By Woodrow Carroll
For a long time Saturday it looked as though University of Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was going to pick up his fifth Big Ten Conference victory in his fourth season. Instead, Nebraska’s comeback saddled Smith with Conference defeat No. 24. Nebraska won, 42-38, in a game that on four occasions Illinois led by two touchdowns. The last two-touchdown Illinois advantage was in the third quarter, 35-21.
The crowd of 44,512 at Memorial Stadium, a figure helped along by a sizable placement of Nebraska fans, was treated to an entertaining game.
Nebraska racked up 690 yards on offense and never was fully stopped by the Illinois defense. What helped the Illini cause were the four Huskers’ fumbles recovered by the Illini.
Illinois, 2-2 and 0-1 Big Ten Conference, with a victory over Nebraska, would have done a world of good, including postseason bowl consideration.
Illinois will be idle until a game at Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 5. In spite of a 3-0 start, Minnesota, a team Illinois trounced 55-31 last season, looks vulnerable.
The Illini will have home games with Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 12, and Wisconsin, Saturday, Oct. 19.
Dre Brown, senior from DeKalb, added to the Illinois offensive display as a returner and back-up to starting running back Reggie Corbin. Brown returned five kicks for 179 yards, rushed six times for 59 yards, and scored one touchdown. Corbin scored early on a 66-yard run and rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries. Quarterback Brandon Peters was nine of 21 in passing for 78 yards with one touchdown and one intercepted pass.
The Illini blocked a Nebraska extra point attempt after it pulled to within 35-27 late in the third quarter. Nebraska pulled even at 35 with a touchdown and two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter.
Illinois led, 38-35, on a 47-yard field goal by James McCourt with 12 minutes remaining. Four minutes later, the Huskers’ Wan’Dale Robinson powered into the end zone one yard for Nebraka’s victory, 42-38.
Nebraska failed to convert a first-and-goal from the Illinois one, with just more than two minutes remaining, however, the Illinois response were four incomplete passes that allowed Nebraska to wrap up the victory.
• Northwestern, 1-2 and 0-1, fell, 31-10, to Michigan State Saturday. Northwestern was a revelation last season and reached the Big Ten championship game.
• Northern Illinois, 1-2, will play at Vanderbilt, 0-3, Saturday at 11 a.m. in Nashville, Tenn. in a non-conference game.