GAME 10: ILLINOIS (3-6, 2-4) at #7/7 Wisconsin (7-2, 4-2)
When	Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 | 2:30 pm CT
Where	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wis. | Seating Map
Gameday Info	Gameday Central | Visitors Guide | Weather
Tickets	Buy Online
Watch	ESPN2 | WatchESPN.com (Allen Bestwick, Mike Bellotti & Kris Budden)
Listen	Illini Sports Network | Listen | Sirius 132 / XM 196
Live Stats	Live Stats
Illinois Links	Game Notes (PDF) | Record Book | Stats
Wisconsin Links	Game Notes (PDF) | Record Book | Stats
Big Ten Links	Game Notes (PDF) | Media Guide | Stats
Monday Presser	Video | Quotes
Shop	Online Store
Social Media	@IlliniFootball  | #Illini | @IlliniFootball  | Facebook  | YouTube

OPENING KICK

• On the Road Again: Coming off a big home win over Michigan State, the Fighting Illini (3-6, 2-4 B1G) head to Wisconsin Saturday to face the seventh-ranked Badgers (7-2, 4-2 B1G) at Camp Randall Stadium (2:30 pm CT on ESPN2).

• Significant W: Saturday's Illini win over Michigan State was...
     ...the 600th victory in program history.
     ...the first over MSU since 2006, snapping a three-game skid.
     ...the first over MSU in Champaign since 1992, snapping a seven-game losing streak at Memorial Stadium.

• Comeback Kid: RS Freshman QB Jeff George Jr., in his third career start, led the Illini on a game-winning drive in the final minutes to beat Michigan State, 31-27. The Illini marched 75 yards on four plays, culminating in a 16-yard TD strike from George to sophomore WR Sam Mays with 1:35 left. George was 3-of-3 for 42 yards on the drive. It was Illinois' eighth fourth-quarter comeback win in the last three seasons. 

• Big Ten POW: Sophomore linebacker Tré Watson was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday  after making a career-high 16 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs, and breaking up one pass in the Illini's victory over the Spartans. During conference play, Watson is averaging 10.2 tackles per game to rank third in the B1G. 

• Takeaways & Turnovers: The Orange and Blue have taken the ball away and taken care of the ball this season.
     » Three Illini QBs have combined to throw just three interceptions, ranking fourth in FBS and tied for first in the Big Ten (Lunt 1, Crouch 1, George Jr. 1).
     » Illinois' nine fumbles recovered ranks 13th in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
     » The 10 giveaways by the Illini (3 INTs, 7 fumbles) ranks as the 19th fewest in FBS. 

• TFL U: As a team the Illini defense has been making plays in the backfield often in 2016. 
     » Illinois ranks fifth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in TFLs per game (8.4)
     » Senior DE Carroll Phillips is averaging 1.7 TFLs per game, fourth-most in FBS and most in the Big Ten.
     » Senior DE Dawuane Smoot paces the B1G during conference play, averaging 1.6 TFLs per game
     » Phillips (15.0) and Smoot (11.5) have combined for 26.5 TFLs, the most of any duo in FBS (Virginia Tech's Edmunds & Baron + Wake Forests' Ejiofor & Lee each combine for 26.0 TFLs). 

• Fourth Down 'D': A stop on fourth-and-3 in the final seconds sealed the win over Michigan State. That's something the Illini defense has excelled at all season, as opponents have converted just 4 of 12 fourth-down attempts (.333), 18th-best in FBS. 

• Declining Penalties: The Illini have cut down on penalties as of late, an issue that plagued the team early in the season. Through five games, Illinois averaged 9.2 penalties/game and 75.0 penalty yards/game, ranking last in the Big Ten in both categories. In the last four games, they're averaging just 4.0 penalties/game and 37.0 penalty yards/game. In the last two games, those numbers are down to just 2.5 and 21.5, respectively.

• Tackling Machine: Graduate transfer LB Hardy Nickerson is averaging 9.4 tackles/game to rank second in the Big Ten. He has 331 career tackles (246 at Cal, 85 at Illinois), fourth-most among active FBS players. Nickerson has more career tackles than any active Power-5 player.

