Matt Rhule didn’t speak about Illinois, Friday night’s opponent in Champaign, until the final minute of his weekly news conference Monday. Everything was related to Washington and the two games before.
Nebraska football is on a difficult-to-explain three-game losing streak, while the Illini have won three in a row, most recently against Maryland (20-17) following wins against Oregon (21-10) and Michigan State (38-37 in overtime). The Maryland victory came on a 26-yard field goal as time expired.
Like the Huskers, Illinois is 5-3. But the Illini are 3-2 in the Big Ten, Nebraska 2-3.
Illinois Coach Bret Bielema didn’t have his news conference at the beginning of the week because he was away, attending his father’s funeral — tough times. His news conference is slated for Wednesday.
So let’s just acknowledge what little Rhule had to say about the Illini.
“They’re gonna run the football, RPO you, play-action you,” Rhule said.
Later he repeated himself: “They’re going to run the football.”
Illinois rushed for 225 yards in the Oregon victory. Nebraska ran for a net of 78 yards in a 17-14 loss to the Ducks. “They do have a very sound run game,” said Husker safety Caleb Benning.
Aiden Laughery is far and away the Illini’s leading rusher, with 560 yards and two touchdowns. Second on the rushing list, Ca’lil Valentine, is out for the season with a leg injury.
The Illini needed the run game against Oregon to support back-up quarterback Michael Clayton II, a freshman who started in place of an injured Katin Houser.
Houser was sidelined by
A broken bone in Houser’s right hand sidelined him for the Michigan State game, and Clayton finished off that victory as well, throwing two touchdown passes in each game, without an interception. Houser, who unexpectedly returned to start the Maryland game, has completed 140-of-216 passes for 1,663 yards and 13 touchdowns, with five interceptions.
“They have great wideouts,” said Rhule.
The leading receiver is Collin Dixon, who has caught 60 passes for 781 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is among five players nationally to rank in the top 12 in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. The others are Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, Miami’s Malachi Toney, Syracuse’s Umari Hatcher and FAU’s Easton Messer. Dixon is fourth nationally in receiving touchdowns.
“They have very explosive receivers,” Benning said, referring to Dixon by his jersey number, 17.
Even so, Illinois ranks 11th in the Big Ten in passing offense — sixth in rushing offense.
Because of injuries, the Illini have had four different starting lines on offense. But the same five have started the three-game winning streak.
Defensively “their safety, (jersey) 7, is as good as there is in the Big Ten. He’s all over the field,” Rhule said, referring to Matthew Bailey, who leads the team with 55 tackles, including 3.5 for losses.
Bailey was also Illinois’ leading tackler in 2024 and 2025. He had an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Illini’s 48-10 victory against Southern Illinois.
Cornerback Juice Clark ranks sixth nationally and is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine pass break-ups.
The Huskers have to be prepared for Illinois’ 3-3-5 base defense.
Nebraska had its annual “Blackout” game Saturday, of course. Friday night’s game at Gies Memorial Stadium will be Illinois’ “Hail to the Blue Out” game. Fans are encouraged to wear Illini navy blue.
The “Blue Out” coincides with Illinois’ annual “Dad’s Night.”
Neither figures to be a distraction for the Huskers, the early favorites who need to get back on the winning track — and knock Illinois off of it. Rhule might not have said much about the Illini Monday, but they’ve obviously been the focus. Practices began Sunday because of the short week.
“We’re always prepared for tempo versus them,” Rhule said.
