CLARK GRELL
Lincoln Journal Star
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Here's a look at some key statistical areas that factored into Saturday's outcome between Nebraska and Illinois at Memorial Stadium:
Time of possession Entering Saturday: The forecast called for a hot afternoon, so eating up some of the clock — and conditioning — were going to play big parts for both teams.
Saturday: At one point, Illinois had a 25:30-12:38 advantage in time of possession. Yikes! A 6:24 scoring drive in the second quarter and an 8:04 scoring drive to open the third quarter helped the Illini advantage. Illinois finished with a 34:55-25:05 advantage in TOP.
Starting field position Entering Saturday: Nebraska has stubbed its toe in this area, especially against Illinois, finishing at minus-7 yards to the Illini last year and minus-15 two years ago.
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Saturday: Illinois had the advantage again, but it was better. The Illini started on their own 33 and NU at its own 28. However, the final stats do not include Cam Taylor-Britt trying to field a punt near the goal line that resulted in a safety and NU kicking the ball back to the Illini. The ball would have likely bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
Martinez running Entering Saturday: Adrian Martinez was Nebraska's leading rusher last year, and its best option, but to keep him healthy, Scott Frost wanted to be cautious with his running workload this year.
Saturday: Much like last year, Martinez was the Huskers' leading rusher. He had 14 totes for 62 yards by the early part of the fourth quarter, though NU had to abandon the run by the second half. Much of Martinez's running came on designed pass plays, including a career-long 75-yard touchdown in which the senior tucked the ball and took off when he saw a gaping hole to his left. Not counting sacks, Martinez ran the ball 12 times, while NU's running backs combined for 19.
Third-down defense Entering Saturday: Illinois was a staggering 11-for-17 on third downs in whipping on the Huskers last year in Lincoln. NU's third-down defense improved greatly after that contest, and on a hot afternoon, it became even more key for the NU defense to get off the field.
Saturday: Illinois was 6-for-11 on third downs by the early part of the fourth quarter, including 3-for-4 in the the third. A deflating conversion came when Illinois converting a third-and-3 at about the 11-minute mark of the fourth quarter with NU trailing 30-16.
Photos: Nebraska falls to Illinois in season opener
Nebraska senior offensive analyst Ron Brown (left) and tight end Austin Allen (11) head off the field at the end of the team's 30-22 loss to Illinois on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
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, 2021, in Champaign, Ill.
Journal Star file photo
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.
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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 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Temperatures for Nebraska's game against Illinois on Aug. 28, 2021, neared 100 degrees.Â
Journal Star file photo
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's Caleb Tannor (2) steps over an official's flag after a roughing the passer penalty was assessed against him on his tackle of Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) as Doug Kramer (65) looks on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
 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 quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) gets the ball from center Cam Jurgens (right) as lineman Matt Sichterman (70) takes on Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton on Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin rushes the ball against Illinois on Aug. 28, 2021 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 Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
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's Pheldarius Payne sacks Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 30-22.
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Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin (22) runs against a quartet of Illinois defenders on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Nebraska coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers out of the tunnel on Saturday during the season-opener against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin gets the ball from quarterback Adrian Martinez as the offensive line tries to create room against Illinois in the first half Aug. 28th in Champaign, Illinois.Â
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Nebraska players run onto the field to take on Illinois on Saturday 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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Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski gets pressured by Nebraska's Caleb Tannor on a first-half play that resulted in a penalty on Tannor 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 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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Illinois' Isaiah Williams (1) celebrates what turned out to be his game-winning touchdown against Nebraska in the third quarter with teammates Alex Pihlstrom (75), Luke Ford (82) and Doug Kramer (65) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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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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Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (left) reacts after missing an extra-point in the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks to throw under pressure from Illinois' Jake Hansen in the second half Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Illinois' Isaiah Williams (1) celebrates what turned out to be his game-winning touchdown against Nebraska in the third quarter as teammates Luke Ford (82) and Daniel Barker look on along with Huskers' Garrett Nelson on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 30-22.
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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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Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (30), who scored a first-half touchdown, walks off the field after Illinois defeated the Huskers 30-22Â 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 30-22Â in 2021.
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Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks on the field as the Illinois players celebrate their 30-22 win over the Huskers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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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' Devon Witherspoon in the second quarter Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
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 running back Markese Stepp (30) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown with teammate Samori Toure (3) on Saturday, Aug. 28, 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 defenders pounce on a fumbled ball by Illinois' Miles Scott (85) in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) can only watch as his fumble is returned for an Illinois touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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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 on Saturday 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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Brothers Charlie (right) and Brook Beck of Papillion join with other Husker fans as they greet the arrival of the team outside Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.
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Nebraska fan JohnPaul Gosda, 2, of Champaign, Ill., watches as the adults play cornhole outside Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Reach Clark Grell at 402-473-2639 or cgrell@journalstar.com . On Twitter at @LJSSportsGrell.
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