Matt Rhule didn’t spend much of Monday talking about Illinois, but Nebraska’s next opponent is impossible to ignore.
The Huskers head to Champaign on Friday night carrying a three-game losing streak, while Illinois comes in with three straight wins of its own. The Illini have been rolling since their 20-17 win over Maryland, a game they finished with a 26-yard field goal as time expired. Before that, they beat Oregon 21-10 and Michigan State 38-37 in overtime.
Both teams are 5-3. The difference is in the conference standings: Illinois is 3-2 in the Big Ten, Nebraska is 2-3.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema did not hold his usual early-week news conference because he was away attending his father’s funeral. His media session is scheduled for Wednesday.
Rhule kept his comments on the Illini brief, but the message was clear.
“They’re gonna run the football, RPO you, play-action you,” Rhule said.
He said it again later: “They’re going to run the football.”
That ground game has been a major part of Illinois’ recent surge. The Illini ran for 225 yards against Oregon, while Nebraska managed just 78 net rushing yards in its 17-14 loss to the Ducks. Husker safety Caleb Benning put it simply: “They do have a very sound run game,” said Husker safety Caleb Benning.
Aiden Laughery leads Illinois with 560 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ca’lil Valentine is second on the team in rushing, but he is out for the season with a leg injury.
Illinois also had to lean on its run game because of quarterback injuries. Michael Clayton II, a freshman, started against Oregon in place of injured Katin Houser.
A broken bone in Houser’s right hand kept him out against Michigan State as well, and Clayton helped close out that win, throwing two touchdown passes in each game without an interception. Houser returned unexpectedly to start against Maryland, and he has completed 140-of-216 passes for 1,663 yards and 13 touchdowns, with five interceptions.
“They have great wideouts,” said Rhule.
The biggest name in that group is Collin Dixon, who has 60 catches for 781 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is one of five players nationally to rank in the top 12 in both 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.
Illinois has still been more productive on the ground than through the air, ranking 11th in the Big Ten in passing offense and sixth in rushing offense. Injuries have forced the Illini to use four different starting offensive lines, though the same five have started during the three-game winning streak.
On defense, Nebraska will have to deal with Illinois’ 3-3-5 base look and a secondary that Rhule singled out. “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 Illinois’ leading tackler in 2024 and 2025. He also had an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Illini’s 48-10 win over Southern Illinois.
Cornerback Juice Clark has been just as disruptive in coverage. He ranks sixth nationally and is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine pass break-ups.
Nebraska’s own “Blackout” game came and went Saturday. Illinois will counter Friday night with its “Hail to the Blue Out” at Gies Memorial Stadium, with fans encouraged to wear navy blue. The game also falls on Illinois’ annual “Dad’s Night.”
Rhule said none of that should throw Nebraska off. The Huskers are the early favorites, and they need to get back on track while ending Illinois’ winning streak. Practices started Sunday because of the short week, and Nebraska knows what kind of pace to expect.
“We’re always prepared for tempo versus them,” Rhule said.
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