Illinois 24, Nebraska 13: Katin Houser's three touchdown passes in the red zone

Nebraska moved the ball as well as Illinois did on Friday night. The difference was what each side did when it got close. Katin Houser threw three touchdown passes from 6 yards or shorter, Illinois scored 21 unanswered points after falling behind, and the Illini beat the favored Cornhuskers 24-13 at Gies Memorial Stadium.

The win moves Illinois to 6-3. Nebraska falls to 5-4 and has now lost four straight, scoring 17 points or fewer in each of them.

How it was won

Nebraska struck first. M. Nelson ran 15 yards for a touchdown with 9:29 left in the second quarter, and J. Hohl's kick made it 7-0.

Illinois answered before the half. Houser found Collin Dixon for a 3-yard score at 1:55 of the second quarter, and E. Moczulski's kick tied it at 7.

The Illini took the lead midway through the third. Houser hit J. Anderson from 5 yards out at 8:33, making it 14-7. Early in the fourth, at 13:38, Houser went back to Dixon for a 6-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

Nebraska's response came fast. Anthony Colandrea found Jacory Barney Jr. for a 51-yard touchdown at 10:44 of the fourth, but the two-point try failed, leaving the Huskers down 21-13. They did not score again, and Illinois closed it out at 24-13.

The box score reads close. Nebraska outgained Illinois 336 yards to 310, had more first downs (21 to 17) and held the ball slightly longer (25:35 to 24:53). Neither team turned it over. Third downs were nearly even: Nebraska converted 6 of 11, Illinois 7 of 12.

Houser finished 20 of 30 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Hudson Clement led Illinois receivers with 5 catches for 87 yards, and Dixon caught 6 for 67 and both of his scores. Aidan Laughery ran 11 times for 55 yards, and Lars Rau added a 29-yard carry.

Colandrea was efficient, completing 21 of 29 for 203 yards and a touchdown. Barney had 3 catches for 68 yards, and Kwazi Gilmer had 4 for 58. Jamal Rule carried 15 times for 69 yards and Isaiah Mozee 6 times for 31, part of a 133-yard rushing night that out-produced Illinois on the ground by 53 yards.

The yardage was there for Nebraska. The touchdowns were not. One rushing score and one long pass was all the Huskers produced, while Illinois turned its trips inside the 10 into seven points three times.

Against the number

Nebraska closed as a 4.5-point favorite, and Illinois covered by winning outright. The Illini were +164 on the moneyline at the close, with Nebraska at -198.

The total closed at 52.5. The teams combined for 37 points, so the under cashed by 15.5. With no turnovers, roughly 50 minutes of combined possession and neither offense breaking off many explosive plays outside Barney's 51-yarder, the game never approached that number.

Full pricing history is on the game page.

What's next

Nebraska travels to Rutgers on Saturday, November 14, with the game on BTN. The Huskers need one more win to reach bowl eligibility, and the offense will be the focus after four straight weeks without reaching 18 points. Their losses in that stretch have come by 3, 3, 7 and 11.

Illinois has now won four in a row, including results against Oregon, Michigan State and Maryland. The Illini's next opponent and date were not listed in the schedule data available at publication; we will add the matchup and its price once it is posted.