Introduction
Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13 on Friday night. The game was played at home in Champaign, Illinois. Both teams are in the Big Ten, which is a group of big college teams. Illinois won its fourth game in a row. The win made Illinois bowl eligible, which means the team has won enough games to play in a bowl game at the end of the season.
What Happened
Nebraska scored first. Mekhi Nelson ran 15 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. That put Nebraska ahead 7-0. Illinois answered before half time. Katin Houser threw a short pass to Collin Dixon for a touchdown. The score was tied 7-7 at the break.
Illinois took the lead in the third quarter. Houser threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Anderson. A trick play helped set up that score. Early in the fourth quarter, Dixon caught his second touchdown pass of the night. The pass was 6 yards from Houser, and Illinois led 21-7.
Nebraska fought back. Anthony Colandrea threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jacory Barney Jr. The two-point try failed, so the score stayed 21-13. Ethan Moczulski kicked a 21-yard field goal with about eight minutes left. That made the final score 24-13.
Houser threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Dixon caught eight passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. One of his catches set a record for Illinois. Colandrea threw for 284 yards for Nebraska. Barney Jr. caught six passes for 93 yards and one touchdown.
Why People Are Talking About It
Illinois is now 6-3 for the season. The team is 4-2 in Big Ten games. Nebraska is 5-4 for the season and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Nebraska was the favorite to win, but Illinois won at home in front of 58,587 fans. The win was the fourth in a row for Illinois. It also made the team bowl eligible, which is a big goal for a college team.
What Happens Next
Illinois will try to win its fifth game in a row. A bowl game is now in reach for the team. Nebraska will try to bounce back in its next game. Both teams still have more games to play this season.
Final Thoughts
It was a big night for Illinois at home. Dixon had a huge game with two touchdowns. Houser threw three touchdown passes. Illinois fans now have a bowl game to look forward to.
Sources: ESPN box score: Illinois 24-13 Nebraska (Nov. 6, 2026)
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