Nebraska loses to Illinois on first-half penalties

In the first half, numerous crucial decisions went against Nebraska, directly or indirectly costing the home team eleven points or extending an ultimately unsuccessful Illinois drive, while fans in the stadium groaned and screamed as they watched the video replays.

NU still led 17-10 at halftime, despite several scenes of commotion by coach Matt Rhule and others on the west sideline. The first scene came on the hosts’ second possession, when a fade to Isaiah Neyor on the right side on second-and-goal was not completed because the receiver was surrounded by an Illinois defender who did not draw a flag. After an incomplete pass on third down from the Illinois 5-yard line, the hosts settled for a 21-yard field goal and a 7-3 deficit.

A Nebraska touchdown in the second quarter sparked even more anger among most of the 86,936 spectators. On third-and-10 from the Huskers’ 36-yard line, quarterback Dylan Raiola threw a long, arcing ball down the left sideline to Neyor, who the 6-foot-4, 220-pound player brought over his shoulder but was ripped loose by Illinois defender Torrie Cox as the players landed in the end zone.

The referees initially ruled it a touchdown to give them the lead, but after a review, the call was changed to an interception. This was the second week in a row that a NU wide receiver had a deep ball taken away by a defender and an interception was awarded.

Illinois took control and got a possession that did nothing to calm NU’s emotions. On third-and-6, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer missed a sideline throw to receiver Collin Dixon, but cornerback Ceyair Wright — playing for Tommi Hill, who left with an apparent head injury — was given a penalty for offensive holding, which appeared to be an issue with the jersey material at worst.

“Yes,” Wright said when asked if he committed a violation. “The referee said I saved, so I saved.”

Instead of a punt, Illinois gained 10 more yards. A few plays later, the referees called a false start for the Illini on second and 8 after coach Bret Bielema called a timeout. On the next play, the referees prepared to allow a third-down snap before realizing a TV timeout was coming.

Then maybe karma for Nebraska on fourth-and-8 from the Huskers’ 29-yard line. Defensive lineman Jimari Butler chased Altmyer out of the pocket and landed a fumbling hand on his face guard, which was not penalized. The Blackshirts pursued Altmyer before he ran out of bounds and gained 3 yards, allowing Raiola and Co. a touchdown just before halftime.

Nebraska also racked up penalties: nine for 89 yards, including three personal fouls on defense. One of them in the third quarter was against linebacker MJ Sherman when the defender tried to knock the ball loose after a fourth-and-1 attempt by Illinois. The visitors found the end zone four plays later and tied the game at 17:17.