Head coach Lovie Smith named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Lovie+Smith+takes+off+his+hat+after+the+Illini+upset+the+Badgers+at+Memorial+Stadium+on+Oct.+19.

Jonathan Bonaguro

Lovie Smith takes off his hat after the Illini upset the Badgers at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 19.

By JJ Kim, Assistant Sports Editor

Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith was selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, an honor for a football coach who led his team to a monumental victory the week before.

The award, presented by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, is a cherry on top for what has been an ecstatic weekend for the Illini, as they come off of a stunning 24-23 victory over the then No. 6 ranked Wisconsin Badgers.

Coming into the game as a 30.5-point underdog, Illinois was able to force three turnovers and rack up 315 yards of offense against the nation’s No. 1 defense. The Illini pulled off the biggest Big Ten upset since 1982, when Northwestern defeated Minnesota as a 32-point underdog, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

@JJKimSports

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