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Illinois vs Michigan score today: Recap, highlights from Week 8 win over Michigan

Dave Eminian   Peoria Journal Star
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The Illinois Fighting Illinigalloped past defending national champion Michigan Wolverines 21-7 with a dominating defensive effort in Week 8 of the college football season Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

Illinois forced three turnovers — a pair of fumbles and an interception at their own 15 — blocked a field goal, sacked Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle five times and held the Wolverines to seven points, their lowest single-game scoring effort since 2014.

Dressed in throwback uniforms and helmets honoring Red Grange and the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium, the Illini ground out a victory between ranked teams.

Illinois is 3-1 against ranked teams and, after a game next week at No. 2 Oregon, will be the only team in FBS to have faced five ranked teams before the calendar turns to November.

How Illinois defeated Michigan

They got in the win column Saturday by frustrating Michigan, which on two combined drives ran 27 plays for 134 yards and 14 minutes but got no points.

The Illini got a touchdown catch from Tanner Arkin, a touchdown run from quarterback Luke Altmyer and a pair of field goals from David Olano to improve to 6-1 and snap Michigan's (4-3) six-game win streak in the series.

The Illini got right to work with a 47-yard field goal from Olano on the opening drive.

Illinois forced two fumbles, one recovered by Malachi Hood and the other by Miles Scott, to kill drives in the second quarter. Olano added another field goal, and then Altmyer hit Arkin for a 2-yard TD pass with 7:53 left in the half for a 13-0 lead.

Michigan put together a 12-play, 6-minute drive in which running back Kalel Mullings plunged over from within the 1 on fourth down to cut the Illini lead to 13-7.

The Illini had 1:40 to work with before the half ended, and got close enough for a 44-yard field goal try by Olano. But the snap was poor and the kick was blocked.

Illinois pushed its lead to 21-7 on an eventful drive that closed with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

The drive was saved by a fake punt. Facing fourth-and-7 at the 48, Illini tight end Arkin took a direct snap and rambled 37 yards for a first down. Altmyer capped it with a plunge through the pile from the 1. But his helmet came off during the play, so he had to sit out as Illinois tried a 2-point conversion. Backup QB Donovan Leary came in and tossed a 2-point pass to Zakhari Franklin.

Michigan marched 15 plays to the Illini 10 on a drive of nearly nine minutes, then got no points as Ezekiel Holmes blocked a field goal goal try to preserve Illinois' 21-7 lead. It happened again on a 12-play, 5:24 drive for Michigan in the fourth quarter when Illini DB Matthew Bailey picked off Tuttle at the 15.

Watch Illinois football vs Michigan live on Fubo (free trial)

What Illinois coach Bret Bielema said after win over Michigan

● "What this does is put us in an environment to make next week even bigger, set the stage for a really good ranked matchup against Oregon."

● "Last time we played these guys I lost my mom. I told our team on Sunday I battled some demons, more than you can imagine. When I was a player, I lost my sister the day that we played Michigan. This game has always had a lot of things around it that has been tugging at my heart all week. I thank my wife and my family to have this moment. That is what I came here for. I thought we could build Illinois into something that is sustainable, and this is a big step in that direction.

What others had to say

● Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin on his fake punt run for 36 yards:

"I trusted my guys that they were going to get it done. It was like the Red Sea and just opened. All we had to do was get the first down and keep running."

● Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, on backup Donovan Leary subbing in for a two-point pass:

"I don't think anyone in the state or in our program was as excited as I was. I had no doubt that he was going to execute the shot. He's a stone-cold killer of a guy and has a lot of tremendous success in his future. I bet he will remember that moment for the rest of his life and so will I."

● Illini defensive star Gabe Jacas, on how the defense delivered:

"It felt good. I love my guys. I love the D line. A lot of guys stepped up today."

Illinois vs Michigan score update

TEAMS1234F
MICHIGAN0700—7
ILLINOIS31080—21

FINAL: Illinois 21, Michigan 7

Illinois: Luke Altmyer 9 of 18, 80 yards, 1 TD. Plus 10 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD. Josh McCray 17 carries, 50 yards. Illini 38 total carries, 187 yards. Gabe Jacas, 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, forced fumble.

Michigan: Jack Tuttle, 20 of 32, 208 yards, 1 INT. Kalel Mullings 19 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD. Colston Loveland 7 catches, 83 yards. Michigan team: 38 carries, 114 yards.

Bailey stuns Michigan with an INT

Illinois defensive back Matthew Bailey makes a huge play, intercepting Tuttle at the Illini 15 with 7:58 left. Another long drive for Michigan -- 12 plays, 5:24 -- ends up with no points.

