Week 0 Big 10 Review

And we’re live with the reviews! Welcome back all who enjoy college football. There were only 5 games last weekend, but we will watch all the games that we can. However we only have one Big 10 game to review this week, so of course we’re going to dive into it and give it the attention that it deserves because one is better than zero. Let’s get it.

Nebraska (0-1, 0-1) 22 @ Illinois (1-0, 1-0) 30

August 28th, 2021

Illinois (+7), o/u 52.5

A wild game from start to finish and a fun way to kick off the Big 10 season. Our first points of the day was scored on a special teams safety when Cam Taylor-Britt threw an illegal forward pass after fielding a punt at the two while running backwards. QB Brandon Peters left the game with a shoulder injury after being slammed on it in the late 1st quarter and he did not return. A crazy sequence at the end of the half sees Illinois fumble and lose possession after a promising gain, only to see Martinez get strip sacked for a return touchdown. In the 3rd quarter Illinois went up by 3 scores, and a late surge from Nebraska wasn’t enough for the comeback. 

Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez struggled mightily with accuracy, missing on wide open throws all day, including back to back in the red zone to settle for a FG. Cam Taylor-Britt didn’t yield much in coverage on the day, but people are going to remember that horrible safety over everything. 

NC State transfer LB Calvin Hart Jr. had a debut to remember for Illinois making plays in the run and pass game, making impact tackles, getting a sack on Martinez on a blitz, and a scoop and score at the end of the first half off of a strip sack. He left the game in the 4th quarter after a lower leg injury. He and Hansen will be a fun duo to watch for this season provided he’s healthy.