Preview
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- No. 14 Illinois (7-1, 4-1) returns to Memorial Stadium for its final homestand of the season, taking on Michigan State (3-5, 1-4) on Saturday.
The Fighting Illini are ranked for the fourth week in a row following a 26-9 win at Nebraska, while the Spartans lost to in-state rival Michigan in its most recent game.
The two programs last squared off in East Lansing in 2019, a contest in which Illinois won via a 25-point comeback, though this is the first meeting in Champaign since 2016.
Illinois still features the best defense in the country, leading the nation in scoring defense, total defense, interceptions, fewest touchdowns allowed, and passing efficiency defense. Tommy DeVito ranks third in the FBS in completion percentage (72.5%), while Chase Brown remains the nation's leading rusher with 1,208 yards on the ground.
The Saturday clash will kick off at 2:30 CT in Champaign, and the game will air on Big Ten Network.
Press Conference
Notes
Illinois Setting New Expectations
- Illinois has been ranked for four straight weeks, the Illini's first time in the AP Top 25 since 2011. The Illini will be ranked in Tuesday's College Football Playoff rankings for the first time ever.
- This is the third season in the last 30 years that Illinois has cracked the AP's top 15 (2001, 2007).
- Illinois is off to a 7-1 start, tied for its best start since starting 7-0-1 in 1951. This is the fourth time Illinois has started 7-1 since the undefeated season of 1951, joining 1983, 1989 and 2001.
- Illinois is on its first six-game winning streak since the 6-0 start in 2011. The Illini are on their 15th six-game winning streak in the last 100 years and the seventh in the last 50 years.
- Illinois completed its first undefeated October since 2001 (3-0). The Illini won four games in October for the first time since 1990.
- Illinois has won five straight games against Big Ten West opponents for the first time since the Big Ten switched to East/West divisions in 2014.
- Illinois is 4-1 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2001. The Illini have already matched their Big Ten wins total from last season (4).
- Illinois is on a six-game home winning streak for the first time since 2001-02. The Illini have outscored opponents 175-43 (29.2-7.2) during the six-game home winning streak.
- Illinois' seven wins are tied for its most since 2007. The Illini finished 7-6 in 2010 and 2011.
- Bret Bielema is 12-8 in his Illinois career (8-6 Big Ten). It is the best 20-game start for an Illinois head coach since John Mackovic started 13-6-1 in the 1988-89 seasons.
- Illinois is 3-0 against teams it lost to in 2021. The Illini have avenged losses against Virginia, at Wisconsin, and against Iowa by a 67-19 margin after losing to the same three opponents by a combined 99-37 last year.
- After winning in Madison for the first time since 2002, Illinois beat Iowa for the first time since 2008. The win over Iowa snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Hawkeyes.
- Illinois beat Iowa and Wisconsin in the same season for the first time since 1989. It is the first time Illinois has beaten Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in the same year since 1983.
- The 24-point margin of victory over Wisconsin was the third-largest in an Illinois win in Madison and its biggest since 1988. It was the largest margin of victory for the Illini in a Big Ten road game since defeating Purdue by 34 points on Nov. 7, 2015.
- Bielema's four Big Ten road wins in his first two seasons are the most since Lou Tepper won five Big Ten road games in his first two seasons 1992-93.
- Illinois is 10-3 in its last 13 games dating back to Oct. 23, 2021. Illinois has the third-fewest losses in the Big Ten during that span (Michigan 2, Ohio State 1).
lllinois Defense Keeps Trending Up
- Illinois national ranks: 1st scoring defense (8.9), 1st total defense (224.5), 1st TDs allowed (6), 1st passing efficiency defense (77.9), 1st interceptions (15), 1st passing TDs allowed (3), 1st yards per pass attempt (5.0), 1st fewest red zone attempts allowed (12), 1st red zone touchdown percentage (25.0%), 1st fourth down conversions against (2), 2nd first downs allowed (95), 2nd rushing defense (75.63), 2nd rushing touchdowns allowed (2), 2nd passing defense (148.9), 2nd passes defended (60), 3rd takeaways (20), 4th third down defense (25.5%), 4th fourth down defense (22.2%), 4th third down conversions against (28), 5th yards per rush (2.73), 6th red zone defense (66.7%), 6th TFL yards (279), 7th sack yards (184), 14th sacks (25.0)
- Illinois' defense is ranked 1st in the nation by ESPN's SP+ metric and 7th by PFF.
- No team has gained 100+ yards rushing and 100+ yards passing in the same game against Illinois. Wyoming and Minnesota are the only two teams to run the ball for 100+ yards against Illinois, and they threw for 30 and 38 yards, respectively.
More on the Illinois Defense
- Illinois' pass coverage is ranked third in the nation and its run defense is ranked ninth by PFF.
- Illinois has held six straight opponents to 14 points or fewer, the longest streak since 1989.
- Illinois was the last school in the nation to allow a touchdown at home this season (Minnesota).
