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Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini win over Nebraska

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Tommy DeVito #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini passes against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Tommy DeVito #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini passes against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Oct 1, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

4. A few issues with the coaching

At 7-1 and on pace to have the best season since before most current University of Illinois students were born, it is hard to complain about much.

Every facet of the Illinois football team has been doing well this season, but on Saturday against Nebraska, there were a couple of coaching issues.

Early in the game, when there was a question about who was going to come out victorious, the Illinois offense got a little stagnant. The playcalling was getting a little too predictable. That would all change soon after, but this Illini offense had some issues in the first quarter.

There was also a point, when we were down 9-6, that Illinois had a couple of bad plays which drove us back for a long field goal. The coaching staff called a timeout when the field goal was about snapped. We would make the field goal, but it didn’t count due to the timeout. That drive resulted in a punt.

I believe we got slightly too conservative in the second half as well. Illinois would kick a field goal on fourth and one at the Nebraska 18 yard line. Picking up a first down there would have extended the drive and eaten clock.

I also would have liked to have gone for it on fourth and three from the Nebraska 45 yard line on the next drive. Getting that first down would have also extended the drive and eaten up the clock.

But, overall, I really don’t have too much to complain about. We dominated the game and won 26-9. This coaching staff is one of the best in the nation. There were just a few things I would have personally changed.

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