Nebraska football forced into Friday night game for 400th sellout

Nebraska football wouldn't be playing Illinois on Friday night if it had its choice, but the Big Ten and Fox are pulling rank.
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Nebraska football team will take on Illinois on Friday, rather than Saturday on September 20. The game is part of the Big Ten's deal with Fox Sports. The tilt between the Huskers and the Illini is actually the first Friday Big Ten conference game of the season, though there are going to be plenty more.

The first Friday of the season on Fox a new Big 12 bout between Arizona and Kansas State on September 13. Then, the September 20 game against Nebraska and Illinois. September 27 features Washington at Rutgers.

October 4 sees Michigan State at Oregon, October 11 features Northwestern at Maryland, October 18 is Oregon at Purdue. The Ducks and the Scarlet Knights and the UCLA Bruins are the only three Big Ten teams that will be forced to play two Friday night games this coming season.

The Knights have agreed to October 25 contest against USC that will not kick off until 11pm Eastern. Even with the game being on the West coast, that's a rather late 8pm start.

November 8 features Iowa at UCLA, then UCLA at Washington on November 15. November 22 features Purdue at Michigan State. The final Friday on Fox in the regular season will be another Big 12 matchup between Utah and UCF.

Nebraska football sellout streak will reach 400 on Friday

There are several reasons why Nebraska football fans are likely unhappy about the Friday night matchup against Illinois. The first of course is the same reason why the Huskers have been resistant against Friday night games outside of Black Friday.

The other reason is that this game will almost certainly be the 400th straight sellout. The streak hitting such a momentous number on a Friday night doesn't seem right.

At this point, there's nothing Nebraska football can do about the Friday night matchup. And Husker fans should get used to it, no matter how unappetizing it is.