• Smoot Point: Senior DE Dawuane Smoot has come on strong in conference play, averaging 1.6 TFLs per game to lead the Big Ten during league play. He has climbed into the Illinois career TFLs top-10 list with 35.0.  

• Jaylen Island: Junior CB Jaylen Dunlap had four PBUs in the win over Michigan State, tied for the fifth-most in a game in program history and the most by an Illini since 2002. He has seven PBUs in the last two games (4 vs. MSU, 3 vs. MINN), which is tied for the most in the nation over a two-game stretch this season. 

• Big Play Run Game: Illinois has five runs of 50+ yards this season, tied for sixth-most in the nation. Kendrick Foster had a pair of 56-yard TD runs against Murray State and added a 64-yard TD run against Michigan State, Ke'Shawn Vaughn had a 65-yard TD scamper vs. North Carolina and Reggie Corbin busted a 53-yard run at Rutgers. 

• He's Not Green: True-freshman Stanley Green forced two fumbles in the win over Michigan State and has three for the season, ranking ninth in FBS and second in the Big Ten (0.43 FF/gm). He's the first Illini with two forced fumbles in a Big Ten game since Jamal Milan at Rutgers earlier this season. Milan was the first to do it since Whitney Mercilus at Indiana, Oct. 8, 2011. Green and Milan are two of only four freshmen in FBS to force two fumbles in a game this season.

• Fresh Start: Illinois has had 26 first-time starters this season, tied for the most in the nation (Missouri). Included in that number are 11 freshmen (four true-freshmen and seven redshirt-freshmen).

THE ILLINOIS-WISCONSIN SERIES

• Saturday marks the 83rd meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers.

• Wisconsin holds a slim 39-36-7 edge in the all-time series and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings. Illinois' lone victory in that stretch was a 31-26 win over the fifth-ranked Badgers in Champaign in 2007.

• Illinois is 16-21-4 all-time against Wisconsin in Madison. 

• In 2014, Illinois' last visit to Madison, the Illini's comeback bid fell short in a 38-28 loss to the Badgers.

• Wisconsin is on a six-game winning streak against Illinois, tied for the longest streak by either team in the series. Illinois beat the Badgers six straight times from 1987-92.

• Last season, Wisconsin spoiled Illinois' homecoming with a 24-13 win in Champaign. FS Clayton Fejedelem had one of the best games of his career, totaling 19 tackles and an interception.

• The 1995 game between the Illini and Wisconsin holds historical significance as the last college football game to end in a tie (final score was 3-3). Overtime rules were instituted the following season.

WISCONSIN CONNECTIONS

• Illinois head football strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner as a defensive back for the Badgers from 1998-2001.

• Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was the linebackers coach at Wisconsin in 1987. The Badgers went 3-8, including a 16-14 loss to Illinois in Champaign. 

• Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst was the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers in 2001 when Illinois AD Josh Whitman played for the Chargers.

ILLINOIS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS

• Illinois faces its third AP Top 25-ranked opponent of the season on Saturday. Wisconsin is No. 7 in this week's AP and Coaches polls and was No. 8 in last weeks initial CFB Playoff rankings. The Illini fell to No. 15 Nebraska, 31-16, back on Oct. 1 and No. 3 Michigan, 41-8, on Oct. 22. 

• Two other opponents were not ranked at the time they played the Illini but currently are –No. 14 Western Michigan and No. 15 North Carolina. 

• Illinois is 1-7 against ranked Wisconsin teams. The lone win was the 2007 victory over the No. 5 Badgers, 31-26.

• Illinois has faced top-10 ranked Wisconsin teams twice: the win in 2007 vs. the No. 5 Badgers and a 37-3 loss to No. 9 Wisconsin in 1998.

• The Illini have lost 15 straight and 24 of their last 25 against foes ranked in the AP poll since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on Nov. 10, 2007. The lone win during that span came on Sept. 17, 2011, over No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14. 

