Nebraska football: Scott Frost, Huskers stunned by Illinois Fighting Illini

Scott Frost and the Nebraska football team sure had an awful trip to Illinois as the Huskers fell short against the Fighting Illini.

The 2021 Nebraska football season is off to a start that Scott Frost definitely didn’t need. What was supposed to be a very winnable road game for the Huskers ended up being a disappointing loss.

Nebraska attempted to make a comeback, but ultimately fell short.

However, this is a game that the Huskers shouldn’t have ever been trailing in. Nebraska fell behind early after a botched punt return led to a 2-0 lead for the Fighting Illini. A Markese Stepp rushing touchdown and a field goal from Connor Culp gave Nebraska a 9-2 lead, but the Huskers quickly saw that lead disappear.

Illinois scored a rushing touchdown of their own in the second quarter to tie things up at 9-9 and then took a 16-9 lead by returning an Adrian Martinez fumble for a touchdown. The Huskers and Fighting Illini went into halftime with the score at 16-9.

Nebraska football: Huskers fall short on the road against Illinois Fighting Illini

Unfortunately for Nebraska football fans, the Huskers struggled in the second half as well. Illinois’ backup quarterback Artur Sitowski tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to give the Fighting Illini a 23-9 lead in the third quarter. Sitowski later threw a one-yard touchdown pass to give Illinois a 30-9 advantage over the Huskers late in the third quarter.

Martinez would respond by scrambling for a 75-yard touchdown as the third quarter was starting to wrap up set the score at 30-16. though Nebraska was down by two scores, that was enough to give Nebraska fans some hope that maybe this team could pull off a comeback.

A 19-play, 91-yard drive late in the fourth quarter helped get Nebraska back within striking distance, but the Huskers couldn’t get any closer than 30-22.

Frost and the Huskers have lost yet another game. Frost is now 12-21 during his time as the head coach of the Nebraska football team.

The Huskers will return to action next week. Nebraska will be back at home in Lincoln to face the Fordham Rams in Memorial Stadium.