BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It’s not easy being the youngest football team in America.

The Illini knew before the season began that their schedule was tough and their team was underclassmen-heavy, but through four consecutive losses, including a painful one to Indiana on Saturday, they are starting to feel the sting of inexperience.

“We feel like coming in every game we’re evenly matched,” quarterback Tim Brasic said. “Then we get stalled and we can’t put it in the end zone, and it turns for the worst.”

Illinois fell 36-13 to Indiana on Saturday, dropping to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Illini now sit at the bottom of the conference, but Zook said they aren’t going to let this loss be an excuse to quit on the season.

“(Indiana) is a team we shouldn’t have any problem playing with,” Zook said. “The biggest difference between a 3-1 team and a 2-3 team is attitude.”

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, the young Illini made some significant strides in Saturday’s game, hinting at players and strategies that, in time, could lead to big things when a more mature Illinois hits the field in future seasons.

Brasic, a junior, showed he’s flexible beyond short passes and scrambling. Brasic’s greatest strength has always been his athletic ability to move with the ball, but he’s been criticized for tucking and running earlier and more often than necessary.

But on Saturday, Brasic threw downfield more confidently than in earlier games, completing 22-of-39 passes, including a 34-yarder to freshman Kyle Hudson.

“I always feel confident throwing the ball,” Brasic said. “We want to get more explosive plays and throw the ball deep, and we had a couple times we could do that.”

Zook said Brasic is an example of what the coaching staff looks for from players still adjusting to life on the field.

“I love him because he’s trying to make things happen,” Zook said.

Hudson is one of the brightest blips on Illinois’ radar. The wide receiver from Mattoon, Ill., has been called undersized and underweight for football. He proved Saturday that even a 165-pound 18-year-old can have an impact on the field, catching four passes for 68 yards. His biggest stat, though, came in one fourth-quarter play. Indiana’s Will Meyers intercepted a Brasic pass, returning it 34 yards before Hudson jumped on his back and brought him down at the Illinois 2-yard line.

“The guy read the play pretty well, and I’m not just going to give up a play like that,” Hudson said. “I saw I could tackle the guy, so I did.”

Fellow wide receiver Jody Ellis, a redshirt-freshman, led the Illini with seven receptions for 76 yards. On Saturday, Ellis and Hudson highlighted the Illini offense, which starts two freshmen and three sophomores.

On defense, Illinois has started as many as nine freshmen and sophomores in some games. Consistently strong performances come from linebacker J Leman, defensive tackle Chris Norwell, defensive end Xavier Fulton and strong safety Kevin Mitchell – all sophomores.

Against Indiana, Leman recorded a forced fumble, six solo tackles and assisted on two more. Norwell collected five solo tackles. And Fulton had four total tackles and blocked a Hoosier PAT in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell picked up two tackles, but also jumped in to knock down a big pass in the second quarter.

“We just called a blitz, we put in a safety blitz,” Mitchell said. “I saw him roll out, and I just jumped up and got it.”

Even special teams was back on track, as Jason Reda made up for last week’s three missed field goals by hitting two and a PAT to lead the Illini in scoring. Reda’s 52-yard boot in the third quarter, which tumbled over the crossbar, tied for the sixth-longest in Illini history.

“I’m not surprised; I was glad for him,” Zook said. “He had a good week in practice. I felt like he was back to normal. It was good for his confidence.”

In the end, Illinois could not piece together enough points for a third win. But with a bye next weekend translating into twice as long as usual to rest and prepare for Penn State and, ultimately, the last five games of their season, the Illini are not giving up on anything. Zook says he will continue to evaluate his personnel – which so far has only put more youth on the field – and give his young players a chance to rest and get ready.

“I know what we’re doing works, but it’s not working out there,” Zook said. “We’ve got to keep pressing and pushing and sooner or later these guys are going to get tired of people spitting in their face, and they’re going to fight back.”