• Illinois' win over Minnesota in 2014 gave the Illini their first win over a ranked team in either the AP or Coaches poll since 2011. The Golden Gophers were No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, however, the Gophers were not ranked in the AP poll at the time of the game.

TOUGH ROAD

• The Illini have played the 21st-toughest schedule in the nation based on winning percentage vs. FBS teams (.586).

• Illinois' eight FBS opponents are combined 46-26 this season – Michigan (9-0), Western Michigan (9-0), North Carolina (7-2), Nebraska (7-2), Minnesota (7-2), Purdue (3-6), Michigan State (2-7) and Rutgers (2-7). When projecting out future games, the Illini schedule ranks as the 11th-toughest in the nation according to NCAA stats. 

• Five Illinois opponents are ranked in the latest AP Top 25 (Nov. 6) – No. 2 Michigan, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 14 Western Michigan, No. 15 North Carolina and No. 21 Nebraska.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

• Illinois has had 26 first-time starters this season, tied for the most in the nation (Missouri also has 26). Included in that number are 11 freshmen (four true-freshmen and seven redshirt-freshmen).

• Freshmen accounted for 34 tackles in the win over Michigan State (Nelson 9, Harding 7, Green 6, Sumpter 6, Watkins 5, Milan 1)

• On Oct. 29 vs. Minnesota, six Illini freshmen started on defense – true-freshmen S Stanley Green, LB Jake Hansen and DT Kenyon Jackson along with RS freshmen DT Jamal Milan, S Patrick Nelson and CB Frank Sumpter.

• As the season has progressed, several new faces have seen their playing time and production increase, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 

     » RS freshman SS Patrick Nelson played only on special teams the first two games, making zero tackles. In the last seven games, he's racked up 63 tackles at safety, making five starts. He ranks fifth in the Big Ten in tackles during conference games (9.5 tpg)

     » True-freshman Stanley Green did not play in the first two games before seeing action on special teams in games three and four. In week five against Purdue, he saw his first action at safety and made three tackles. He has started the last four games, making 31 tackles and forcing three fumbles in those games. 

     » RS freshman CB Frank Sumpter has started the last two games (Minnesota and Michigan State), making seven tackles. He did not see extended action on defense until game seven at Michigan. 

     » A pair of freshmen have seen increasing snaps the senior-laden defensive line. After playing sparingly in the first two games, RS freshman DT Jamal Milan has come on to make four starts, 19 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two forced fumbles, two hurries and one sack in his last five games (missed Purdue due to injury). Meanwhile, true-freshman DT Kenyon Jackson has made 14 of his 16 tackles in the last six games and has started four. 

     » RS freshman RB Reggie Corbin had 7 carries for 71 yards in the first three games before breaking out for 49 carries for 350 yards the last six games. 

     » True-freshman LB Jake Hansen made his first career-start in game eight against Minnesota. He played only on special teams prior to that start. 

SMOOT, SO HOT RIGHT NOW

• Senior DE Dawuane Smoot has been stuffing the stat sheet as of late, leading the Big Ten in TFLs during conference play (9.5 total / 1.6 per game). For the season, he has 43 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, seven hurries, two forced fumbles and one safety, wreaking even more havoc than the stats indicate. 

• With 2.5 TFLs last Saturday against Michigan State, Smoot moved into eighth place on Illinois career TFLs list with 35.0. He also played a key role in the final fourth down stop to seal the victory, getting deep penetration to force MSU QB Damion Terry to scramble where Carroll Phillips was waiting to make the game-clinching sack. 

• Smoot had his best game of the year at Rutgers on Oct. 22, making five tackles and adding three TFLs, one sack, one forced fumble and two QB hurries performance in the win. 

• When Smoot tackled UNC RB Elijah Hood in the end zone for a safety on Sept. 10, it marked the Illini's first safety since Sept. 13, 2014, at Washington. 

• The preseason hype for Smoot was large. In addition to being named to three preseason watch lists (Bednarik, Hendricks, Lombardi), Smoot also was named a preseason All-American, the 20th-best college football player in the country and is a projected first round draft pick by Pro Football Focus. Phil Steele, Athlon and Lindy's all named him to their preseason All-Big Ten teams. 

