Coming into Saturday’s game, the Huskers had dropped four straight and six of the last eight in Big Ten play. They had a chance to right the ship and gain some momentum against the Fighting Illini. Illinois was 6-15 before the game with the second worst Big Ten conference record at 2-8.
In just the second game for Tim Miles and company since losing Isaac Copeland for the season, things started just about as bad as possible.
Illinois opened the game with a 7-0 run, prompting a Miles timeout. He must have used the last of his magic in that huddle, as the Huskers responded with a 10-0 run themselves.