. 17 Fighting Illini defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 26-9 in their Big Ten matchup in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday.
Illini quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 20 of 22 passes for 179 yards and two scores as Illinois extended its lead in the conference’s West Division at 4-1 (7-1 overall). Purdue, which is second at 3-2, was idle. Nebraska fell to 2-3 and 3-5.
The Illini defense, which entered the weekend leading the nation in scoring defense and total defense, picked off Nebraska quarterbacks three times. Sydney Brown snared two, including one that set up Illinois to take the lead for good.
Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson, who was coming off a 354-yard passing performance in a loss at Purdue on Oct. 15, threw for 172 yards in the first quarter and a half before leaving with an injury to his throwing hand.
With Nebraska leading 9-6, Thompson was hit as he tried to throw downfield. Sydney Brown grabbed the fluttering pass and returned it 37 yards to the Cornhuskers 11. Chase Brown carried twice from there, scoring from 1 yard out with 6:03 left before halftime to lift the Illini to a 13-9 lead.
After Nebraska went three-and-out, Illinois put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive, capped by DeVito’s 12-yard pass play to Chase Brown, who coasted into the end zone.
Chase Brown finished with 32 carries for 149 yards and three catches for 13 yards.
Sophomore Logan Smothers finished the first half at quarterback for Nebraska, and redshirt freshman Chubba Purdy took over to start the second half. Purdy went 3-of-8 passing for 15 yards and one interception.
Illinois scored on the game’s first possession, moving 75 yards on five plays, capped by DeVito’s 46-yard touchdown connection to Isaiah Williams. Williams finished with nine catches for 93 yards. The extra point kick failed.
Nebraska got on the board late in the first quarter on Timmy Bleekrode’s 26-yard field goal, which followed a nine-play drive.
The Cornhuskers then took the lead on their next possession, using five plays to go 93 yards, the last 56 as Thompson threaded a pass to Travis Vokolek down the left sideline for a catch-and-run. The extra point attempt was blocked, and Nebraska led 9-6 with 9:38 to go before halftime.
Caleb Griffin added field goals of 36 and 41 yards in the second half for Illinois.
–Field Level Media
