Nebraska vs. Illinois, Friday at 7:00 p.m. on Fox
The University of Nebraska will take on No. 24 University of Illinois at home in a sold-out Lincoln Memorial Stadium Friday night game. For the first time in five years, Nebraska tiptoed its way into the AP Top 25 Poll and will enter its first conference game of the season 3–0. The No. 22 team is full of fresh faces, led by second-year head coach Matt Rhule and freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. The former top-ranked prospect racked up 670 passing yards in the first three games and has given signs of life to a normally dilapidated Nebraska football program.
The Cornhuskers will take on an Illinois team that has also started the season 3–0. Junior quarterback Luke Altmyer holds over a 64% pass completion rate, often employing senior wide receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. Since 2008, The Fighting Illini haven’t taken on a ranked opponent as a ranked team, but this streak will end Friday night. This will mark the start of Big 10 play for both teams and will serve as a test of how each squad holds up under conference-play pressure.
Tennessee vs. Oklahoma, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC
The No. 15 University of Oklahoma will take its first plunge into the SEC, going up against the No. 6 University of Tennessee. This is also the first conference game of the season for Tennessee. The 3–0 Sooners are slated to take on the 3–0 Volunteers, who lead the country in points per game and have a strong offensive room, including redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava and junior running back Dylan Sampson.
Oklahoma’s solid defense poses a threat to Tennessee. It has only allowed its opponents just over 11 points per game and 233 rushing yards. The Sooner defense is led by senior linebacker Danny Stutsman, who has made 33 tackles in the last three games. The matchup will force both the Vols and the Sooners to face an opponent that might a match their greatest strengths.
USC vs. Michigan, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS
The University of Southern California and the University of Michigan will join the first-conference-game-of-the-season club this Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor. The No. 11 Trojans are 2–0 this season and will travel to a rowdy stadium, home to the reigning national champions. Michigan, who is ranked No. 18, has struggled to find its groove after the departure of several star players to the NFL. The Wolverines have gone 2–1 under senior quarterback Davis Warren ,who was recently benched and will be replaced by junior quarterback Alex Orji.
USC also lost its star quarterback in Heisman Trophy winner, and current Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, last year. Redshirt junior Miller Moss replaced Williams and has led the Trojans to two victories and tallied 607 passing yards in the process. Head coach Lincoln Riley emphasized in a press conference last Thursday that even though the Trojans aren’t undefeated, USC will be a big challenge for them.
