Photos: Nebraska falls to Illinois in season opener

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska defenders pounce on a fumbled ball by Illinois' Miles Scott (85) in the second quarter on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Memorial Stadium.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Wynot native Scott Foxhoven, currently studying for his Ph.D at Illinois, plays cornhole Saturday outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Les and Leisa Piper, parents of Nebraska offensive lineman Ethan Piper, joined their twin daughters Elly and Jozy in the shade as they waited for the team buses outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska offensive line mothers (from left to right) Judy Sichterman, mother of Matt; Micki Hixson, mother of Trent; Leisa Piper, mother of Ethan and Shannon Corcoran, mother of Turner, pose for a photo as they wait for the team buses to arrive outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Brandon Sanford, father of Nebraska cornerback Phelan Sanford, waits for the team buses to arrive outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska fan JohnPaul (cq) Gosda, 2, of Champaign, Ill., watches as the adults play cornhole outside Memorial Stadium.

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Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30) pulls in a first-down pass in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska wide receiver Oliver Martin (89) pulls in a first-down pass against Illinois' evon Witherspoon in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30) pulls in a first-down pass in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Deontai Williams (8) celebrates a two-yard tackle for a loss with teammate Garrett Nelson (44) in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30), who scored a first-half touchdown, walks off the field after Illinois defeated the Huskers 30-22 Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema shake hands after the Illini defeated the Huskers 30-22 Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

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Nebraska receiver Oliver Martin pulls in a 4-yard touchdown pass against Illinois in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Illinois' Deuce Spann pulls in a 45-yard reception in front of Nebraska's Marquel Dismuke in the second half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) is helped up by teammate Doug Kramer (65) after a penalty call on Nebraska's Caleb Tannor in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks for an open teammate to throw to before taking off on a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez scrambles for yardage in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin gets the ball from Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez as the offensive line tries to create room against Illinois in the first half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska players run onto the field to take on Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) gets the ball from center Cam Jurgens (right) as lineman Matt Sichterman (70) takes on Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Illinois running back Reggie Love (23) gets swarmed by the Nebraska defense on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska coach Scott Frost (right) watches the action on the field in the first half against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) calls a timeout as linemen Bryce Benhart (52) and Matt Sichterman (70) and running back Gabe Ervin look on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska wide receiver Oliver Martin (89) signals a first down after a first-half reception against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska's Pheldarius Payne (0) celebrates his sack of Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (33) watches his first-half field goal against Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska wide receiver Samori Toure pulls in a pass, but an offensive pass interference penalty negated the reception in the third quarter on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

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Temperatures on the field were reaching near 100 degrees in the shade of a TV camera position between the third and fourth quarters on Saturday for the Nebraska-Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes the snap from Husker center Cam Jurgens (51) in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks for running yardage in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska receiver Samori Toure looks for running room against Illinois' Tony Adams (6) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska senior offensive analyst Ron Brown (left) and Husker tight end Austin Allen (11) head off the field at the end of the team's 30-22 loss to Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

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Nebraska coach Scott Frost and the sideline watch the video monitor during a review of an Illinois pass reception on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska's Ben Stille and Ty Robinson (99) combine on a tackle of Illinois' Chase Hayden (22) on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes off on a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.