OPENING KICK
• Hitting the Road: The Fighting Illini (2-2, 0-1) return from an off week for their first road game of the season at Rutgers (1-4, 0-2) on Saturday in Piscataway, N.J. (Noon ET/11 am CT on BTN).
• Lovie Ball: Takeaways have long been a staple of Lovie Smith defenses. That trend continues this year as the Illini lead the Big Ten and rank ninth nationally in turnovers gained per game (2.25).
» The Illini's seven interceptions in four games (1.75 average) leads the B1G and is tied for seventh nationally.
» Illinois' turnover margin of +1.25 per game leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th nationally.
» Illinois has forced a turnover in 18 straight games and has at least two in every game this season. The last time the Illini did not have at least one takeaway was 11/12/16 at Wisconsin.
• The Wall: The Illini defensive line has a knack for batting down throws at the line with 10 pass breakups in the first four games. Sophomore DE Bobby Roundtree is tied for the FBS lead in PBUs by a defensive lineman (5) with ECU's Kendall Futrell, while sophomore DT Jamal Woods has three and junior DT Tymir Oliver has two on the year.
• Get Your Hands Up: The pass breakups aren't limited to just the defensive line. As a team, Illinois ranks 11th in the nation in passes defended per game (6.75). Overall, the Illini have 27 PDs on the year (20 PBUs and 7 INTs).
• Getting Offensive: The revamped Illinois offense, directed by new offensive coordinator Rod Smith, has made huge improvements in 2018. The Illini have jumped at least 50 spots in the national rankings from 2017 to 2018 in rushing offense, turnovers lost, first downs, total offense and scrimmage plays of 10+ yards, with the biggest turnarounds being 104-place jump in rushing offense.
| ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2018 |
| Category |
2017 (Final Nat'l Rk) |
2018 (Current Nat'l Rk) |
Difference |
| Rushing Offense (ypg) |
105.6 (122) |
243.5 (18) |
+104 |
| Turnovers Lost (total) |
26 (115) |
4 (17) |
+98 |
| First Downs (per game) |
14.5 (125) |
22.3 (63) |
+62 |
| Total Offense (ypg) |
280.4 (126) |
409.0 (69) |
+57 |
| Scrim. Plays of 10+ Yards |
117 (126) |
65 (75) |
+51 |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) |
15.4 (126) |
27.0 (84) |
+42 |
• Dynamic Duo: The rushing game's big turnaround (+137.9 ypg over last season) can largely be attributed to the dynamic running back duo of junior RB Reggie Corbin (327 yards, 6.81 ypc, 4 TDs) and sophomore RB Mike Epstein (324 yards, 6.75 ypc, 2 TDs).
» Both rank in the top-20 nationally in yards per carry – Corbin (6.81 ypc, 16th), Epstein (6.75 ypc, 17th)
» Both have three runs of 30+ yards, tied for 14th-most in FBS
» Corbin is averaging more rushing yards per game this season (81.8) than he had total in 2017 (78).
» Epstein became the first Illini to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since 2013 with 105 yards against WIU on 9/8 and 113 against USF on 9/15.
• Rounding Into Form: Sophomore DE Bobby Roundtree is coming off a monster game against PSU (CH 12 tackles (10 solo), 2.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, one PBU). Roundtree has five PBUs this season, tied for most in the nation among defensive linemen, and his 6.3 tackles per game rank second in the B1G and third in FBS among d-linemen.
• Punching It Out: Junior S Stanley Green has seven forced fumbles in his Illini career, the most in the B1G and T-5th in FBS among active players since the start of the 2016 season. It's also tied for the fourth-most in program history (since 1990), behind only Illini greats Simeon Rice (13), Whitney Mercilus (11) and Dana Howard (8).
• Special Guys: Special teams has been a plus for the Illini, with senior PK Chase McLaughlin leading the nation in 50+ field goals (3) and 40+ field goals (7) made and sophomore P Blake Hayes leading Big Ten and ranking 10th in FBS in punting average (45.9 ypp)
• AJ to M.J.: Grad transfer QB AJ Bush Jr. led the Illini to victory over Kent State in the season-opener but has been sidelined with an injury since the second quarter of game two. Enter true freshman M.J. Rivers II. Rivers came on in relief for Bush against WIU and threw two second-quarter TDs to lead the Illini to victory in his first collegiate action. Rivers got the start the last two games against USF and Penn State with Bush still recovering.
• Rivers in Select Company: Against USF, M.J. Rivers II became the fifth Illinois true freshman to start a game at QB in program history, joining Cam Thomas (2017, 2G), Aaron Bailey (2013, 1G), Isiah "Juice" Williams (2006, 9G) and Kurt Kittner (1998, 5G). In three games this season, Rivers has thrown for 422 yards and three touchdowns and one interception while completing 63.0 percent of his passes.