- Illinois has allowed only six touchdowns on 102 opponent drives and only four in the last 76 drives. The Illini lead the nation in fewest touchdowns allowed. Indiana is the only opponent to score points on back-to-back drives against Illinois this season.
- Illinois has at least one interception in all eight games this season and has an interception in 11 straight games dating back to last season. Seven different Illini have an INT this season.
- During Illinois' seven wins, opponents have a third down conversion rate of 19.8% (18-91).
- 11 different Illini have a sack this season, tied for the eighth-most in the nation.
- Illinois has allowed only 17 second half points and only seven points in fourth quarters, the lowest figures in the nation. The Illini are outscoring opponents 83-17 in the second half.
- Illinois held Wisconsin to just two yards rushing, the fewest yards the Badgers have rushed for at home since being held to 12 yards on Nov. 3, 2007, vs. Ohio State.
- Illinois did not allow a touchdown in nonconference play for the first time since 1921 (52-0 vs. South Dakota, 21-0 vs. DePauw), helping Illinois complete its first undefeated nonconference schedule since 2011. It was the first time Illinois played 3+ nonconference games without allowing a TD since 1917 (22-0 vs. Kansas, 44-0 vs. Oklahoma, 28-0 vs. Camp Funston).
- Illinois has allowed 50 passing yards or fewer in three games (30 vs. Wyoming, 49 vs. Chattanooga, 38 vs. Minnesota). It is the first time since at least 2000 Illinois has held three opponents under 50 passing yards.
- Kendall Smith is tied for sixth in the nation in interceptions (4) and second in the Big Ten. Illinois free safeties have nine interceptions in the last 18 games, with Kerby Joseph - a third round pick of the Detroit Lions - having five interceptions in the final 10 games of last season and Smith having four interceptions in the first eight games this season.
- Johnny Newton (39) and Seth Coleman (31) have 70 combined pressures, tied for the most of any teammates in the nation, according to PFF (Washington's Bralen Trice and Jeremiah Martin).
Spoon - Thorpe Award Semifinalist
- Devon Witherspoon is one of 12 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back. Witherspoon is the fourth Illini in history to be a Thorpe semifinalist, joining Henry Jones (1990), Eugene Wilson (2002), and Vontae Davis (2007, 2008)
- Witherspoon is the highest graded cornerback in the nation by PFF. He has the best coverage grade in the nation and leads the nation in forced incompletions (13) and reception percentage against (29.8, min. 200 coverage snaps). Spoon is third in the nation in NFL passer rating against by PFF (30.7) and fourth in the nation in passes defended (12).
- Devon Witherspoon and Jartavius Martin are both tied for fourth in the nation in passes defended (12). Illinois is the only team with two players in the top five.Â
The Law Firm
- Defensive linemen Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., who go by the nickname "The Law Firm," have been one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation to date.
- Johnny Newton is the fourth-highest graded defender in the nation by PFF and No. 1 in Power-5. Newton leads the nation in QB hits (15) and ranks fourth in the nation in pressures (39).
- Newton and Randolph's combined 58 pressures are the most in the country among any interior defensive line tandem. Newton has 39 QB pressures and Randolph has 19.
- Newton leads the Illini in tackles with 39, while Randolph ranks fourth with 34.
- Newton leads the Illini in sacks with 5.0, while Randolph is tied for second with 4.0.
- Newton and Randolph both have 8.0 TFLs to tie for the team lead.Â
Time of Possession
- Illinois is third in the nation and second the Big Ten in time of possession (35:15).
- Illinois has held the ball for 10+ minutes of the fourth quarter in seven of its eight games. During the Iowa game, Illinois held the ball for 8:19 in the fourth quarter.
- Illinois doubled up Minnesota in time of possession, 40:04 to 19:56, after Minnesota came to Memorial Stadium as the national leader in time of possession, averaging 37:58 per game.
Chase Brown: Chasing History |Â FightingIllini.com/Chase Brown
- Chase Brown is the nation's leading rusher with 1,208 yards.
- Brown was the first running back in the nation to 1,000 yards and tied the Illinois record for the fastest to 1,000 when he eclipsed the mark in just seven games (tied J.C. Caroline, 1953).
- Illinois launched a campaign website for Brown on Oct. 19 to promote Brown's candidacy for national awards. The site launched at FightingIllini.com/ChaseBrown.
- Brown is only the fourth Power-5 running back since 2000 to rush for 100+ yards in his first eight games while leading his team to a 7-1 record or better. The others are Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State, 2015), Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma, 2004), and JJ Arrington (Cal, 2004)
- Brown leads in the nation in rushes of 10+ yards (36) and 100-yard games (8).
- Brown ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards (1,328) without having return duties.
- Brown is second in the nation in yards after contact (707) and forced missed tackles (60), according to PFF.
- Brown's 57 first down runs are fifth in the nation, according to PFF.
- Brown leads the nation in rushing attempts per game (28.0).
- Brown has rushed for 100+ yards in an Illinois record nine straight games.
- Brown is the only player in the nation to rush for 100+ in his last nine team games.
