Ameer Abdullah rushes for 225 yards as Huskers turn back Illini

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Ameer Abdullah ran for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns and Nebraska's maligned defense was much improved in a 39-19 victory over Illinois on Saturday. Tommy Armstrong, starting his second straight game in place of injured quarterback Taylor Martinez , led the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) to touchdowns on his first three series and was solid throughout. Armstrong was 8 of 13 for 135 yards. Just as big as Armstrong's performance was that of Nebraska's defense, which had been one of the nation's worst through four games. Illinois (3-2, 0-1), which came in averaging 40 points a game, didn't score its first touchdown until the middle of the third quarter. Twice when the Illini looked as if they would make a game of it, the Huskers made big stops. Josh Ferguson led the Illini with 114 yards on 19 carries and another 82 yards on eight catches.