The Illini (7-4, 4-4) dropped an ugly one Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin. Illinois has played uninspiring games this year — it fell to Indiana (11-0, 8-0) as the then-No. 9 team by 53 points, it had no answers for Demond Williams Jr. and Washington (7-3, 4-3) and, somewhat understandably, couldn’t get anything going against No. 1 Ohio State (11-0)— but those losses were different.
The Illini were in the game until nearly the end against the woeful Wisconsin Badgers (4-7, 2-6), but ultimately fell 27-10.
“We did enough harm to ourselves that it made what they were doing that much better,” said senior defensive back Miles Scott. “We can’t beat ourselves.”
Senior quarterback Luke Altmyer looked the shakiest he’s looked all season, nearly being intercepted on each of the team’s first four drives. The quarterback went just 21 for 35 (60%) on passing.
On the ground, Altmyer led the pack with 20 rushing yards on 13 attempts. Junior running back Kaden Feagin and sophomore running back Ca’Lil Valentine each tallied fewer than 20 after combining for nearly 150 in last week’s win.
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Illinois’ defense surrendered 209 rushing yards to a Wisconsin team that had ranked dead last in the Big Ten this season.
Illinois couldn’t even find solace in its special teams play. Junior kicker David Olano — who had missed just one kick since week one — was no good from 37 yards out early in the game.
In the fourth quarter, a bad snap forced senior punter Keelan Crimmins to improvise on a punt attempt. The subsequent Wisconsin tackle led to the team taking control of the ball at Illinois’ own 14.
All this in a game that was within one score until midway through the fourth quarter.
“(We) just never really got on rhythm,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “(We) give up that many pressures, that many hits on our quarterback, never really got on rhythm.”
The Badgers sacked Altmyer five times on the night, the highest total since the Hoosiers brought the quarterback down seven times in September.
Altmyer looked out of sorts all night, despite connecting with seven receivers for at least 20 yards.
He nearly threw several picks early, including one that was initially called an interception before being overturned. Altmyer also failed to find his legs after using them well in the past three games.
The quarterback picked up Illinois’ only touchdown himself, rushing into the end zone from 12 yards, but averaged just 1.5 yards per attempt on the ground.
“We were excited to play, and we were inspired, and we were ready to win,” Altmyer said. “We expected to win.”
Altmyer was far from the only one to struggle with the loss.
Special teams suffered a series of miscues beyond Olano’s miss and the bad snap to Crimmins.
“The botched snap at the end of the game, that was kind of just the perfect storm,” Bielema said.
That storm consisted of a near-turnover when senior receiver Hank Beatty recovered a punt that he’d muffed. On fourth-and-24, Crimmins delivered a punt of just 30 yards that kept Wisconsin inside Illinois territory.
Wisconsin badgered Illinois’ defense for 301 total yards, their most in a conference game this season. The big play came when sophomore running back Darrion Dupree broke free for an 84-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Badgers earlier wore down the Illini defense with a 9-minute, 30-second scoring drive that knocked out most of the clock in the first quarter. Wisconsin ran 16 plays on the drive, only four of which were in the air.
Illinois now needs to regroup as it heads home for its final game of the year and the bowl game that will follow.
The Illini take on the Northwestern Wildcats (6-5, 4-4) next weekend for the final match of the regular season. Despite the lopsided loss on Saturday, Altmyer is already looking ahead.
“I’m going to go put my best foot forward and compete,” Altymer said. “I love it, I love the game. I love my guys, and so they’re gonna get my best every single day.”
@BrendanGallian
