GAME WEEK: Illinois at #23 Wisconsin
October 15, 2018 | Football
Illini hit the road to face the Badgers on Saturday (11 am CT, FS1)
| GAME 7: ILLINOIS (3-3, 1-2) at #23/19 Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1) | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 | 11 am CT |
| Where | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wis. | Seating Map |
| Gameday Info | Gameday Central | Fan Info | Parking Map | Weather |
| Tickets | Buy Online |
| Watch | FS1 | FoxSportsGo.com (Justin Kutcher, Petros Papadakis & DeMarco Murray) |
| Listen | Illini Sports Network | Listen | Sirius 108/XM 210 |
| Live Stats | SIDEARM |
| Illinois Links | Game Notes (PDF) | Record Book | Stats |
| Wisconsin Links | Game Notes (PDF) | Fact Book | Stats |
| Big Ten Links | Notes (PDF) | Record Book | Stats |
| Monday Presser | Video | Quotes |
| Shop | Online Store |
| Social Media | @IlliniFootball  | #Illini | @IlliniFootball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
OPENING KICK
• On the Road Again: The Fighting Illini (3-3, 1-2 B1G) look to climb back over .500 when they travel to Madison Saturday to face #23/19 Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1 B1G) at Camp Randall Stadium (11 am CT on FS1).
• 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 12th nationally in turnovers gained per game (2.17).
» The Illini's 1.83 interceptions per game is tied for fourth nationally and ranks second in the Big Ten. The 11 total interceptions is tied for fifth in FBS.
» Illinois' turnover margin of +1.33 per game ranks seventh nationally and second in the Big Ten.
» A pair of Illini are tied for ninth in FBS and second in the Big Ten in interceptions – CB Jartavius Martin and LB Del'Shawn Phillips with three picks each.
» Illinois has forced a turnover in 20 straight games, the longest active streak among Power 5 conference teams, and has at least two in five of six games this season (Purdue). The last time the Illini did not have at least one takeaway was 11/12/16 at Wisconsin.
• Big Play Run Game: The Illini running game is not only one of the best in the nation, it's also very explosive.
» The Illini are averaging 228.8 rushing yards per game, good for 22nd in FBS and over 120 rushing yards per game better than last season's average per game (105.6).
» Illinois has 11 rushing plays of 30+ yards, tied for fourth-most in FBS, and seven of 40+ yards, tied for third-most in FBS. In all of 2017 (12 games), the Illini had five and two, respectively.
» Running backs Reggie Corbin (7.4 ypc) and Mike Epstein (6.8 ypc) rank 1-2 in the Big Ten in yards per carry. Corbin ranks sixth in FBS while Epstein is 11th.
• Breaking Up Is (Not) Hard To Do: Illinois ranks 13th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in passes defended per game (6.33). The Illini have 38 passes defended on the year (27 PBUs and 11 interceptions).
» The Illini defensive line has racked up 11 pass breakups in the first six games, led by sophomore DE Bobby Roundtree, who is tied for the FBS lead in PBUs by a defensive lineman (5) with ECU's Kendall Futrell.
• Well Isn't That Special: Special teams has been a big plus for the Illini, with senior PK Chase McLaughlin leading the nation in 50+ field goals (3, tied with four others) and ranking second in 40+ field goals (7) and sophomore P Blake Hayes leading Big Ten and ranking 15th in FBS in punting average (45.1 ypp).
• Homegrown OLine: The starting offensive line consists of all players from Illinois. The group of senior Nick Allegretti (Frankford, Ill.), redshirt freshman Kendrick Green (Peoria, Ill.), sophomore Doug Kramer (Hinsdale, Ill.), sophomore Vederian Lowe (Rockford, Ill.) and sophomore Alex Palczewski (Mount Prospect, Ill.) have started all six games and have played a majority of the snaps together, paving the way for Illinois' potent rushing attack.
• Youth Served: Illinois once against has one of the youngest teams in the nation with freshmen getting action all over the field.
» Totals of 8 seniors and 24 total upperclassmen on this year's roster are both the fewest in the nation
» With 79 underclassmen – 39 sophomores and 40 freshmen (31 true and 9 RS) – out of 103 players, the Illini roster has the highest percentage of underclassman in the nation – 76.7 percent
» The Illini have played 17 true freshmen this season, including six that have earned starts
» Illinois' true freshmen have combined for 19 starts, tied for the sixth-most in a season in Illinois history.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The revamped Illinois offense, directed by new offensive coordinator Rod Smith, has made huge improvements in 2018. The Illini have made huge jumps in the national rankings from 2017 to 2018 in several key offensive categories, including 100+ jumps in rushing offense (+100) and turnovers lost (+110).
| ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | 2017 (Final Nat'l Rk) | 2018 (Current Nat'l Rk) | Difference |
| Turnovers Lost (total) | 26 (115) | 5 (5) | +110 |
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 105.6 (122) | 228.8 (22) | +100 |
| Rushes of 40+ Yards | 2 (95) | 7 (3) | +92 |
| Scrim. Plays of 40+ Yards | 8 (114) | 9 (28) | +86 |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 280.4 (126) | 382.4 (87) | +39 |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 15.4 (126) | 25.5 (92) | +34 |
| First Downs (per game) | 14.5 (125) | 20.0 (91) | +34 |
THE ILLINOIS-WISCONSIN SERIES
• Saturday marks the 85th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers.
• Wisconsin holds a 41-36-7 edge in the all-time series and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. Illinois' lone victory in that stretch was a 31-26 win over the fifth-ranked Badgers in Champaign in 2007.
• Illinois is 16-22-4 all-time against Wisconsin in Madison, with the last win coming in 2002 (37-20). Since the Badgers have won six straight at home against the Illini.
• Illinois is 1-9 all-time against Wisconsin teams ranked in the AP Poll.
• Last season, No. 5 Wisconsin spoiled Illinois' Homecoming with a 24-10 win in Champaign. Illinois held Wisconsin to 303 total yards (168 rushing yards, 135 passing yards).
• 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.
• Lovie Smith vs. Wisconsin: 0-2; Paul Chryst vs. Illinois: 3-0
SUPERLATIVES AGAINST THE BADGERS
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. UW: 167 D. Williams 10/6/1984, 154 T. Brewster 10/23/1982, 142 O. Williams 10/24/1981
• Illinois' most rush yards vs. UW: 239 J. Grabowski 11/14/1964, 196 Grabowski 11/13/1965, 160 R. Mendenhall 10/6/2007
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. UW: 479 T. Eason 10/23/1982, 401 K. Kittner 10/20/2001, 357 T. Eason 10/24/1981
• Illinois' longest rush vs. UW: 73 J. Wilson 11/13/1971, 69 B. Brown 11/14/1959, 64 K. Jones 10/15/1988
• Illinois' longest pass vs. UW: 86 Eason to O. Williams 10/24/1981
• Last 100-yard receiving game vs. UW: Steve Hull, 105, 10/19/2013
• Last 100-yard rushing game vs. UW: Rashard Mendenhall, 160, 10/6/2007
• Last 300-yard passing game vs. UW: Jon Beutjer, 319, 11/9/2002
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.
• Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2001-03 when Wisconsin outside linebackers coach Bobby April's father, Bobby April, was the Rams special teams coordinator.
• 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.
