Nebraska vs Illinois head-to-head: position-by-position star ratings, experience, and composite grades on CFB Matchup. They meet Week 10, Friday, November 6, 2026.
The Breakdown
Dead even: Illinois 60, Nebraska 59. Home field and a 4★ quarterback break the tie.
When Nebraska has the ball: The 3.6★ O-line, fronted by 5★ Elijah Pritchett, holds the edge over Illinois' 3.0★ D-line.
When Illinois has the ball: A 3.0★ O-line averaging 2.6 years meets Nebraska's 3.5★ D-line and 5★ Williams Nwaneri.
Swing factor: Katin Houser, 4★ with four years, outranks Anthony Colandrea's 3★ and three — both transfers.
X-factor: A November Friday in Champaign, Week 10: Illinois gets the crowd and a standalone stage.