The Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Michigan Wolverines 21-7 last Saturday afternoon in a matchup of ranked Big Ten teams. Michigan struggled to sustain offensive success and the Illinois defense was opportunistic forcing turnovers to limit the Wolverines to seven points. On the other side of the football, Illinois’ offense ran the ball successfully and overcame plenty of penalties in the passing game.
As the Illinois Fighting Illini head into the back half of their schedule, they have much to be proud of so far in 2024 but face a mighty test this week at Oregon. Learning from the Michigan game and using the big win as a launching pad into this game against the number one team in the country is going to be paramount for Coach Bret Bielema and the Illinois coaching staff this week. Continuing to build the running game, limiting big plays on defense and winning the turnover battle and special teams are lessons for Illinois to glean from the Michigan game.
Build the Run Game
The Illinois Fighting Illini are reveling in their win at home over the Michigan Wolverines. The 21-7 victory was the first for the Illinois Fighting Illini over Michigan in 15 years and winning on the Memorial Stadium Rededication weekend made it all the more sweet. The turnaround this week is quick, however, and the Fighting Illini have a huge test coming up this Saturday against the number one team in the country, the Oregon Ducks. To prepare for the best team in the nation, Illinois has to take lessons away from their win over the Wolverines and one of the biggest is their need to build the run game.
Kaden Feagin is still an unknown at this point but if his visits to hip injury specialists are any indication, he will not be suiting up in Eugene. With Feagin out, Josh McCray has assumed the RB1 duties and has done quite well. Aidan Laughery has made some big plays when McCray needs a rest and Luke Altmyer has been scrambling more as the year has gone on, adding another dimension to the rushing attack. Adding more depth and potency to the run game will present defenses with more conflict in their schemes and make them reassess how to play the Illinois Fighting Illini offense.
While Altmyer has been productive in the run game, it’s not something the team wants to depend on and put their quarterback’s health in jeopardy. McCray has been the primary back with Feagin out, but it has been Laughery who has had the most big plays in the running game. Scheming up ways to get explosive plays out of the backup running back position is a huge weapon for any offense. That is especially when you consider how it may make defenses commit more attention and resources to stop the run and less toward Altmyer and his premier weapons on the perimeter.
Limit Big Plays On Defense
The Illinois Fighting Illini defense had been great at limiting big plays and making teams slowly drive the ball down the field. The last six quarters of football against Purdue and Michigan have not been their best example of that. Purdue connected on countless big passes and found success in the running game two weeks ago and Michigan’s tight end core found holes in the Illinois defensive backfield to exploit for big yardage. Aaron Henry’s defense needs to hone in on keeping a lid on defenses going forward if they want to keep their defensive identity intact.
Kaleb Patterson has seen more throws his way as teams learn to stay away from Xavier and Miles Scott in the secondary. If teams are going to continue to target Patterson, he needs to be on high alert moving forward and the defense needs to find ways to make the opposing offense deal with the other members of the secondary. Against Michigan, Miles Scott recovered a fumble and made an interception that was called back. Matthew Bailey made the game-sealing interception on a disguised coverage that fooled Jack Tuttle. More plays like this and the defense will be just fine.
Win the Turnover Battle
Another aspect of the Illinois Fighting Illini defense that has helped them tremendously has been their propensity to force turnovers. The reason teams have looked away from Xavier and Miles Scott is that when opponents looked toward them in the Illinois Fighting Illini’s first few games, they tended to not see the ball again. Gabe Jacas made a name for himself in the win over Michigan by punching the ball out of the hands of Tuttle, adding another turnover weapon to the Illinois Fighting Illini defense. Helping out the offense, and creating turnovers on defense has been a strong suit for the Fighting Illini so far in 2024.
Equally as helpful has been the Illinois Fighting Illini offense’s reluctance to cough up the ball themselves. Altmyer has done a magnificent job of protecting the football, throwing just one interception and losing just two fumbles so far in seven games. Winning the turnover battle has been a huge indicator of success for Illinois in 2024. They lost the battle in their only loss of the season against Penn State and in two games where they needed overtime to win. Avoiding costly mistakes like turnovers has helped Illinois get to 6-1 and the 20th spot in the AP Top 25, and they need to keep it up.
Win the Special Teams Battle
Arguably the biggest play of the game against Michigan was the fake punt that set up the Illinois Fighting Illini’s second touchdown of the game. Tanner Arkin rumbled from midfield down inside the 20. With the momentum of the game in the balance, the Illinois Fighting Illini took it with the gutsy call to run the fake. Later in the game, with Michigan down 14 and in a time crunch, Semaj Morgan took a punt return down to the Illinois 40-yard line, giving Michigan a short field to work with and keep the game interesting. While Illinois stopped that drive and won the game, it highlighted the importance of special teams.
College football is an unpredictable animal. Stacking all the cards in your favor that you can add up throughout the season. The Illinois Fighting Illini used special teams to their advantage in wins over Purdue and Michigan and while their special teams play has been an asset so far, it could quickly become a liability like it did with the Morgan punt return. Against the top-ranked Ducks and beyond, being able to execute in the third phase of the game can work wonders for Bret Bielema’s Illinois Fighting Illini team and might make the difference in a game ahead.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play. Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out; explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
