After a much-needed bye week, No. 23 Illinois (5-2, 2-2) faces a tough task this weekend. The Illini embark on a cross-country trip to take on the Washington Huskies (5-2, 2-2) in a battle of five-win teams.
To deal with the long journey, the Illini are focused on sticking to season-long routines. Sophomore defensive back Tanner Heckel said that his routines this season have helped him stay steady through ups and downs.
“I show up the same time every day,” Heckel said. “We have the same schedules, and we go through it day by day as a team.”
Head coach Bret Bielema also recognizes the importance of a set schedule. The Illini were thrown off their routine during their loss to then-No. 1 Oregon Ducks last season. Bielema said that the team didn’t have access to a pool, which it typically uses for soft tissue recovery ahead of games.
Now returning to the West Coast, Bielema said the Illini are going to do some things differently and that the team hotel has a big pool.
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“We’re kind of changing up our routine from what we did last year at Oregon,” Bielema said.
Dual-threat quarterback leads rushing attack
Heckel and the Illini defense will need to be as sharp as ever against Huskies’ sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
Williams Jr. has twice earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week this season, most recently two weeks ago. Against Rutgers, the quarterback racked up 402 passing yards and 136 rushing yards while totaling four touchdowns.
“We’ve went against every kind of quarterback,” Heckel said. “This guy is special. He’s got a good set of legs on him; he can run.”
Heckel got the best of another strong quarterback, Duke redshirt sophomore Darian Mensah, earlier this season. Heckel recorded an interception and forced fumble against Mensah in Illinois’ 45-19 win.
The defensive back credited some of his skills to playing eight-man football in high school, especially in terms of open-field tackling.
“There’s a lot more space,” Heckel said of eight-man football. “Smaller field, but less people, so (a) lot more space for open-field tackling.”
Open-field tackling will be key for Illinois’ defense this weekend against both Williams Jr. and senior running back Jonah Coleman. Coleman leads the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns this season (12) and has yet to fumble in 112 attempts.
Must-win matinee
Even with two losses, the Illini are still alive in the playoff hunt. A third loss would all but eliminate the team from postseason contention. If the team were to lose a third game, this weekend’s would be the most likely.
In addition to its strong running offense, Washington is tough to beat at Husky Stadium. The Huskies had won 22 straight home games before their loss to the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes at the end of September.
If the Illini can manage a road win Saturday, their playoff chances should improve significantly. After Washington, Illinois’ next three opponents — Rutgers, Maryland and Wisconsin — have combined for one conference win in 12 tries this season.
Kickoff for Saturday’s pivotal contest is set for 2:30 p.m. CDT.
@BrendanGallian
