LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for four touchdowns, including a short toss to Pat Bryant in overtime, to give No. 24 Illinois a 31-24 win over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night.

The Illini (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) have beaten two ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since 2007 and are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2011. The Illini beat the Cornhuskers in Lincoln a third straight time and spoiled the celebration of their 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium.

“I told our players the other day that you control the vibe in the stadium,” Illini coach Bret Bielema said. “We did think if we could turn this into a four-quarter game it would play to our advantage. I didn't script it to go to overtime, but I wasn't mad when it did.”

Nebraska (3-1, 0-1) has dropped 25 straight games to Top 25 teams since 2016 and is now 8-31 in one-possession games since 2018.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second half before the Illini went 75 yards in nine plays to tie it 24-all. Altmyer threw 6 yards to tackle Brandon Henderson on a fourth-and-2 for the touchdown with 10:36 left in regulation. It was the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Henderson’s first career reception.

“We repped that pass this week and as a staff we kind of took a vote whether it would get thrown and caught, and we all voted yes," Bielema said. "We didn't know it would be a fourth-down call to put us in position to win the game. A lot of credit to our offensive coaches and players to make that happen.”

Nebraska punted and missed a field goal on its last two possessions of regulation, with backup John Hohl, kicking in place of the injured Tristan Alvano, missing wide left from 39 yards with 2:59 to play.

Illinois fumbled and punted, and Raiola took a knee to send the game to overtime.

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

“That was a Big Ten game right there — the typical kind of going down to the last play,” Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson said. “It hurts because we really beat ourselves, especially on defense. We get to come back next week and clean up a lot of mistakes.”

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

Altmyer threw for 215 yards and Bryant had five catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

Altmyer was 21 of 27 against the Huskers and is 75 of 102 for the season (74%) with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.

“Probably the best is yet to come (for him),” Bielema said.

Raiola passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns and was intercepted once. Jahmal Banks caught eight balls for 94 yards and Isaiah Neyor had four catches for 90 yards and two TDs.

“As I told our guys, the narrative has been they’re going to win all these games. Mine has been go 1-0 each week. We have a lot to learn from this,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said.

The takeaway

Illinois: The Illini converted four more times in the red zone and are now 16 for 16 when their offense reaches the opponent's 20. The biggest concern is the status of WR Zakhari Franklin (leg), who leads the team with 21 receptions.

Nebraska: Undisciplined play is hurting the Huskers. They committed nine penalties, including three personal fouls and a facemask, and have been flagged 28 times in four games.

Poll implications

Illinois stands to move up with its big road win. Nebraska was in the Top 25 for the first time since 2019, and it likely will be a short stay.

Sellout streak

Nebraska's sellout streak is an ongoing NCAA record that started in 1962, though boosters and local businesses have at times bought unsold tickets at the last minute to keep the streak alive. The Huskers are 324-76 during the streak.

Up next

Illinois: Visits No. 10 Penn State next Saturday.

Nebraska: Visits Purdue next Saturday.

Heralded Nebraska freshman QB Dylan Raiola takes his lumps in OT loss to Illinois

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Dylan Raiola got his reality check Friday night.

The highest-rated recruit in Nebraska program history had been lavished with praise for his performances in his first three games as a collegian.

The Cornhuskers' 31-24 overtime loss to No. 24 Illinois showed Raiola that the game doesn't always come easily, even to five-star prospects.

“Let this one hurt for a day or two and move on from it,” Raiola said. “It’s the same preparation every week — win, lose or draw. When you come up short, you find out what your team is about. We’ll come watch the tape and get ready to go next week.”

Raiola was 24 of 35 for 297 yards and three touchdowns, and for the second week in a row he had hard-luck interception.

“I thought Dylan was superb in many, many ways,” coach Matt Rhule said.

But one play that will gnaw at player and coach came with the game tied late in regulation. Luke Lindenmeyer broke free behind the defense on a third-and-3 from the Illinois 21. Raiola lofted a pass well beyond Lindenmeyer in the end zone. That left the Huskers to send backup kicker John Hohl to try a 39-yard field goal, which he missed.

“I saw Luke run wide open and I missed a throw to win the game,” Raiola said. “That was our chance to go win the game. I’ll take this game on my back. I’ve got to get better and be better for our team and put us in position to win.”

Raiola in the first half was as sharp as he was in the first three games, smoothly going through his progressions and at one time dumping off to a running back as his fourth read. He completed 10 of his first 12 passes and hit Isaiah Neyor for two touchdowns to put the Huskers up 17-10 at half.

The fourth quarter and overtime were rough.

On one series he lost 9 yards and recovered his own fumble and two plays later was sacked and fumbled, with Nebraska offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula recovering that one. He overthrew Lindenmeyer on the next series. He was sacked on three of Nebraska's four plays in overtime, the last one ending the game.

Raiola was sacked five times for the game. Asked if the night was his welcome-to-the-Big-Ten moment, he demurred.

“It wasn’t anything different,” he said. “Just same old football. It’s not a different kind of football playing in the Big Ten and playing (against) other conferences. It was fine, it was fun. Great atmosphere.”