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The Cornhuskers (3-2, 2-0 Big Ten) led 21-3 at
halftime after playing perhaps their best half of the season,
opening with three consecutive touchdown drives of 88, 75 and 89
yards, respectively.
Lee, who entered the game with seven touchdowns and nine
interceptions, looked poised and confident in his first
turnover-free performance since Nebraska's 43-36 win against
Arkansas State Sept. 2.
Stanley Morgan Jr. caught eight passes for 96 yards and a
touchdown after sitting out of the Cornhuskers' 27-17 win over
Rutgers on Saturday with a soft tissue injury in his neck.
De'Mornay Pierson-El added four catches for 94 yards, including
a 45-yard grab that capped the first of the Cornhuskers' three
consecutive touchdown drives to open the game.
The Illini (2-2, 0-1) were rather one-dimensional offensively,
rushing 37 times for 93 yards while attempting just 16 passes.
Chayce Couch completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 99 yards,
but was more effective with his legs, with an impressive 20-yard
carry that extended a drive on a blown up play.
Freshman running back Mike Epstein led the Illini ground attack
with 10 carries for 42 yards.
Illinois managed two red-zone field goals--one in each half--but
both came at the end of seemingly promising drives. Sacks and
penalties stalled the Illini offense all evening, as they
surrendered five sacks for 32 yards and were flagged five times
for 49 yards.
Nebraska controlled the tempo in the second half and won the
time of possession battle, holding the ball for 31:08 to
Illinois' 28:52.
The Cornhuskers more than doubled the offensive output of the
Illini, amassing 411 yards to Illinois' 199. It's the 15th
consecutive game Nebraska has won when outrushing its opponent.
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