Sept. 22, 2007

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1. Illinois' 27-14 win today marks its first victory in a Big Ten opener since 1993 and its first win in Bloomington since 2001. The Illini also improve to 3-1 for the first time since 2001.

2. Illinois rushed for 288 yards on 55 carries (5.2 ypc) today, the third-straight game the Illini have surpassed the 200-yard mark, while holding Indiana to just 134 yards on the ground, a season-low for the Hoosiers. Indiana entered today's game leading the Big Ten in rushing at 258.7 yards per game.

3. For the second-straight game, the Illini established their rushing game early, racking up 176 yards on the ground in the first half. Last week at Syracuse, Illinois rushed for 175 yards through two quarters.

4. Illinois recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass today, more than doubling its turnovers forced this season. Entering today's game, the Illini had forced two fumbles and intercepted one pass.

5. The Illini pass rush has come into its own in the past two weeks, posting seven sacks today and five last Saturday.

6. The Orange and Blue defense held the Hoosiers to 134 yards rushing today, the first time IU has been held under 200 yards rushing this season. In particular, the Illini bottled up Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis, who managed just 35 yards on 17 attempts, marking his worst rushing day this season. His previous low this season was 59 yards on 15 carries against Western Michigan on Sept. 8.

7. With his career-high 214 yards rushing today, Doak Walker candidate Rashard Mendenhall ran for over 100 yards for the third-straight game and the fifth time in his career. It was the first time an Illini running back had rushed for more than 200 yards since Rocky Harvey ran for 215 against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 12, 1998.

8. Mendenhall's 214 yards today moved him up six spots on the Illinois career rushing yardage list to 21st all-time, 54 yards behind E.B. Halsey. He also had seven plays of 10-or-more yards on the day and averaged an eye-popping 7.9 yards per carry. In addition, he scored two touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving - marking the seventh-straight game he has reached the end zone. The rushing TD was his seventh this season.

9. Will Davis racked up a career-high four sacks for 18 yards, besting his previous high of 1.5 sacks at Syracuse last week. That total ties him for second on the single-game QB sacks record list, equaling Mike Poloskey's sack total against East Carolina on Aug. 31, 1991.

10. Davis was one of four Illini to record a sack today, with Doug Pilcher, Justin Sanders and Mike Ware notching sacks. It was the first sack of Pilcher's career and the second-straight game in which Ware has recorded a sack.

11. Vontae Davis had a big day against the Hoosiers, racking up nine tackles - including seven solos - intercepting a pass in the end zone, blocking a punt, and breaking up a pass. Davis blocked a punt on Indiana's first drive of the third quarter - his second career blocked punt - and his interception - the second of his career and first this season - thwarted a late IU scoring opportunity.

12. With two field goals today, Lou Groza candidate Jason Reda moved into a tie for fourth on the career field goals list with Doug Higgins at 39 FGs. Reda's nine points in today's game give him 202 career points scored, advancing him to fifth place on that record list.

13. After making his first career reception last week at Syracuse, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui caught his first career touchdown pass today, a two-yarder from Juice Williams in the second quarter.

14. On the final Illinois drive of the second quarter, Juice Williams was 6-for-7 passing for 59 yards and a 15-yard touchdown strike to Mendenhall. It was Mendenhall's seventh TD of the season.

15. In the third quarter, Anthony Santella boomed a pair of 50-plus yard punts. Santella hit a career-high 53-yard punt early in the quarter, then nailed a career-best 59-yarder with just under three minutes remaining in the period.