The Illini (6-3, 3-3) have certainly had their ups and downs this season. Regardless of their final record, they’ve had many moments to look back on with pride. With just three games left, here are some of the best moments from Illinois football’s journey so far.
1: Clock hits 00:00, fans storm field after victory over Kansas
Around 60,000 fans packed into Memorial Stadium to see their beloved Illini battle the then No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks on Sept. 7. In a dogfight, the Illini played tough and confident against the ranked contender and came out with a 23-17 victory. When the clock rang out, fans flooded the turf to celebrate this momentous win with the team.
2: Dylan Rosiek sacks Purdue quarterback in overtime
The Illini finally brought the Cannon Trophy back to Champaign, and it took 50 points and an overtime to do so. In a rollercoaster of a game, Illinois went from a 24-point lead to a three-point deficit. They finished with a one-point overtime victory over Purdue.
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After a winning touchdown by the Illini, junior linebacker Dylan Rosiek ferociously rushed redshirt freshman Boilermaker quarterback Ryan Browne to sack him and end the game. The Illini sideline rushed onto the field with their 50-49 victory and joyfully reclaimed the cannon with their teammates.
3: Pat Bryant scores touchdown in overtime against Nebraska
In the first overtime appearance for the Illini this season, they ran their routes perfectly to secure their first conference win in Lincoln. Junior quarterback Luke Altmyer had his most precise performance of the season, finishing with nearly a 78% completion rate.
Senior wide receiver Pat Bryant ran to the right side of the end zone and caught a beautiful, wide-open touchdown pass. The Illini secured a 31-24 victory over the Cornhuskers and started the season stronger than ever at 4-0.
4: Ezekiel Holmes blocks Michigan’s field goal attempt
To commemorate 100 years of Memorial Stadium, the Illini performed and partied like it was 1924 in their Rededication Game. Illinois apparently likes to perform well in front of sold-out crowds. In this game, Illinois held Michigan to just seven points. The last team to hold Michigan to this low of a score was Notre Dame a decade ago.
This was thanks to senior defensive lineman Ezekiel Holmes, who got a hand on the football during a field goal attempt. This was the team’s first blocked field goal of the year, and it sure was a good one since it helped Illinois get a 14-point victory over Michigan.
5: Xavier Scott’s pick-six against Kansas
Junior defensive back Xavier Scott probably had his best game of the season against Kansas. With under a minute to go in the first half, Scott made the sold-out crowd burst into cheers when he got his hands up to catch the football and run into the end zone for a pick-six.
This interception was vital for the Illini as it gave them a three-point advantage going into halftime. The Illini continued this momentum in the second half and took a massive win over the Jayhawks.
Honorable mention: Josh McCray’s one-handed catch against Nebraska
Junior running back Josh McCray showcased his talents as a receiver for the Illini early in the season. During the game against then No. 22 Nebraska, McCray received a nearly impossible ball, reaching out his left hand to haul it in. It was like McCray had glue on his gloves. The ball stuck perfectly in his lone hand, shy of the first down mark.
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