Nebraska (3-1) came into Friday night's game against the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-0) with their first AP Top 25 ranking since 2019, sitting at No. 22. However, after a 31-24 loss in overtime, the Cornhuskers may find themselves unranked yet again.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule met with the media following his team's 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois. The game was the first time that Nebraska opened Big Ten Conference play at home since 2017 The loss dropped the Huskers record in Big Ten openers to 6-8 overall.