• Smoot had a breakout year in 2015, racking up 15.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks while earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. 

• For his career, Smoot has racked up 35.0 TFLs, 14.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles.

GRAD TRANSFERS MAKING BIG IMPACT

Both of Illinois' graduate transfers have made a huge impact for the Fighting Illini defense. 

• Cal transfer LB Hardy Nickerson is averaging 9.4 tackles per game to rank second in the Big Ten and 24th nationally. He has added 5.5 TFLs, fifth-most on the team, a team-high two interceptions and 2.0 sacks. 

• Auburn transfer DE Gimel President has 7.5 TFLs to rank third on the team and 17th in the Big Ten. He has 30 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, two QB hurries and one PBU on the season.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

• RS freshman QB Jeff George Jr. made his first career start at Michigan on Oct. 22 and also has started the last two games with both sophomore QB Chayce Crouch and senior QB Wes Lunt missing the games with injuries. Prior to the start at Michigan, George had taken just six snaps (all versus Murray State) and had not attempted a collegiate pass.

• George threw for 140 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in the come-from-behind win over Michigan State, his first victory as a starter. He connected with WR Sam Mays from 16 yards out for the game-winning touchdown, capping a four play, 75-yard drive that gave the Illini the lead with 1:35 remaining. George was 3-of-3 for 42 yards on the winning drive.

• George and his father, former Illinois QB Jeff George, became the first father/son duo to start at quarterback for the Fighting Illini.

• Jeff George Sr. played for Illinois in 1988 and '89, throwing for 5,189 yards and 31 TDs while leading the Illini to a 16-7-1 record and two bowl games. The Indianapolis Colts selected George No. 1 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft. 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• Mistake Free: Illinois had zero turnovers Saturday against Michigan State, the third time this season the Illini had giveaways  (Murray State 9/3 and Nebraska 10/1). On the season, the Illini have lost 10 turnovers to rank 19th in FBS. 

• No Sack Zone: Illinois did not allow a sack to Michigan State, marking the second time this season the Illini the opponent did not register a sack for the second time. The Illini OL has allowed just seven sacks in six Big Ten games, which ranks second in conference play. 

• Three-headed Monster: The backfield trio of junior Kendrick Foster, sophomore Ke'Shawn Vaughn and RS freshman Reggie Corbin has been explosive at times, combining for 1,316 yards on 210 carries (6.27 ypc) and 11 touchdowns in the first nine games of 2016. 

» Foster broke out for a 118 yards, including two 56-yard TDs, on four carries in the season-opening win over Murray State (29.5 ypc), breaking a 61-year old Illini record for most yards/rush in a game. He had his second 100-yard game in the win at Rutgers (108 yards on 21 carries) and ran for a career-high 146 yards and two TDs in the win over Michigan State. 

» After playing sparingly in the first three games, Corbin has burst onto the scene with 350 yards in six conference games. For the year, he is second on the team with 421 yards on only 57 carries (7.4 ypc). Entering the Nebraska game, he had 7 carries for 71 yards in his brief Illini career. 

» Vaughn recently became the 42nd Illinois player to reach 1,000 career rushing yards. He started the North Carolina game with a 65-yard touchdown run and finished the night with 116 yards on 15 carries, his second career 100-yard game. He has 299 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and has added 86 receiving yards (on eight catches) this season. 

• Foster Fast: Junior RB Kendrick Foster ran for a career-high 146 yards on 17 carries in the win over Michigan State, his third 100-yard game of the season. He also was the first Illini 100-yard rusher against Michigan State since Juice Williams had 103 rushing yards on Sept. 30, 2006. 
     » Foster leads the team with 596 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns and nine total touchdowns.
     » Foster is averaging 6.34 yards per carry, second-best in the Big Ten and 27th in FBS (min. 10 rush/gm)
     » Foster has three touchdown runs of 50+ yards (56, 56 and 64), tied for the sixth-most in FBS
     » Foster ranks fifth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards per game (124.0) and third in the Big Ten in combined kick return yards (481)  

• Reggie, Reggie, Reggie: RS freshman RB Reggie Corbin is averaging 7.4 yards per carry this season (421 yards on 57 carries), which ranks second among FBS freshmen with at least 50 carries. In Big Ten play (6 games), the former HS rugby star has 350 rushing yards on 50 carries (7.0 ypc).