• Fresh Starts: The Illini have played 16 true freshmen this season, including six that have earned starts – TE Daniel Barker, DB Sydney Brown, DB Jartavius Martin, QB M.J. Rivers II, WR Carlos Sandy, DB Delano Ware.
• NFL Experience: Lovie Smith's Illini staff has 60 seasons of combined NFL head and assistant coach experience, the most in college football for the third consecutive year, easily out-pacing second-place LSU's total of 48.
• Youth Movement, Part Two: For the second straight year, Illinois is putting one of the youngest teams in the nation on the field (roster breakdown as of Sept. 25, 2018).
» 2018 class breakdown: 8 seniors, 16 juniors, 40 sophomores, 40 freshmen (31 true-frosh, 9 RS frosh)
» The 8 seniors and 24 total upperclassmen are both the fewest in the nation
» With 80 underclassmen – 40 sophomores and 40 freshmen (31 true and 9 RS) – out of 104 players, the Illini roster has the highest percentage of underclassman in the nation – 76.9 percent
» 41 out of the 104 players on the roster are newcomers
» Only three Illini have more than 15 career starts – Nick Allegretti 27, Stanley Green 17, Mike Dudek 16.
» Illinois' four fifth-year seniors – Nick Allegretti, Mike Dudek, Chase McLaughlin, Austin Roberts – is tied for the third-fewest nationally behind UConn (2) and Auburn (3). (All 5 years at one school)
THE ILLINOIS-RUTGERS SERIES
• Illinois and Rutgers are tied 2-2 in the all-time series. The teams split a nonconference home-and-home in 2005 and 2006, before splitting Big Ten Conference games in 2016 and 2017. Each team won on the road in 2016 (at Piscataway) and 2017 (at Champaign).
• Illinois and Rutgers will meet for the third time since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014. The teams are scheduled to meet again in 2019 at Champaign, 2020 at Piscataway, 2021 at Champaign, and 2024 at Champaign.
• Illinois is 1-1 all-time in Piscataway (win in 2016, loss in 2006).
• Illinois won 24-7 in its last trip to Piscataway on Oct. 15, 2016. The defense forced five turnovers, including a 78-yard interception return for touchdown by Darius Mosely, and Kendrick Foster scored two touchdowns. Foster ran five yards for a touchdown and caught a five-yard scoring pass from first-time QB starter Chayce Crouch. It was head coach Lovie Smith's his first Big Ten victory and was the last Illini road victory.
• Illinois dropped a 35-24 decision to Rutgers in Champaign last season. Ricky Smalling led the Illini with 111 receiving yards, including a 30-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George Jr., who threw for 308 yards.
• Illinois won the program's first meeting in overtime on Sept. 3, 2005 in Champaign. Illinois trailed 27-7 in the third quarter before scoring 20 unanswered points to force overtime, the final points coming on a leaping touchdown by E.B. Halsey. After Rutgers hit a field goal in the first possession of overtime, Pierre Thomas' two-yard touchdown run ended the game 33-30. The 20-point comeback is tied for the largest comeback win in Illinois history along with the Illini's 35-29 victory at Michigan on Oct. 25, 1999.
• Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Rutgers: 108 Kendrick Foster 10/15/2016
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Rutgers: 111 Ricky Smalling 10/14/2017
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. Rutgers: 308 Jeff George Jr. 10/14/2017
• Illinois' longest rush vs. Rutgers: 53 Reggie Corbin 10/15/2016
• Illinois' longest pass vs. Rutgers: 61 Chayce Crouch to Ke'Shawn Vaughn 10/15/2016
ILLINOIS-RUTGERS CONNECTIONS
• Illinois running backs coach Thad Ward and Rutgers defensive coordinator Jay Niemann coached together at Northern Illinois from 2013-15.
• Rutgers special teams coordinator Vince Okruch was Illinois' defensive coordinator in 2006.
• Illinois QB M.J. Rivers II lived in New Jersey while his father played for the New York Giants from 2001-04.
• Illinois does not have a New Jersey native on its roster. Rutgers does not have an Illinois native on its roster.
SAINT NICK
Senior OL Nick Allegretti is having another big year on and off the field in his final season in orange and blue.
» Allegretti has made 28 consecutive starts and has played all but three snaps this season, leading a young offensive line that features three sophomores and a RS freshman in the starting unit. The only snaps Allegretti has missed were the final three-play drive of the fourth quarter vs. WIU when the Illini led by 20.
» Named a candidate for virtually every national community service award – Senior CLASS Award, Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and AFCA Good Works Team.
