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Illinois Football: Predicting all 12 games for the Illini 2022 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 01: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 01: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Aug 28, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, left, and Nebraska head coach Scott Frost, talk before the start of Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois football @ Nebraska

The 2021 campaign started off with a big win. Illinois was able to take down Nebraska and start the season 1-0. This time around, the game is on the road and it is in the middle of the season.

Nebraska has not been in a good place for the last half-decade or so. They haven’t made a bowl game since Scott Frost took the reins, and Illinois has now beaten the Cornhuskers two years in a row.

This is going to look like a different Nebraska squad in 2022, though. Long-time starting quarterback Adrian Martinez has departed, and it looks like transfer Casey Thompson is taking over. Thompson threw for 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with Texas last season. I think their quarterback play improved but the mobility has gone down at the position.

Nebraska’s leading running back from 2021, Rahmir Johnson, is back for another year. But he only ended the season with 495 yards and four touchdowns while carrying a 4.4 yards per carry average. Shockingly, Nebraska hasn’t had a good running game in a couple of years.

The Cornhuskers still put out an okay defense, though. They averaged giving up 22.7 points per game in 2021, which ranked No. 36 in the country. The strength of the defense is linebackers, Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich. They both are returning and finished the 2021 campaign with 90 tackles and 99 tackles, respectively.

I think we are going to see an improved Nebraska team in 2022. The way Illinois won the game last season was with some big turnovers and a solid running attack. I think with the combination of Chase Brown and Josh McCray, Illinois should be able to see success on the ground again. These two weren’t established in the first game last year. We should be able to play a better ball-control game.

Illinois wins – 27-17

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