• Big Play 'O': Illinois has eight scrimmage plays of 50+ yards this season, tied for 19th-most in the nation (five runs and three passes). The team's five runs of 50+ yards is tied for the sixth-most in FBS. 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• Push 'Em Back: The Illinois defense had 10 TFLs against Michigan State. It marked the third time this season the Illini D had 10+ TFLs in a game and the first time since Sept. 10 against North Carolina. For the season, the Orange and Blue are  averaging 8.4 TFLs per game, fifth-most in FBS. 

• Phillips Lighting It Up: Senior DE Carroll Phillips is in the midst of a breakout season with 15.0 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. He ranks fifth in FBS and first in the Big Ten in TFLs (1.7 per game) and 24th nationally and second in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.78). 

• Freshmen Forcing Fumbles: Freshman DB Stanley Green had two forced fumbles in the win over Michigan State and RS freshman Jamal Milan had two in the win at Rutgers. They are two of only four freshmen to force two fumbles in an FBS game this season. On top of that, Illinois, Wake Forest and Nevada are the only FBS teams to have two players who have forced two fumbles in one game this season.

• Don't Throw Toward Dunlap: Junior CB Jaylen Dunlap leads the team with nine PBUs on the season, including four in the win over Michigan State,  tied for the fifth-most in a game in program history and the most by an Illini since 2002. He also had a big game at Michigan, making nine tackles and a career-high 2.5 TFLs. For the season, Dunlap is fourth on the team with 54 tackles and 4.5 TFLs in addition to his nine PBUs. 

• Elementary, Watson: Sophomore LB Tre Watson made his first career start at Nebraska on Oct. 1, racking up a then career-high 10 tackles and forced a fumble against the Huskers, and hasn't let up since. After a 16-tackle performance in the win over Michigan State (to earn Big Ten Defensive POW honors), he's now averaging 10.2 tackles per game in conference play to rank third in the Big Ten.  

• Nelson Making Noise: RS freshman safety Patrick Nelson has burst onto the scene in Big Ten play. He had 16 tackles at Nebraska in his first career start and then 14 at Rutgers to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Nelson's 57 tackles since Oct. 1 are the most by any FBS freshman and his 9.5 tackles per game in conference play ranks fifth in the Big Ten. 

• Mild Peppers: The Illinois defense held Michigan's Jabrill Peppers to nine yards on five carries (1.8 yards per carry) after he averaged 19.6 yards per carry (5 for 98) with two TDs in the first six games. Defensively, Peppers had two tackles without a TFL. He came into the game as Michigan's second-leading tackler and had 10.0 TFLs.  

THE SPECIAL TEAMS

• Chase McLongkick: RS freshman PK Chase McLaughlin kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal against Minnesota, tied for the fourth-longest in school history and the longest since Taylor Zalewski kicked a 54-yarder against Purdue on Nov. 17, 2012. For the season, McLaughlin has been rock-solid, hitting 11-of-14 field goals and 23-of-23 extra points. 

• Chasing History: Sophomore PK Chase McLaughlin made the first 22 kicks of his UI career (8 FGs and 14 PATs) before his first miss in the final seconds against Purdue. He ranks seventh in the Big Ten in FG percentage (.786) and hit a career-long 53-yarder against Minnesota.

• Block Party: Senior DT Rob Bain blocked a field goal against Western Michigan, the fourth blocked kick of his career. He blocked three kicks in 2015 (2 PATs, 1 FG) to rank second among FBS individuals in blocks. 

» COMPLETE ILLINOIS-WISCONSIN GAME NOTES (PDF)