CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - James McCourt's 39-yard field goal as time expired gave Illinois its first lead of the game and No. 6 Wisconsin its first loss of the 2019 season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The win was the Illini's first over a ranked opponent since 2011, and the Badgers were the highest-ranked team the Illini had defeated since 2007.
The right-footed junior capped a nine-play final drive that started with junior cornerback Tony Adams' interception with 2:32 left in regulation.
Turnovers Set Up Scores
Junior linebacker Jake Hansen forced two Badger fumbles Saturday, bringing his total for the season to seven. Hansen entered the game leading the nation with 0.83 forced fumbles per game. Each fumble recovered led to an Illini touchdown.
Adams set up the final Illinois drive of the game with an interception. The Illini improved to plus-seven in turnover margin on the season.
Navarro Snaps Scoreless Streak
The Illini's first score of the game came on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters to Donny Navarro. The score was the first of the Valparaiso transfer's Illinois career and his longest reception of the season.
Navarro's touchdown snapped a scoreless streak of 148:17 of game time by Wisconsin's defense, dating back to September 28.
Keeping It Close
Josh Imatorbhebhe caught a touchdown pass from 29 yards out with 5:53 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Wisconsin lead to 23-21. Imatorbhebhe's score was the result of a Brandon Peters scramble and throw on second and four. The transfer from Southern California entered the game with a Big Ten-leading five touchdown catches on the season.
The score capped a four-play, 75-yard drive that originated with an Isaiah Gay fumble recovery.
Team Notes
• Illinois' win over Wisconsin was the largest upset over a ranked team in Big Ten history (30.5-point underdog, via ESPN).
• Illinois was a 29.5-point underdog (via OddsShark), completing the biggest underdog win in Illinois history.
• Illinois won as a two-touchdown underdog at Memorial Stadium for the first time since beating Indiana (+14), 31-16, on Nov. 7, 1998.
• Illinois had the most points (24), takeaways (3), rushing yards (141), passing touchdowns (2, tied), rushing touchdowns (1, tied), yards per carry (4.0), and the longest rush (43, Corbin) against Wisconsin this season.
• Illinois' 24 points were the most allowed by Wisconsin this season. UW had allowed only 29 points in its first six games of 2019.
• Illinois had 17 first downs on 56 plays (30.4% first down rate). Wisconsin had allowed first downs on just 15.5% of plays this season, the best in FBS.
• Today's win marked the Illini's first win over a top-10 ranked team since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on 11/10/2007.
• Illinois is 2-10 all-time against Wisconsin teams ranked in the AP Poll. Illinois beat No. 5 Wisconsin, 31-26, on 10/6/2007.
• Illinois snapped a streak of 24 straight losses to AP ranked opponents. Illinois' last win over an AP ranked team was Sept. 17, 2011, over No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14.
• Illinois was the first team to lead the Badgers at any point this season. The only lead of the game for the Illini came with 0:00 on the clock.
• Illinois was the first team to score a touchdown in the first half against Wisconsin this season. Wisconsin had allowed only three first-half points in the first six games.
• Illinois' touchdown in the second quarter (Peters to Navarro) were the first points allowed by Wisconsin in 148:17 of game time. Wisconsin had shut out their previous two opponents (Kent State and Michigan State).
• Two fighter jets presented a flyover pregame. The jets arrived from Peoria at Memorial Stadium going approximately 400 miles per hour.
• Illinois started five transfers - QB Brandon Peters, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, OL Richie Petitbon, DL Oluwole Betiku Jr., LB Milo Eifler
• Illinois captains: LB Dele Harding, LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, OL Doug Kramer, OL Alex Palczewski
Individual Notes
• Junior K James McCourt's 39-yard field goal won the game for Illinois with 0:00 on the clock.
• Senior RB Reggie Corbin ran 17 times for 83 yards and one touchdown. Corbin passed John Karras (1949-51) and Chubby Phillips (1973-76) on Illinois' all-time career rushing yardage list. Corbin's 43-yard touchdown run is the longest rush allowed by Wisconsin this season (Four of Wisconsin's first six opponents totaled fewer than 43 rushing yards in their games against the Badgers).
• Junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe had two receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown.
• Sophomore WR Donny Navarro had a 48-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, his first touchdown as an Illini.
• Junior LB Jake Hansen had two forced fumbles to add to his national-leading total of seven for the season. Hansen's seven forced fumbles are second-most in an Illinois single season (Whitney Mercilus, 9, 2011) and tied for the third-most in Big Ten single-season history. Hansen currently has 1.00 forced fumbles per game (7 FF, 7 games) and the NCAA record (since 2000) for forced fumbles per game is 0.83 by Louisville's Elvis Dumervil in 2005 (10 FF, 12 games).
• Senior LB Dele Harding had a game-high 16 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one fumble recovery.
• Senior DT Tymir Oliver tied a career-high with seven tackles.
• Junior CB Tony Adams, who started at corner for the first time this season, had the interception on Wisconsin's final drive to set up McCourt's game-winning field goal. It was just the third turnover of the season for Wisconsin QB Jack Coan and Coan's second of the game (Hansen forced fumble).
• Junior DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. had his eighth sack of the season. He left the game in the second quarter with an injury and did not return.
• Junior RT Alex Palczewski started for the 30th straight game.
• Junior C Doug Kramer started for the 22nd straight game.
• Junior LT Vederian Lowe started for the 20th straight game.
• Sophomore LG Kendrick Green started for the 19th straight game.
• Junior WR Ricky Smalling was injured on the first play of the game and did not return.
