The Big Ten West is still sorting itself out, but Friday night’s Week 6 showdown between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Illinois Fighting Illini is a fight to get out of the basement of the division. Both of these squads are searching for their first conference win of 2023 and to get to 3-3 to start the season.
Nebraska is reeling after a 45-7 drubbing by Michigan last week, where the Cornhuskers didn’t score until the fourth quarter and barely scraped over 300 yards of offense. On the other side, Illinois is seeking a get-right game after getting blown out by Purdue last week 44-19.
Where and when can you watch the Kansas State-Oklahoma State game?
What Channel Airs the Nebraska-Illinois Game?
Nebraska @ Illinois
- Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: FS1
- Odds: Illinois -3.5
- Over/Under Total: 43.5
Nebraska enters this week 2-3 on the year, with their only wins coming in non-conference games against Northern Illinois and Louisiana Tech. The Cornhuskers have already made a quarterback change, rolling with Heinrich Haarberg over Jeff Sims, but that has yet to ignite a spark in their passing game.
Nebraska’s offense is fifth in the country in rushing offense, led by Haarberg and running back Anthony Grant. Four different players have over 100 yards on the ground for the Cornhuskers. This should continue this week, as Illinois is currently 109th in rushing yards allowed.
While Nebraska’s passing defense might not be super inspiring at 84th in passing yards allowed, they are led by talented cornerback Quinton Newsome. Newsome already has three pass breakups and has yet to allow a touchdown.
Nebraska’s rushing defense is 14th in the country, though they did allow nearly 250 yards on the ground last week to Michigan. Still, the Cornhuskers only allowed 185 rushing yards across their other four games.
MORE: What Channel is Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State On?
After an 8-4 season last year, there was plenty of optimism around the Illini. With a slew of NFL talent across their defense, Illinois entered the year expecting to compete for the Big Ten West title and a shot at the conference championship, but that has yet to manifest this season.
The defensive results regressed despite the best efforts of Jer’Zahn Newton, Keith Randolph, and Seth Coleman up front. They are 109th in rushing yards allowed after finishing top 10. The Fighting Illini finished eighth last year in passing yards allowed and currently sit 87th.
Offensively, the Illini’s results aren’t much better. Illinois is 60th in passing offense, and quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown just five touchdowns to seven interceptions this season. Illinois’ results on the ground have been largely ineffective as well, at 73rd in rushing offense and averaging just 4.4 yards per rush.
Expect this game to be a physical, smashmouth kind of game we are accustomed to in the Big Ten. These two teams are searching for their first conference win and are competing to get to a bowl game. While the offensive fireworks might not be there, that doesn’t make this game any less intriguing.
