Luke Altmyer throws 4 touchdown passes and leads Illinois to overtime victory over Nebraska

LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) – Luke Altmyer threw four touchdowns, including a short pass to Pat Bryant in overtime, to lift No. 24 Illinois to a 31-24 victory over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night.

The Illini (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) beat two higher-ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since 2007 and started 4-0 for the first time since 2011. The Illini beat the Cornhuskers in Lincoln for the third straight time, spoiling their 400th consecutive sold-out Memorial Stadium celebration.

Nebraska (3-1, 0-1) has lost 25 straight games against top-25 teams since 2016 and is 8-31 in one-possession games since 2018.

The teams scored touchdowns in the second half before the Illini drove 75 yards in nine plays to tie the score at 24-24. Altmyer threw 6 yards to tackle Brandon Henderson on a fourth-and-2 attempt for a touchdown with 10:36 left in regulation. It was the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Henderson's first career pass.

Nebraska punted and missed a field goal on its final two possessions of regulation when backup John Hohl, kicking for the injured Tristan Alvano, missed wide left from 39 yards with 2:59 left.

Illinois fumbled and punted, and Raiola went to his knees, sending the game into overtime.

Illinois' Kaden Feagin ran 21 yards on the first play of overtime before Altmyer found Bryant for a 4-yard touchdown to take a 31-24 lead.

Nebraska's possession was a disaster, as Raiola was sacked three times, including on the fourth attempt to end the game.