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11/06 23:05 CST Collin Dixon's 2 TD catches help Illinois become bowl eligible
with 24-13 victory over Nebraska
Collin Dixon's 2 TD catches help Illinois become bowl eligible with 24-13
victory over Nebraska
By STEVE STEIN
Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --- Collin Dixon caught two touchdown passes including a
record-breaker and Illinois used a trick play to set up its go-ahead TD as the
Illini defeated Nebraska 24-13 on Friday night to become bowl eligible with
their fourth straight victory.
Dixon's 3- and 6-yard TD receptions gave him 12 for the year, breaking
Illinois' all-time single-season by two. He caught eight passes for 129 yards
from Katin Houser, who was 22 of 36 through the air for 292 yards and three TDs.
A 29-yard run by holder Lars Rau on a fake field goal set up the go-ahead TD
for Illinois (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten Conference) early in the third quarter --- a
5-yard pass from Houser to Jordan Anderson. Rau is the Illini's punter.
Nebraska (5-4, 2-4) lost its fourth straight. Anthony Colandrea was 32 of 43
for 284 yards and a TD to Jacory Brown Jr., who had six catches for 93 yards.
Jamal Rule ran for 69 yards on 15 carries.
Dixon scrambled into the end zone on a 3-yard TD pass from Houser late in the
first half on his record-breaking reception to tie the game 7-7 at halftime.
Nebraska took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 15-yard run by Mekhi
Nelson on his only carry of the game. The Huskers drove 98 yards in 10 plays
for the score.
Nebraska kicker John Hohl missed 54- and 45-yard field goals in the half.
The Takeaway Nebraska: The Huskers got off to a 5-0 start this season for the first time since 2016, then suffered three straight heartbreaking losses by a total of 13 points. They led each of those games in the fourth quarter, irritating their rabid fanbase. Nebraska's loss Friday night won't help matters in Lincoln. Illinois: Early-season home losses to Duke and Purdue seemingly put a damper on the Illini's bowl chances. But Illinois has bounced back with four straight wins, much needed victories heading into a tough stretch to end the regular season (at No. 5 UCLA, home vs. No. 21 Iowa and at Northwestern). Only UCLA (5-0) has a longer Big Ten winning streak than Illinois, which is eligible for a third straight bowl appearance for the first time since 1992.
Up next Nebraska: At Rutgers on Nov. 14. Illinois: At No. 5 UCLA on Nov. 13. Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
The Takeaway Nebraska: The Huskers got off to a 5-0 start this season for the first time since 2016, then suffered three straight heartbreaking losses by a total of 13 points. They led each of those games in the fourth quarter, irritating their rabid fanbase. Nebraska's loss Friday night won't help matters in Lincoln. Illinois: Early-season home losses to Duke and Purdue seemingly put a damper on the Illini's bowl chances. But Illinois has bounced back with four straight wins, much needed victories heading into a tough stretch to end the regular season (at No. 5 UCLA, home vs. No. 21 Iowa and at Northwestern). Only UCLA (5-0) has a longer Big Ten winning streak than Illinois, which is eligible for a third straight bowl appearance for the first time since 1992.
Up next Nebraska: At Rutgers on Nov. 14. Illinois: At No. 5 UCLA on Nov. 13. Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
