Lovieball.
Head Coach Lovie Smith always says his goal for his team in the takeaway department is at least three per game. In the first half against Nebraska the defense had its trio of takeaways: a fumble recovery from Jake Hansen, and interceptions by Tarique Barnes and Tony Adams. The defense added a fourth takeaway with a Khalan Tolson forced fumble and recovery late in the third quarter. A fifth takeaway came in the fourth with a Hansen interception.
Those takeaways led to 20 points for Illinois.
With quarterback Brandon Peters back from COVID-19, the Illini were firing on all cylinders.