- Brown's streak of nine straight 100-yard games is the second longest active streak in the nation, behind only Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim (15), who missed most of the 2021 season.
- Brown is the first Illini in history to rush for 100+ yards in the first eight games of a season.
- Brown is the first Big Ten player to record 100+ rushing yards in each of his first eight games of a season since Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott in 2015.
- Brown had his 14th career 100-yard game against Nebraska. Only Robert Holcombe (16 from 1994-97) has more in Illinois history.
- Brown was the first player in program history to rush for 140+ yards in the first three games of a season. He went for 146 yards on 20 carries against Virginia, had 199 yards on 36 careers at Indiana, and 151 yards on 19 carries against Wyoming in Week 0.
- Brown joined an elite group to reach 1,000 yards in two seasons for Illinois. Only legends Jim Grabowski and Robert Holcombe reached 1,000 yards rushing in two seasons before Brown.
- Brown has 2,771 rushing yards for his career at Illinois, No. 5 on Illinois' career rushing list.
- Brown also tallied 352 yards as a freshman at Western Michigan for 3,123 for his career, good for No. 8 on the NCAA's active career leaders list.
- Brown was the 13th and 14th 1,000-yard rusher coached by Bielema in his 13-year head coaching career.
- Brown's 223-yard rushing game at Penn State last season marked his second game of 2021 with 200+ yards (257 vs. Charlotte). He joined Howard Griffith (1990) and Rashard Mendenhall (2007) as the only players in Illinois history with multiple 200-yard rushing games in a single season. Brown nearly became the first Illini running back to rush for 200 yards on three occasions, falling one yard short at Indiana this year.
- Brown's 223 rushing yards at Penn State last year were the most ever by an opponent at Beaver Stadium and the fourth-most ever against Penn State.
- Brown was the first Illini in history to run for 220+ yards twice in a career. He did it in the span of three games during the 2021 season (vs. Charlotte, at Penn State).
Offense Making Strides
- Illinois is the only team in the nation with two wins over teams in the top 10 of total defense (Iowa, Minnesota).
- Illinois has won three games over top defenses. Iowa (No. 5), Minnesota (No. 7), and Wisconsin (No. 34) all rank in the nation's top 35 for total defense.
- Illinois is averaging 26.0 points per game, a 5.8 points per game improvement over last year.
- Illinois has improved 79.8 yards/game from 2021.
- Illinois is 27th in the nation in rushing (197.6), an improvement of 24 spots in the national rankings year-over-year.
- Illinois is 62nd in the nation in total offense (409.8), an improvement of 50 spots in the national rankings year-over-year.
- Â Illinois is 49th in the nation in passing efficiency (144.3), an improvement of 72 spots in the national rankings year-over-year.
Tommy DeVito Passing Efficient
- Illinois is the most improved passing team in the nation thanks to transfer QB Tommy DeVito.
- DeVito ranks third in the nation in completion percentage (72.5%).
- DeVito's 150.2 passer rating ranks sixth in the Big Ten and is on pace to break the Illinois record of 141.6 set by Wes Lunt in 2014.
- Illinois leads the nation in team completion percentage (72.1%), a 20.9% improvement of last year's completion percentage (51.2%) and a jump of 124 spots in the national rankings.
- DeVito's .909 completion percentage at Nebraska broke the Illinois record (min. 20 attempts) previously held by Reilly O'Toole (.839 [26-31] vs. Charleston Southern, 9/15/2012). It also set the stadium record at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium.
#1 from QB to WR
- Former quarterback Isaiah Williams has been Illinois' leading receiver over the last two seasons, his first two seasons playing wide receiver in his life.
- Williams set career highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (112) at Indiana. He has tied his career-high nine receptions on two more occassions this season (Chattanooga, Nebraska).
- Williams is sixth in the nation in yards after catch (404) according to PFF.
- Williams has at least one catch in all 20 games of the last two seasons.
- Williams ranks 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0).
- Last season, Williams was third in the nation among Power-5 freshmen in receptions (47), behind only Texas' Xavier Worthy (62) and Georgia's Brock Bowers (56).
Sixth-Year Palczewski
- Alex Palczewski is the NCAA's active leader in career starts with 60 and is five away from tying the NCAA record set by App State WR Thomas Hennigan from 2017-21.
- Palczewski is the active leader in snaps, according to PFF.
- Palczewski has started every game for the Illini in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The only games he has not started were one as a true freshman in 2017 and four after a knee injury in 2020.
- Palczewski is the first 6-year starter in college sports history (min. 50% starts of team games).
- Palczewski is the No. 13 graded tackle in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten according to PFF (min. 400 snaps) this season.
- Palczewski has gone 528 consecutive pass blocking snaps without allowing a sack. He has not allowed a sack this season.
- Palczewski will be only the second Illini in history to captain two bowl teams, as he was also a captain for Illinois' 2019 Redbox Bowl appearance. Moe Gardner, who was selected for College Football Hall of Fame induction this year, captained Illinois bowl teams in 1989 and 1990.
