Last updated on Nov. 6, 2016 at 11:51 p.m.

Editor’s note: The Daily Illini football writers graded each facet of the Illinois football team’s 31-27 win over Michigan State on Saturday. The Illini offense, defense, special teams and coaching were graded.

Offense: B-

Five straight three-and-outs to kick off the game cannot go without being penalized. Sans its initial five drives, the Illini offense piled up 309 yards on 38 plays, including a 75-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead within the final two minutes of the game. Junior Kendrick Foster shouldered the load with 150 total yards and two game-breaking touchdown runs — the first a 15-yard rush that dragged multiple Spartans into the end zone as well, and the second a 64-yard dash to give Illinois its second lead of the day. Quarterback Jeff George had his best game of the season with 140 yards and a career-high two touchdown passes. With an offense trotting out its third-string quarterback and missing its leading receiver, offensive coordinator Garrick McGee certainly “coached his butt off,” as head coach Lovie Smith put it following the game.

Defense: A-

Top to bottom, this was Illinois’ best defensive performance this year. The reason the Illini weren’t down by multiple scores after its slow offensive start was the defense’s ability to hold Michigan State to two field goals on five drives that all ended in Illinois territory. The reason Illinois was able to keep its 31-27 lead was a huge defensive stop on fourth-and-six in the waning seconds.

Special teams: B

Kicker Chase McLaughlin remains perfect on the season in extra-point tries and nailed a 42-yard field goal to pad a third-quarter Illini lead. Punter Ryan Frain punted seven times and did his best to pin the Spartans deep while the Illinois offense struggled early on. The Illini allowed two 20-yard kick returns, but Foster had an exciting 24-yard return of his own.

Coaching: B+

It took five drives to figure out, but McGee and the offensive staff finally pushed the right buttons to get Foster, George and the depleted offense some momentum heading into the second half. A gusty play-action call on third-and-one on the goal line that led to a wide-open Ainslie Johnson score was the highlight. With the Spartans facing fourth down in the red zone and the game on the line, Smith burned three timeouts in a row to either hype up his defense or faze the Michigan State offense. Either way, it worked, and Smith secured his first home Big Ten win in front of a packed crowd during Dad’s Weekend.

The biggest difference may have came days before the win, though, when the entire team went to see “Hacksaw Ridge,” which came up multiple times during postgame interviews as a source of motivation. Anything to motivate the troops, right?

[email protected]

@di_sports