Nebraska Falls In Season Opener, Bielema Gets Win Illini Debut

Nerbaska football fell in their season opener on Saturday, 30-22 to Illinois. That gave former Wisconsin and Arkansas Head Coach Brett Beilema ,a win in his debut with the Illini. The game started extremely slow offensively, as an Illinois safety was the only score in the opening quarter.

Nebraska would get a 2 yard TD run from Markese Stepp to lead 6-2, the extra point was no good. The Huskers added a 27 yard FD to lead 9-2. Illinois would get a Mike Epstein run and a 41 yard fumble return TD by Calvin Hart Jr. to lead 16-9 at the half.

The Illini would score twice on short TD passed in the 3rd quarter and led 30-9. Nebraska would score late in the 3rd on a big play, as QB Adrian Martinez had a 75 yard TD run. That would make the score 30-16 Illinois after three.

Nebraska would score once more late in the 4th to cut it to 30-22, but that would be as close as they would get.

Nebraska is now 12-21 in three plus seasons of the Coach Scott Frost Era. With an NCAA investigation into illicit practices and workouts and the lack of success, Frost is on the hot seat. His future in that job is one of the most speculated on coaching situations in the nation currently.