» Is the team's Uplifting Athletes chapter president and Lift for Life organizer, helping to raise over $86,000 for rare disease research and awareness over the last two years. Also is very active in the Tom Jones Challenger Baseball League.
» Played 760 of 762 offensive snaps in 2017 (99.7%), most on the team, and led the team with 782 snaps in 2016.
» Voted a team captain in both 2018 and 2017, Allegretti was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last year.
ILLINI STANDOUTS
• Chase McLongkick: Senior K Chase McLaughlin hit a 50+ yard field goal in each of the first three games this season, becoming the first player in Illinois history to do so in three consecutive games.
» His three 50+ yard field goals this season is tied for the most in the nation (Wyatt Bryan, Colorado State & John Baron, San Diego State), and is more than the rest of the Big Ten kickers combined (2 – Minnesota's Emmit Carpenter & Quinn Nordin each have one).
» McLaughlin has four career 50+ field goals, tied for most in Illini history with Dan Beaver and Jason Reda.
» His seven 40+ yard field goals this season leads FBS, two ahead of Bryan (5), Utah State's Dominik Eberle (5) and Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship (5).
» He's also a weapon on kickoffs, ranking 12th in the nation in touchback percentage (18-of-22, .818).
• Hansen, So Hot Right Now: Sophomore LB Jake Hansen has had a monster 2018 so far.
» Earned Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after racking up 15 tackles and a school-record tying 6.0 TFLs in week one win over Kent State.
» The 6.0 TFLs against Kent State not only tied the Illinois single game program record (Jeff Weisse vs. Middle Tennessee 9/12/1998), but also tied for the seventh-most in a game in Big Ten history.
» His 6.0 TFLs in week one was more than the 2017 Illinois team leader for the season (James Crawford, 5.5).
» Hansen ranks 30th in FBS in TFLs per game (1.5) and is second on the team with 29 tackles in four games, ranking 15th in the Big Ten in tackles per game (7.3).
» Hansen had eight career tackles entering the 2018 season, all as a true-freshman in 2016 before missing last season with an injury.
• Be Like Mike: Sophomore RB Mike Epstein had back-to-back 100-yard games against WIU (105) and USF (113) and now has three career 100-yard games in just nine career games played.
» Epstein was the first Illini to rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back games since 2013 when Josh Ferguson went for 115 and 110 against Purdue (11/23/13) and Northwestern (11/30/13), respectively.
» Epstein's 6.75 yards per carry ranks 17th nationally and third in the Big Ten
» Epstein's three runs of 30+ yards is tied for 14th most in FBS.
• Running Reggie: Junior RB Reggie Corbin gives offensive coordinator Rod Smith a formidable 1-2 punch at running back along with Mike Epstein.
» Leads the team with 327 rushing yards on 48 carries (6.81 ypc) and has a team-high four rushing touchdowns on the season. He totaled 78 yards on 18 carries all of last season.
» Corbin's 6.81 yards per carry ranks 16th nationally and second in the Big Ten
» Had his first career two-touchdown game in the opener against Kent State, including an electrifying, tightrope 39-yard TD run to tie the game in the third quarter. He added a third TD against WIU and a fourth against Penn State, giving him twice as many scores in the first four games of 2018 (4) than he had in the first two years of his UI career (2).
ILLINI STORYLINES
• Future Coaches: Illini RB Reggie Corbin got a taste of coaching this past summer. Corbin, along with Illini teammates Justice Williams and Del'Shawn Phillips, led the Seahawks to an undefeated 5-0 record in the inaugural season of the Tuscola Flag Football League. The trio connected with nine-year old Illini superfan Colton Rahn, who has cerebral palsy, this past winter when a group of football student-athletes drove to Tuscola to cheer on Colton's basketball team.
• First-time Footballer: Sophomore punter Blake Hayes, a native of Melbourne, Australia, had never played in or attended a college football game until making his Illini debut against Ball State on Sept. 2. Hayes played Australian rules football before training at ProKick Australia for two years in hopes of getting a college scholarship in the United States. It paid off, as the Aussie earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a true-freshman, averaging 42.0 yards per punt and has become one of the top punters in the nation this season.
• Facebook Find: Facebook was a key part in the recruitment of sophomore safety Bennett Williams, at least according to Illini defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson. Nickerson was a teammate of Bennett's father, Garey Williams, at Cal and the two are connected on Facebook. Nickerson says he would see highlights of Bennett on Garey's Facebook page and became more impressed as he got older, eventually leading to his recruitment to Illinois. Williams earned true-freshman All-America honors after making 64 tackles and leading the team with three interceptions in 2017.
» Complete Illinois-Rutgers Game Notes (PDF)
