CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois will make its second-ever trip to Maryland, where the Fighting Illini and Terrapins meet on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT at SECU Stadium.
Saturday will be Illinois' first game on NBC during the new Big Ten television agreement, although the Illini have played on NBC before. The Illini played in the first nationally televised college football game on NBC during the 1952 Rose Bowl Game, a 40-7 Fighting Illini victory over Stanford. The Illini also played on NBC during the 1964 Rose Bowl and 1984 Rose Bowl, while NBC owned the Rose Bowl's broadcast rights from 1952-1988.
Maryland (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is led by QB Taulia Tagovailoa, who has been one of the most productive players in the nation to date. Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,660 and 14 touchdowns while adding four touchdowns on the ground.
Illinois (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) is looking for its first Big Ten win after dropping a 20-7 decision to Nebraska last Friday. The Illini defense forced three second-half turnovers to keep the team in the game, including a forced fumble and a fumble recovery by Kenenna Odeluga, who was the highest-graded linebacker in the nation during Week 6, according to PFF.
Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen will call NBC's nationally televised broadcast. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.
Press Conference
Notes
Odeluga Nation's Best Linebacker In Week 6
• Kenenna Odeluga was the top-graded linebacker in the nation (92.0) during Week 6, according to PFF.
• Odeluga totaled five tackles, 1.0 TFL, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery against Nebraska.
The Law Firm of Newton and Randolph
• Newton leads the nation in QB pressures among interior defenders with 24, according to PFF. He has four more pressures than any other interior defender in the nation and eight more than any other Big Ten interior defender.
• Among defensive linemen (both interior and edge), Newton is second in the nation in PFF's defensive stops statistic with 24. He has nine more than any other Big Ten defensive lineman, as Ohio State's Tyleik Williams is second in the league with 15.
• Randolph is third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in tackles (33) among defensive tackles. He trails only Notre Dame's Howard Cross III (42) and UCF's Lee Hunter (34).
#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
• Isaiah Williams leads the Big Ten in receptions (38), 12 more receptions than any Big Ten receiver. Williams' 38 receptions are tied for the 13th-most in the nation.
• Williams leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (503), four more than Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., who sits in second place (499). Williams' 503 yards are tied for the 23rd-most in the nation.
• Williams leads the Big Ten with 23 first-down receptions, three more than Penn State's KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who sits in second place (20). Williams' 23 first-down receptions are tied for the 12th-most in the nation.
• Williams has at least one catch in all 31 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, which is the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten behind Penn State's Dante Cephas (33) and tied for the 12th-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 20 straight games.
• Williams moved up to No. 2 in Illinois history with eight receptions against Nebraska. In the Illinois record book, Williams' 170 career receptions trail only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions from 1983-85.
• Williams has 1,752 career receiving yards, 10th all-time in Illinois history. Williams needs 53 yards to pass Malik Turner (1,804) for ninth in program history.
• Williams is the Power-5 active leader in receptions among players who have eligibility remaining.
The Illinois-Maryland Series
• Saturday's game will be the third meeting between Illinois and Maryland.
• In the last meeting with Maryland, Illinois dropped a 20-17 decision on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in Champaign. RB Josh McCray's 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter tied the game at 10 and was the first touchdown of McCray's career. McCray was the first true freshman running back to score a touchdown for Illinois since Ra'Von Bonner (at Minnesota, 10/21/2017). McCray finished the game as the Illini's leading rusher with a then-career-best 60 yards on the ground.
• Illinois will visit Maryland for the second time in program history after first visiting College Park on Oct. 27, 2018. Despite 24 second-half points, Illinois couldn't overcome a slow start and fell to Maryland, 63-33, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
• Maryland head coach Michael Locksley served as offensive coordinator at Illinois from 2005-08.
• Illinois linebacker coach Andy Buh was the defensive coordinator at Maryland from 2016-18.
• Illinois assistant strength and conditioning coach Matt Manninger worked as a strength intern at Maryland during the 2014 season
• Illinois director of recruiting operations Maya Green is a native of Germantown, Maryland.
