Katin Houser threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, Collin Dixon had two TD receptions and Illinois extended its winning streak to four games with a 24-13 victory over Nebraska on Friday in Champaign, Ill.
Dixon had eight receptions for 129 yards and Hudson Clement caught five passes for 87 yards as the Illini (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) continued to rise in the conference standings after opening league play with consecutive defeats. Jordan Anderson caught a touchdown pass.
Houser was 22-of-36 passing for Illinois, which overcame the loss of running back Javari Barnett after he was taken off the field on a cart midway through the second quarter with a left foot injury.
Anthony Colandrea threw for 284 yards with a touchdown and Jamal Rule had 69 yards rushing as the Cornhuskers (5-4, 2-4) saw their losing streak extend to four games.
Colandrea was 32-of-43 passing while Nebraska kicker John Hohl missed a pair of first-half field goals, including one from 54 yards just before halftime. The Cornhuskers had four drives of at least 11 plays and none of them led to points.
Nebraska took a 7-0 lead with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter when Mekhi Nelson completed a 98-yard drive in 10 plays with a 15-yard TD run.
Illinois got even at 7-7 with 1:48 remaining before halftime when Houser’s 3-yard TD pass to Dixon completed a seven-play, 73-yard drive. It was Dixon’s program-record 11th TD reception of the season.
The Illini went ahead 14-7 on the opening drive of the second half when Anderson caught a 5-yard TD pass to finish off a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
Dixon’s second TD reception came with 13:38 remaining in the game on a 6-yard pass from Houser for a 21-7 lead.
The Cornhuskers pulled within one score with 10:44 remaining when Jacory Barney Jr. finished off a 51-yard catch-and-run off a pass from Colandrea. But Colandrea misfired on a 2-point conversion attempt as Illinois maintained a 21-13 lead.
Illinois responded with a 76-yard drive that included a 58-yard pass from Houser to Dixon, but the Illini had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Ethan Moczulski for a 24-13 lead with 7:51 remaining.
Nebraska turned the ball over on downs twice in the final 2:17 as Illinois sealed the victory.