Dylan Raiola got his reality check against Illinois. The highest-rated recruit in Nebraska program history had been lavished with praise for his performances in his first three games as a collegian.

Both quarterbacks—Raiola and Illinois veteran Luke Altmyer —performed at a high level, but the game's turning point came in the fourth quarter and overtime, where one stepped up while the other faltered. Altmyer's experience shone through as he made crucial plays when it mattered most.