Illinois Welcomes Nebraska to Memorial Stadium on Friday Night

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois and Nebraska meet on Friday night under the lights at Memorial Stadium, as the Illini look to extend their three-game winning streak in the series. Both teams enter the game at 2-3 overall, and both squads are looking for their first Big Ten wins of the season. 

Illinois (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) features the Big Ten's leading receiver, Isaiah Williams. Williams has five more receptions than any Big Ten receiver and 69 more receiving yards than anyone in the conference, while his 20 first-down receptions are tied for the conference lead. 

Nebraska (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) and first-year head coach Matt Rhule make the trip to Champaign after a 45-7 loss to No. 2 Michigan at home on Saturday. The Huskers have wins over Northern Illinois and Louisiana Tech on the season.

Friday's game will be televised nationally on FS1 with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.

Press Conference

Get Tickets

Promotions

Giveaway – 20,000 orange rally towels courtesy of Ag Game sponsors

Friday Night Lights – Fans are encouraged to turn their phone flashlights on at kickoff to participate in the stadium-wide light show (no app required, just your phone!).

Celebrate Food and Ag – In partnership with the College of ACES, the game will celebrate the many partnerships and contributions the agriculture industry has given to the University and the Central Illinois community. An activities tent in Grange Grove will feature the following:
» Tattoo station where fans can get I LOVE ACES tattoos, animal tattoos for Illinois Extension, and 4-H clover leaf tattoos.
» Crop Sciences Department will be giving out free "Grow your own Microgreens Kits."
» Food Science and Human Nutrition Department will have their dietetics students playing food games with kids and families.
» Student organization Illini Pullers will bring their student-built mini tractor for kids to sit on and take pictures with. 

Petting Zoo in Grange Grove – A mini petting zoo will be on site in Grange Grove. College of ACES representatives will share info and interact with Illini fans and kids. Animals include calf, horse, goats, chicks, and piglets.

Illini Hour — Fans are now incentivized more than ever to enter Memorial Stadium during the first hour gates are open. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, all hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), domestic beers, and Trulys are just $3. Fans can visit any stand where items are sold to take advantage of the early bird deals. For the NEBRASKA game, gates open at 5:30 PM CT and Illini Hour runs until 6:30 PM CT before the 7 PM CT kickoff. 

Season Ticket Holder Punch Card — 
» ILLINI CONCESSIONS: $3 popcorn. Deal can be redeemed at all beer portables (Gate 24, 22, 12, 10, 17, 11, Section 115) and at the Champaign Classics stand in the Colonnades Club.
» GAMEDAY SPIRIT: $5 off all hats, excluding winter beanies (locations available in Grange Grove and inside Memorial Stadium, not available at Neil St. and Green St. locations).

Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash – "The Galloping Ghost" is returning to Memorial Stadium in The Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's! This new promotion occurs between the third and fourth quarters of Fighting Illini football games all season long, and will feature a race between Red Grange and a University of Illinois student inside the hashes of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium. The student racing the modern-day version of Red will have a chance to win free Jimmy John's for a year. Fans can interact and take photos with Red Grange inside Grange Grove on game days from three hours prior to kickoff. Update for Friday night: Red Grange has proven to be too fast for the student contestants, so he will now give the student a head start! 

Need a tailgate spot? — Reserve a tailgate in Grange Grove for FREE or book a fully turnkey tailgate with add-ons such as televisions, tailgate games, BBQs, high-top tables, and speakers. Catering options include; Nelson's Catering, Hickory River BBQ & Friar Tuck Beverages. Make your FREE or turnkey reservation through our official University of Illinois tailgate service provider Tailgater Concierge.

Parking Advisory

Click here to read about Friday's parking and tailgating advisories.

Notes

Illinois Welcomes Nebraska to Memorial Stadium
• Illinois and Nebraska meet for the 21st time on Friday night, as the Illini look to extend their three-game winning streak in the series. 
• Illinois trails the all-time series against Nebraska, 6-13-1. However, the Illini have turned the series more towards their favor since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, winning four of 10 games.
• Illinois is looking to even the series history at Memorial Stadium, as the Illini's all-time record against Nebraska in Champaign is 3-4-1. The Illini beat Nebraska, 30-22, on Aug. 28, 2021 in the Huskers' last visit to Champaign, which was Bret Bielema's first game as head coach of the Illini.

The Law Firm of Newton and Randolph
• Defensive tackles Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., who go by the nickname "The Law Firm," are one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation over the last two seasons
• Newton is second in the nation in QB pressures among interior defenders with 19, according to PFF, and first among Power-5 interior defenders. Newton trails only Tulane's Patrick Jenkins (20).
• Newton had seven pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener, the second-most by any Power-5 defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF.
• Randolph is second in tackles (30) among defensive tackles, behind only UCF's Lee Hunter (32). 
• Among defensive linemen (both interior and edge), Newton is tied for fourth in the nation in PFF's defensive stops statistic with 17.

