All Huskers

SMQ: Huskers Will Prevail in a 60-Minute Fistfight With the Illini!

Nebraska football enters Big Ten play with swagger and confidence not seen in years.

Jay Stockwell

SMQ: Nebraska-Illinois Football Game Preview & Prediction
SMQ: Nebraska-Illinois Football Game Preview & Prediction /
In this story:

Illinois vs. Nebraska on Friday is set to be an exciting clash in the Big Ten Conference. The head coaches, Matt Rhule of Nebraska and Bret Bielema of Illinois, have deep respect for each other and are preparing their teams accordingly.

Matt Rhule emphasized the importance of discipline and mental toughness, stating, "Every game in the Big Ten is a challenge, and we have to bring our best effort. Our guys need to be ready to handle the pressure and execute our game plan effectively."

On the other side, Bret Bielema highlighted the challenges of playing at Nebraska, at night in front of a raucous crowd: "It will be a challenging environment."

Both teams will learn a lot about themselves under the lights Friday night.

Click the play button above to watch, and please subscribe to SMQ on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.

MORE: Bleav in Nebraska: Pulse of Husker Fans and Volleyball's Big Week with Jack Mitchell

MORE: Illinois Coach Bret Bielema's Long Journey Leading To His Fourth Season in Champaign

MORE: Ty Robinson: Nebraska Football, Blackshirts Preparing for 'Physical' Matchup with Illinois

MORE: Nebraska's Matt Rhule Reverses Field on Status of Right Guard Micah Mazzccua

MORE: Tales from the Tailgate: 'Tailgate Princess' Keeps the Party Going

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Published |Modified
Jay Stockwell

JAY STOCKWELL

Jay Stockwell is a rabid Nebraska fan. By day, he is a Chief Revenue Officer and a retired Navy Commander. While active-duty, Jay and his crew tracked Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Jay graduated from Nebraska Business in 1986 with a BS in Finance. He is half of the Sunday Morning Quarterback podcast along with Bob Frady. 

Home/Football