Live updates: No. 24 Illinois takes early lead over No. 22 Nebraska
For the second straight year, Nebraska battles Illinois in a Friday Night Lights atmosphere — this time at Memorial Stadium.
The No. 22 Huskers will host No. 24 Illinois with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The matchup will be televised on Fox. It's the last of four straight home games and three straight night games for Nebraska.
Including the annual Black Friday matchup with Iowa, this is the third straight season Nebraska has played multiple games on a Thursday or Friday. Last year, it opened the season with a Thursday night loss at Minnesota and beat the Illini on the road on a Friday.
NU has been ranked for two consecutive weeks now. The last time the Huskers were in the top 25 and played a fellow ranked opponent was a 62-3 loss to No. 6 Ohio State on November 5, 2016 when Nebraska was ranked No. 9.
The Huskers should play a closer game Friday as oddsmakers have NU favored by 9.5 points over the Illini. The over/under point total is 42.5.
The National Weather Service forecast projects a temperature of 90 degrees at gametime in Lincoln with a southeast wind at 13 mph.
NU has started the season 3-0, comfortably beating UTEP, Colorado and most recently Northern Iowa. The Huskers defeated the FCS foe 34-3. They've beaten opponents by a combined margin of 102-20.
Illinois is also undefeated with wins over Eastern Illinois, then-No. 19 Kansas and Central Michigan. The Illini will be playing their first road game of the season in Lincoln.
Nebraska leads the all-time series 14-6-1. Last season's 20-7 win snapped the Huskers' three-game losing streak to Illinois.
Scroll down for live updates from the game, plus analysis, video, photos and more! Plus check out what The World-Herald reporters are saying on X, formerly Twitter, here .
Live updates
FIRST QUARTER
Jaylen Lloyd grabbed Dylan Raiola's pass over the middle for a gain of 12 yards. A three-yard carry from Dante Dowdell was followed by an incompletion looking to get it to Johnson. Raiola's pass on 3rd down was a little behind Isaiah Neyor forcing the punt.
Kaden Feagin ran right into John Bullock to start the Illini drive for a gain of two then Luke Altmyer found Zakhari Franklin on the sideline for a pickup of seven. Altmyer lobbed it down the right sideline over the outstretched arms of the NU defender for a 1st down and a gain of nine. Altmyer then stepped into a throw to Tanner Arkin for 10 yards. After a short Feagin run, Bryant slipped past Tommi Hill on the right sideline for a wide-open 27-yard touchdown. The David Olano PAT is good.
Stay tuned for more live updates
Husker fans pile into Memorial Stadium for a Friday Night Lights ranked matchup.
Digital Producer Drake Keeler
