MADISON - The Fighting Illini went into hostile territory on Saturday and lost to No. 7 Wisconsin 48-3.
The lone Illinois points came on a 39-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin in the first quarter.
The Illini defense held Wisconsin to 92 passing yards, the second-fewest in a game by the Badgers this season. The last time the Illini held a team to less than 100 yards passing was on Nov. 21, 2015 against Minnesota.
But Illinois couldn't bottle up the Badgers downhill running game - giving up 363 yards on the ground. Inversely, the Orange & Blue offense was stifled by the Wisconsin defense - totaling 200 yards.
Kendrick Foster tallied 75 yards on 15 carries.
A returning Wes Lunt started the second half - relieving Jeff George Jr. who threw for 79 yards in the first half.
Freshmen Stanley Green and Patrick Nelson led the Illinois defense with 11 tackles apiece.
The Illini finish up their home schedule on Saturday against Iowa.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois is 36-40-7 all-time against Wisconsin and 16-22-4 against the Badgers in Madison.
- Illinois faced its third AP-ranked opponent of the season (Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin).
- Illinois has lost six straight games in Madison, dating back to 2002.
- Illinois has used 27 first-time starters in 2016 after redshirt freshman CB Cameron Watkins made his first career start today. The Illini entered the game tied for the nation in first-time starters.
- The Illini defense held Wisconsin to 92 passing yards, the second-fewest in a game by the Badgers this season.
- The last time the Illini held an opponent to less than 100 yards passing was on Nov. 21, 2015 against Minnesota.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- First start of the season for WR Sam Mays, who caught the game-winning touchdown last week. He started once in 2015.
- First career start for redshirt freshman CB Cameron Watkins. He is the 27th first-time starter for the Illini this season.
- Watkins had a career-high seven tackles and one PBU.
- Illinois started four freshmen on defense: DT Kenyon Jackson, FS Stanley Green, SS Patrick Nelson, CB Cameron Watkins
- Green and Nelson led the Illini with 11 tackles each.
- Green's 11 tackles ties his career-high.
- Redshirt-freshman QB Jeff George Jr. started for the fourth straight game.
- Senior DEs Carroll Phillips and Duwuane Smoot combined for 3.0 TFLs in the game pushing their combined season total to 29.5. The duo entered the game with a combined 26.5 TFLs, the most of any duo in the FBS.
- Senior QB Wes Lunt returned from an injury to start for the first time since Oct. 8. Lunt started the second half and finished the game 2-for-8 for 22 yards.
- Junior WR Malik Turner returned after missing the Michigan State game with an injury. He caught one pass for 12 yards and has at least one catch in 25 of his last 26 games.
- Consecutive starts extended dating back to 2015: Christian DiLauro 29, Dawuane Smoot 22
