CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Homecoming is here. Illinois takes on Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Fighting Illini look for back-to-back wins against the Badgers for the first time since the 2001-02 seasons.
Though the two sides have met every year since 2011, this weekend's contest will be the final meeting between Illinois and Wisconsin until 2025 ahead of the addition of four new institutions to the Big Ten starting next season.
The Illini enter Saturday's meeting following their first Big Ten win of the season, a 27-24 road victory over Maryland, while the Badgers travel to Champaign coming off their first conference loss of the year, a 15-6 home defeat to Iowa.
Under first-year head coach Luke Fickell, Wisconsin sits at 4-2 overall and second in the Big Ten standings, while the Orange and Blue aim to replicate their success from one season ago, a 34-10 victory over the Badgers in Madison.
As Illinois looks to win consecutive games for the first time this season and build on last weekend's success, here are three things to watch ahead of Saturday afternoon's kickoff on FS1.
Offense: Illinois builds confidence in short conversions after last weekend's success
After coming short on third and fourth downs on multiple occasions against Nebraska, the Illini made adjustments ahead of their trip to Maryland. Those alterations paid dividends, as Kaden Feagin not only converted a fourth-and-1 from the Terrapin 2, but he found the end zone to tie the game at 14 late in the second quarter.
Illinois made it a point of emphasis to avoid third-and-long situations, registering 22 first downs, which ties the team's season-high mark and signals their most against conference opponent since Nov. 5, 2022. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. says the unit's success is a big building block moving forward, especially as the Illini play of their final five games against Big Ten West foes.
"It should have a lot of ramifications in a strong way for our team," Lunney said. "We got put in that situation the week before and came up short. I felt good about the call and good about what we were about to do."
Without the team's two leading running backs, underclassmen Feagin and Aidan Laughery stepped into bigger roles, and they both made big plays when called upon. With Reggie Love III's status unknown, the Central Illinois power duo may play significant snaps once again.
"They fell forward. Obviously, Kaden did, and even Aidan was running and falling forward. That catch he made at the end of the game was huge, and the way he fell forward and fought for those extra yards, the ball security, the way that he protected the ball, they played like seasoned players," Lunney said. "They just did a great job, and our team rallied around them. I really believe that."
Feagin proved to be a reliable rusher on third-and-short situations, though the Illini will square off with a Badger defense that boasts the sixth-best third-down conversion percentage and the second-best fourth-down conversion percentage in the Big Ten.
After finding the end zone on their first drive against the Terrapins, the Illini will once again look to get off to a fast start against a Badger defense that has yet to allow a score of any kind on their opponent's opening drive through six games.
"They have some really good players and they have really good schemes," Lunney said. "They are like most of our Big Ten foes. They believe in what they do defensively. Even though it's a new coaching staff and a new scheme, there is a lot of carryover from what they have done in previous years and their personnel. They have brought some new faces in as well, but they are a big stout, strong defense that is playing really well, so there are a lot of challenges."Â
Defense: Illinois continues to embrace next-man-up mentality given injury issues
Injury issues have plagued the Illini defense all season, forcing guys to step into the spotlight and produce when called upon.
Dylan Rosiek and Kenenna Odeluga both played big roles in Illinois' win over Maryland following the absence of Tarique Barnes, who also missed the team's game against Nebraska. Odeluga has recovered a fumble in each of the last two contests, while Rosiek, who also leads the team in tackles, has a Big Ten-leading three forced fumbles.
Several guys have rotated into the lineup following Matthew Bailey's season-ending injury, all of whom have made big plays and continued to produce.
With the status of multiple starters still uncertain, defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and the Illini defense may turn to other guys once again against the Badgers.
"We try to put them in a pressure cooker," Henry said. "We try to make it so that it's really tough and really challenging for them in practice so when games come, it's easier. When your number is called, you have to be ready."
Opponent: Wisconsin offense comes ready to play despite losing starting quarterback
After losing quarterback Tanner Mordecai, the Badgers are expected to start redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke against the Illini on Saturday. Locke filled in after Mordecai left last Saturday's game at Iowa in the second quarter, registering 122 passing yards and an interception while completing 15 of his 30 pass attempts.
The Badgers feature four pass catchers with over 100 receiving yards through six games, a group led by Will Pauling, who has recorded a team-high 30 receptions for 303 yards. Chimere Dike, who led the Badgers with five receptions and 76 yards against the Illini last season, ranks second for Wisconsin with 15 catches for 272 yards.
Through six games, 15 of the Badgers' 18 offensive touchdowns have come on the ground. The Wisconsin run game is headlined by Braelon Allen, who earned second-team all-conference honors one season ago. Allen leads the team in rushing with 91 carries, 559 yards, and seven touchdowns, all of which are team-high marks. Jackson Acker has stepped into the RB2 role after Chez Mellusi suffered a season-ending injury, and he has amassed 106 rushing yards thus far this year.
With the third-best rushing offense in the Big Ten, the Badgers will head to Champaign looking to establish themselves on the ground early and often against an Illini defense that allowed just 93 rushing yards last week.
"This Wisconsin team has obviously transitioned a lot. We've had several rematch games, but with new staffs. This is another rematch game, but a totally different makeup from what we saw a year ago," Bielema said. "I'm excited to get back here in Memorial."
