Instant takes from Nebraska's 26-9 loss to No. 17 Illinois

Here are three instant takes from Nebraska’s 26-9 loss to No. 17 Illinois.

Defending against the run

Going into this game, Nebraska desperately needed to limit Illinois’s rushing offense if they wanted a chance. Specifically, they need to shut down running back Chase Brown, the Big Ten rushing leader.

In the first quarter, Brown had 14 yards on five rushing attempts. Illinois’s offense had 28 total yards on the ground on eight carries. Brown had back-to-back eight-yard carries in the second quarter to pad his stats.

He started picking up momentum after he scored a one-yard touchdown with 6:03 left in the second quarter. That boost of confidence helped him break free for a nine-yard run and then a huge 21-yard run on the final drive of the first half.

The Fighting Illini ran seven times on the final drive of the first half to chew up the clock and get to the red zone. They had 35 rushing yards in the last drive of the first half that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brown to go up 13-9.

Before that drive, Illinois had 47 rushing yards and Brown had 40 yards. He doubled his yardage in the last drive and jogged into the locker room with 80 yards on 15 attempts.

Not only did that last drive deliver a brutal punch of Illinois going up 20-9 before half, it also opened up the run game.

Brown picked up speed and ended the game with 149 yards. Illinois had 188 total rushing yards

Nebraska needs to find answers for its run game

The Huskers have a beast in Anthony Grant. He proved himself elite at the beginning of the season but tapered off in the last few games as he had 47 yards against Rutgers and 35 against Purdue.

Grant had 34 rushing yards on seven carries in the first half with a 22-yard gain up the middle in Nebraska’s first drive. The JUCO transfer had 18 yards in the third quarter. He added three catches for 27 yards.

Behind Grant, Jaquez Yant had two carries for negative two yards. Rahmir Johnson was put in for one play. He found himself wide open on the home sideline but dropped quarterback Casey Thompson’s perfectly good pass. Johnson was called back to the sideline after that.

Nebraska needs to get Grant going again. They also need another back to rely on. Grant and Freshman Ajay Allen were a lethal one-two punch before Allen suffered a season-ending injury. Nebraska was bit by an injury bug again when Gabe Ervin was injured as well.

Johnson started last season and has had one carry this season for 17 yards.

Illinois has the top defense in the nation statistically as they have allowed an average of 221.1 yards per game.

However, the Huskers’ run game hasn’t been dominant in the last two games. They averaged 97 rushing yards per game with 72 yards on the ground against Rutgers.

Nebraska’s offensive line is likely one problem. But no matter the issue, getting bursts from running backs will open up Nebraska’s offense.

Quarterback crisis

Quarterback Casey Thompson was blitzed in the second quarter and tried to follow through with the play. But he was hammered mid-pass and the ball flew out of his hand straight into the air. Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown caught the pass for an interception and returned it 37 yards.

Thompson laid on the field for a few seconds then sat up, waiting for the training staff to get to him. His right arm was dangling on the turf.

The quarterback went to the sideline and then the locker room after a few minutes. He didn’t return to the game.

Logan Smothers played the rest of the first half and Chubba Purdy started the second half.

Before Thompson went out, he wasn’t playing particularly well. He completed seven of his 15 passes for 172 yards. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions. His other interception was on the first drive of the game.

Smothers completed his only pass attempt for one yard. Purdy finished 3-of-8 for 15 yards.

The Huskers didn’t score after Thompson went down.

If Thompson’s injury is serious and he has to miss one game or more, Nebraska’s quarterbacks need to step up in a big way. Their performances against Illinois will not cut it in the Big Ten.