The Illinois football program upset the Nebraska Cornhuskers 24-13 in Champaign, recording their first four-game conference win streak since 2022.
It was an impressive performance for Illinois, as they scored 24 points against Nebraska's No. 14 -ranked scoring defense. The Illini's offense was highlighted by Katin Houser's 292 passing yards and three touchdowns.
The Illini came away with a big win in Champaign, but experienced a devastating loss in the second quarter when true freshman Javari Barnett was carted off with an apparent lower-leg injury.
#illini Freshman RB Javari Barnett is being carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg. Very similar to Ca’Lil Valentine.
— Ben Machi (@Ben_Machi) November 7, 2026
Getting thin at running back. pic.twitter.com/oJGy9NeKLd
It was an emotional scene for the Tampa, Florida, product, as Barnett was carted off the field after being caught in the middle of a pile during a quarterback run. The freshman has become very active in Illinois' offense, recording 27 carries for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
The extent of Barnett's injury is not publicly known as of writing this, but Illinois' running back room has become thin for the time being. Bielema will now lean on Aidan Laughery and Jordan Anderson as his primary running backs with Barnett and Ca'Lil Valentine sidelined.
Illinois football will need to turn to Kaden Feagin to help fill void at running back
Barnett was gaining a lot of steam in Illinois' offense and quickly became a fan favorite with his violent running style and explosive ability. It is sad to see him injured, but Bielema needs to find a way to fill his void.
This is where Kaden Feagin enters the fray.
Feagin, a 6-foot-3 senior, moved from running back to tight end in the offseason after Cole Rusk transferred to Arizona. Prior to this move, Feagin recorded 284 carries, 1,251 yards, and 12 touchdowns in three seasons at running back.
Feagin is one of the most experienced tailbacks on this roster and will need to take some reps in the backfield to help alleviate the pressure on Laughery and Anderson. It doesn't mean he can't play tight end every now and again, but mixing him into the rotation will help with Laughery and Anderson's longevity.
Hopefully Barnett's injury is not too severe, and we get to see him on the field sooner rather than later. It is just hard to tell what his status will be at this moment, especially given how he reacted on the field.
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