#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
• Isaiah Williams is the Big Ten leader in receptions (30) and receiving yards (446). Williams has five more receptions than any Big Ten receiver and 69 more receiving yards than anyone in the conference.
• Williams has at least one catch in all 30 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, which is the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten behind Penn State's Dante Cephas (32) and tied for the 11th-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 19 straight games.
• Williams has 20 first-down receptions this season, tied for the most in the Big Ten with Penn State's KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The 20 first-down receptions is tied for the 16th-most in the nation.
• Williams has 162 career receptions, currently fifth all-time at Illinois. He is only eight catches from jumping A.J. Jenkins, Josh Ferguson, and Jason Dulick to move up to second all-time, behind only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions from 1983-85.
• Williams has 1,695 career receiving yards, 10th all-time in Illinois history.

Special Teams
• Illinois leads the nation in blocked kicks with four under first-year coordinator Robby Discher.
• All-American Johnny Newton has two blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). No other Big Ten team has more than two blocked kicks/punts.
• Illinois is one of only four teams in the nation with two blocked punts (Oklahoma, Pitt, Vandy).

True Freshmen Impact
• Running back Kaden Feagin has gained more yards week-over-week in every game this season. He had 11 carries for 85 yards against Purdue, season highs in each category. Among his carries at Purdue was a big 19-yard game to set up a field goal in the final drive before halftime to make it a 3-point game.
• Playing in his first significant playing time against Florida Atlantic, corner Zachary Tobe was the highest-graded true freshman defender in the nation during Week 4 (87.0), according to PFF. Tobe was the highest-graded freshman in the Big Ten (all positions) during Week 4 (87.0).
• Tobe and fellow true freshman CB Saboor Kariem both had three pass breakups against FAU.
• Wide receiver Malik Elzy has five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown on the season, all coming in Big Ten games.
• Three Illinois true freshmen -  Jaheim Clarke, Malik Elzy, Mac Resetich - have played in all five games and passed the four-game redshirt limit. Clarke and Resetich have been two of the most productive special teams players for the Illini in 2023.

The Illinois-Nebraska Series
• Illinois is on a three-game winning streak against Nebraska, the Fighting Illini's longest winning streak in the all-time series. 
• Illinois trails the all-time series against Nebraska, 6-13-1.
• Last season, #17 Illinois beat Nebraska, 26-9, to move to 7-1 on the season. Chase Brown recorded his ninth-straight 100-yard rushing game with 149 yards on the ground alongside two total touchdowns. Tommy DeVito went 20/22 with 179 yards and two touchdowns, and Isaiah Williams made nine catches for 93 yards and a score. DeVito's .909 completion percentage broke the Illinois record (min. 20 attempts) and set the stadium record at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium.
• In Nebraska's last trip to Champaign, Illinois, beat Nebraska, 30-22, during Week 0 in 2021. It was Bret Bielema's head coaching debut for Illinois.
• In 2020, the Illini defeated Nebraska 41-23 to snap a four-game losing streak to the Huskers. The victory was Illinois' first in Lincoln since 1924. The 41 points scored in 2020 were a season high and the most the Illini have ever scored on the road in Lincoln. 
• Illinois is 4-6 against Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011.
• The 2015 Illini win over the Huskers ended in dramatic fashion, as QB Wes Lunt found WR Geronimo Allison for a 1-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to give the Illini a 14-13 victory in Champaign. Illinois went 72 yards in the final 41 seconds for the winning score. 
• Red Grange set Illinois' punt return yardage record (125) against Nebraska in 1923.
• Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Nebraska: 187 A.J. Bush Jr. 10/10/2018, 149 Chase Brown 10/29/2022, 142 J.C. Caroline 9/26/1953 
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Nebraska: 119 David Williams 9/21/1985, 118 Geronimo Allison 9/27/2014
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. Nebraska: 292 Jack Trudeau 9/21/1985
• Illinois' longest rush vs. Nebraska: 73 J.C. Caroline 9/26/1953, 65 Red Grange 10/6/1923
• Illinois' longest pass vs. Nebraska: 58 Reilly O'Toole to Geronimo Allison 9/27/2014
• Illinois head football athletic trainer Jeremy Busch spent two years at Nebraska as an assistant football athletic trainer/rehabilitation coordinator. 
• Illinois assistant strength and conditioning coach Mike Manninger played at Nebraska from 2008-2012.