A+ or F. Aside from the two-point loss to Michigan State in East Lansing, those are the only two grades No. 18 Illinois could have received in its past seven games. Beat Penn State by 39 for the largest win in Big Ten play since 2004, then lose by 10 at home to a USC team whose record hovers below .500 in league play.

The Illini erased a double-digit Husker lead with a chance to win in the final seconds of regulation but a late shot fell short and Illinois was outscored 10-4 in OT. The Orange and Blue tied the game at 70 with 43 seconds left on a Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn three,