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AJ Bush sets Illinois QB rushing record in loss to Nebraska
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Illinois didn’t get the much-needed win to put it in position for a late-season bowl push, but it did get a heck of a performance from senior quarterback A.J. Bush.
One for the record books, in fact.
Bush ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in the team’s disappointing 54-35 loss to Nebraska, breaking the Fighting Illini’s single-game rushing record for a quarterback, surpassing the 174 put up by Juice Williams back in 2008.
It was somewhat of a homecoming game for Bush, who decided to transfer from Nebraska in 2016 before winding up at Iowa Western Community College. After one season playing JUCO, he transferred to Virginia Tech, and then again to Illinois for one final season of eligibility.
Bush’s passing game has been less than extraordinary this season — he’s 82-of-150 for 1,050 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games — but yesterday marked the fourth 100-yard rushing effort and his third multi-touchdown game on the ground. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Alpharetta, GA native enters Week 12 with 659 yards (6th in FBS for a QB) and eight scores with his feet.
Illinois (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) needs to beat Iowa and Northwestern the next two weeks to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2014.
Tyler has covered college football on a freelance basis since 2010. In addition to Saturday Football, his work has been featured on ESPN Radio, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, Cox Media Group, Athlon Sports, and more.