The University of Nebraska’s football program continues to struggle under head coach Scott Frost, with a 30-22 loss in Big Ten play opening the college football season on Saturday afternoon at the University of Illinois in Champaign.
Illinois, playing its first game under former Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema, started slowly, losing starting quarterback Brandon Peters to a left shoulder injury, and falling behind 9-2 midway through the second quarter. However, a controversial roughing the passer penalty with 6:32 remaining in the half negated a potential Nebraska interception, and the Fighting Illini would surge. A short scoring run by Mike Epstein with 2:51 left in the half drew Illinois even, and by halftime, the home team had a 16-9 lead after a fumble by Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez at midfield was returned 41 yards for a touchdown. Â
The lead ballooned to as large as 30-9 in the second half, before Nebraska rallied to within one score before running out of time and opportunities by the final horn.
Illinois back-up quarterback Artur Sitkowski was solid in relief of Peters, throwing for 124 yards on 12 of 15 accuracy, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