Loveland makes a play for Michigan

Michigan desperate, facing fourth-and-18 with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter, goes for it.

Tuttle completes a 29-yard pass to Colston Loveland for the first down at the Illinois 15.

Ezekiel Holmes blocks Michigan field goal

Michigan drives nine minutes to the Illinois 10, where the Illini shut down three straight plays and force a field goal try.

Dominic Zvada's 28-yard field goal try sees a bad hold, a low kick, and it was blocked by Ezekiel Holmes as Illinois preserves its lead.

Altmyer takes it across from the 1

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer plunges through the pile for a touchdown with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

Altmyer's helmet comes off during the play, which meant he had to sit out the next play. Illini wanted to go for 2, so they send in backup quarterback Donovan Leary, and he tosses a 2-point pass to the back of the end zone for Zakhari Franklin.

Illinois comes out of it with a 21-7 lead.

Arkin on a fake punt

Facing fourth-and-7 at the 48, the Illini lineup to punt and run a fake. Tanner Arkin takes a direct snap and rambles 37 yards for a first down.

Illini field goal blocked

Illinois takes over for the final 100 seconds and gets into field goal range with 4 seconds left in the half.

But David Olano's 44-yard kick is blocked after a bad snap. Illini take 13-7 lead to the locker room.

Kalel Mullings on the goal line

Illini appear to stop Kalel Mullings on the goal line to force a fourth-and-goal inside the 1.

Mullings took it up and over the pile for a touchdown on the fourth-down try, pulling Michigan to within 13-7.

That drive was 12 plays, 72 yards and chewed up 6:06.

Altmyer to Arkin for 13-0

Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer hits Tanner Arkin for a 2-yard TD pass and a 13-0 lead with 7:53 left first half.

Illini defense delivers again

Michigan running back Donovan Edwards stripped of the ball at the Wolverines 35, recovered by Miles Scott with 10:57 left first half.

Olano makes it 6

Illini settle for field goal off that turnover and take a 6-0 lead on Olano's 32-yarder.

Malachi Hood recovers fumble

Illinois kills Michigan drive when Gabe Jacas punches the ball out of quarterback Jack Tuttle's arms and Malachi Hood recovers at the Michigan 25 in the opening minute of the second quarter.

Josh McCray stuffed on fourth down

The Illini extend drive with two first downs on Michigan penalties -- a pass interference and a hands to the face call.

But it ends on a fourth-and-1 at the Michigan 20 when running back Josh McCray is hit for a loss.

David Olano gets Illini on the board

The Fighting Illini opened a 3-0 lead on a 47-yard field goal from David Olano with 12:07 left in the first quarter.

Illinois football injury news: Kaden Feagin remains sidelined

Illinois running back Kaden Feagin will miss his second straight game with an unspecified injury, announced Thursday. He won't return "anytime soon," according to coach Bret Bielema.

Feagin leads Illinois with 306 yards and three touchdowns. Josh McCray had 124 total yards and three TDs on 19 touches last week in a 50-49 overtime win against Purdue.

Illinois vs Michigan time today

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024
  • Time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

What channel is Illinois vs Michigan game on today?

Illinois vs Michigan will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Gary Danielson (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Memorial Stadium, with Jenny Dell reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Paramount+ and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Illinois vs Michigan history

  • Series record: Michigan leads 72-23-2
  • Last Illinois win: 38-13, Oct. 31, 2009 in Champaign, Illinois.
  • Last Michigan win: 19-17, Nov. 19, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Illinois vs Michigan predictions

Two of the three Journal Star writers and editors pick the Illini to pull the upset, while one has the favored Wolverines winning the road Big Ten matchup.

Illinois vs Michigan betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, as of Thursday Oct. 17, 2024.

Illinois vs Michigan injury updates

The Big Ten Conference availability report will be be available here on Saturday afternoon. Illinois running back Kaden Feagin has already been ruled out with an unspecified injury. Also out are linebacker Daniel Brown and lineman Magnus Moller.

The following players are listed as out for Michigan: Jaden Mangham, Micah Pollard, Rod Moore, Enow Etta, Ja’Den McBurrows (season), Jordan Marshall, Rayshaun Benny, Leon Franklin and Bryson Kuzdzal. Three players are listed as questionable: Aamir Hall, Jimmy Rolder and Myles Hinton.

Illinois vs Michigan weather update

Expect a gorgeous day in Champaign with temperatures around 72 degrees at game time and dropping to the high 60s by the final buzzer. There is no precipitation in the forecast.

Illinois schedule 2024

Michigan schedule 2024

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(This story was updated with new information and photos.)

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