The Illini pulled off some remarkable stunts against the Michigan Wolverines this weekend. The team held the Wolverines to their lowest-scoring game in 10 years and simultaneously flashed fans back to 1924 for another symbolic battle at Memorial Stadium.
This win means a lot of different things for a lot of different people. First, Illinois fans can rejoice over the fact that the program finally defeated Michigan after not having done so since 2009. Second, Illinois bolstered its overall record to 6-1 on the year, clinching bowl eligibility. Finally, Illinois proved it could compete well and hold its own against some of the most intimidating competitors.
The Illini learned from their mistakes last weekend and demonstrated a variety of improvements against the Wolverines this Saturday. Not only are they now bowl-eligible, but they’re also content with their overall performances, which is a huge morale booster for the remainder of the season.
Quarterbacks (A-): Junior quarterback Luke Altymer continues to prove himself worthy. He started off the season playing a little hesitant, but now, Altymer is more confident as the games go on. His game against Michigan was no different, and he finished the game with both a passing and rushing touchdown for the second week in a row.
Less accurate this time, Altymer finished with a 50% completion rate, 80 passing yards and 48 rushing yards. Despite not being his best performance, Altymer still did his job, and he did it well. A special shoutout goes to sophomore quarterback Donovan Leary, who stepped in for Altymer when Altmyer had to sit out during a play after losing his helmet. Leary assisted the Illini to make their two-point conversion in the third quarter to give the team a two-touchdown lead.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Receivers (B): Once again, senior wide receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin show themselves as reliable assets to the team. However, this was not their most eventful game. A combined total of 58 receiving yards came from the two (Bryant 32, Franklin 26). Franklin was responsible for one of Illinois’ touchdowns, while junior tight end Tanner Arkin scored the other. At the end of the day, the receivers did their job successfully to aid the Illini to a victory.
Running backs (B): Two running backs stood out this week for the Illini. Sophomore Aidan Laughery and junior Josh McCray had an excellent game. With a combined total of 104 yards and a gain of 113 yards, the pair stood out. Despite neither scoring touchdowns, Laughery led the run game with nine carries.
Altymer once again made his mark with 48 rushing yards, just shortly behind McCray’s 50 and Laughery’s 54. The Illini must have trustworthy and dependable running backs for the remainder of the season. Head coach Bret Bielema confirmed in his post-game press conference that sophomore Kaden Feagin will be out for the remainder of the season, with a potential return for the spring.
Offensive line (B+): The offensive line improved their performance from last week and protected Altmyer, only allowing one sack. More importantly, the interior lineman allowed for more opportunities for Illinois rushers and cleared space for Altmyer to run. Each week, they continue to stand their ground on the big stage, and they hold up well against Michigan’s linemen. Pre-snap penalties could still use some work, but they did not impact the entire outcome of this game, fortunately.
Defensive line (A): If there was one game the defensive line needed to play well, this was the game to do so. Michigan’s offensive line is bigger and stronger than Illinois’ defensive line, but Saturday’s matchup didn’t demonstrate this. The team accounted for five sacks on senior Jack Tuttle, but more importantly, Illinois stopped Michigan’s run game.
The Illini knew the Wolverines would amplify their run game this weekend, so the Illini caught onto their tactics early. The lineman made tackles quickly and held the Wolverines to 114 rushing yards when they’re used to running for nearly 200 yards a game. Rather than allowing the Wolverines to rush to the edges, the Illini swallowed the runners in the center. If one guy missed a tackle, there would be another Illini waiting for him right after
Stellar performances came from guys like senior lineman TeRah Edwards and junior linebackers Gabe Jacas and Dylan Rosiek. These guys played with immense stealth and aggression and all picked up career-high tackles or sacks. Their eagerness to play physically but strategically aided them in forcing turnovers and regaining offensive possession. Their impacts were made loud and clear to the Wolverines, and these patterns will hopefully translate into their next game against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks.
Secondary (B): Illinois’ defensive backfield has gotten quieter these past few weeks. Interceptions aren’t coming in at the rate they did at the beginning of the season, but that was expected to happen with the challenging schedule Illinois was bound to face.
Regardless, Illinois’ overall coverage worked out for them against Michigan. Most noteworthy was the performance of sophomore defensive back Matthew Bailey. While he’s been quiet in recent weeks, Saturday’s matchup was his time to shine. He grabbed a career-high 11 tackles and picked off Tuttle to prevent what would have likely been a touchdown. Michigan may have totaled 208 passing yards, but Illinois’ ability to break up passes without penalties has significantly improved.
Special teams (A-): There were a few key moments from Saturday’s game in which Illinois’ special teams performed especially well. First, sophomore kicker David Olano put the team on the board early with two field goals in the first half. He continues to do his job well and put all his kicking force onto the football.
Next, the Illini beautifully faked a punt on fourth-and-seven by snapping the ball to Arkin, psyching out the Wolverines. Arkin rushed for 36 yards to put the Illini in excellent position to score. The special teams had everyone fooled, and the unique play got everyone up on their feet at Memorial Stadium.
Finally, Michigan had the chance to increase its lead with a field goal at the end of the third quarter. But, Illinois did not want the opponents to think they had any chance of winning. Senior defensive lineman Ezekiel Holmes leaped up to get a hand on the football and blocked the field goal.
Honorable mention: Team energy (A+): The joy the Illini exude every single week continues to grow, even with challenges in their way. The friendships the guys have built and the trust in one another are demonstrated on and off the field. The team jumps for joy after a good play, whether big or small. They understand that complementary football is the best way to play the game, and when their brotherhood comes together, they’re nearly unstoppable.
