LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Let the games begin, seriously.

That’s coach Matt Rhule’s stance as No. 22 Nebraska heads into Friday night’s game against No. 24 Illinois.

“Now that the season is starting, this is the first game in the Big Ten for us and we’ll find out where we are,” he said.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) started with a stress-free non-conference win over UTEP, Colorado And Northern Iowa — “the preseason,” Rhule calls it — for their best start since 2016. Now comes Illinois (3-0), which defeated a then-ranked Kansas on track for best start since 2011.

The Huskers will look to end a 24-game losing streak against teams ranked in the Top 25 and win a conference opener for the first time in five years.

“We’re trying to compete to win the Big Ten,” Rhule said. “All of these games are important. All of these games are important. This is a great opportunity. It’s our first league game. We certainly haven’t approached this preseason like the (NFL) preseason. To me, it’s just that we’re going into Big Ten competition. Our approach doesn’t change, but the gravity of the situation is a little different.”

Nebraska defeated Illinois 20-7 in Champaign in a Friday night game last year, snapping a three-game losing streak in the series. Illini coach Bret Bielema said he’s noticed the energy in his players’ strides this week.

“I think when you add the element of they’re ranked, we’re ranked, I think that’s a unique game for these guys,” he said. “It’s pretty interesting to see the energy that comes from that — not for me, I really don’t care — but from what I get from the outside world and from a young man’s perspective, it’s been pretty good.”

Altmyer vs Raiola

Illinois quarterbacks Luke Altmyer and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola have nearly identical passing numbers. Altmyer has the better feet, with three runs of at least 15 yards. Raiola can run if needed — he scampered for 15 yards and a first down against Northern Iowa — but passing is his calling card. The five-star recruit is the best true freshman passer in the country.

“You can see why he’s everything I expect him to be,” Bielema said, “and probably more.”

Hooray for TeRah

TeRah Edwards is becoming a force in the middle of Illinois’ defensive line. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t put up big numbers, Bielema said, because the 6-foot-2, 305-pound senior stands out on film.

Edwards has six quarterback pressures through three games, according to Pro Football Focus, which is equal to his total in his previous 25 games. He is still waiting for his first sack and tackle for loss of the season.

“NFL scouts have been asking about him. Just really impressive,” Bielema said, adding that Edwards playing alongside Dennis Briggs Jr. gives the Illini a formidable duo up front.

Putting the O-Line to the Test

Nebraska returns three starters and one part-time starter on the offensive line, and it has allowed one sack compared to six in three games last year. The Huskers’ early schedule hasn’t been that tough, so Rhule is reserving judgment.

“We don’t know anything about these guys until we play in the Big Ten,” he said. “They’ve done really well compared to the guys we’ve played. This is going to be a whole different challenge for these guys.”

400th Consecutive Sale

Nebraska is celebrating its 400th consecutive sellout, an NCAA record that has at times been upheld by boosters buying up unsold tickets. When the series teetered on the brink of extinction in 2022, for example, a benefactor stepped in and bought the final 2,100 tickets at a bulk rate of $10 per ticket.

The actual number of spectators has clearly increased since Rhule’s arrival last year, with the stadium being full for the first three games of this season.

“I think it would be great to get to 400 sold-out games,” Rhule said. “But my job is to make sure we win that game so people are happy about it.”

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