Illini Travel to Iowa For Final Regular-Season Road Trip

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Winners of three of their last four games, the Fighting Illini football team hits the road for a matchup with the Big Ten West-leading Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. Illinois and Iowa are set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

Illinois' (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) last two games have featured incredible performances from backup QB John Paddock, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. After starter Luke Altmyer left the game at Minnesota with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, Paddock has gone 27-for-39 passing for 592 yards and five touchdown passes - including two game-winning touchdown passes - in Illinois' wins against Minnesota and Indiana. 

Iowa (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten), also winners of back-to-back games, has clinched at least a share of the Big Ten West title and can clinch a trip to Indianapolis by winning one of its remaining two games against Illinois (Nov. 18) or Nebraska (Nov. 24). The Hawkeyes defense has been one of the best in the nation, ranking third in the nation in scoring defense and in the top 10 in nearly every significant defensive category. 

Adam Alexander and Devin Gardner have the nationally televised call on FS1. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.

Press Conference

Notes

Final Regular-Season Road Trip Up Next for Illinois
• Winners of three of their last four games, the Fighting Illini travel to Iowa looking to clinch bowl eligibility against the Hawkeyes, which have already clinched at least a share of the Big Ten West.
• Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will make his first trip to his alma mater, Iowa, as Illinois' head coach. Bielema missed the 2021 game due to COVID protocols. Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach George McDonald filled in for Bielema in Iowa City.
• Bielema secured his seventh Big Ten road win in his first three seasons as Illinois' head coach with the victory at Minnesota. His seven Big Ten road wins are tied for the third-most by a head coach in Illinois history through their first three seasons. Only John Mackovic (9, 1988-90) and Lou Tepper (8, 1992-94) won more Big Ten road games in their first three seasons at Illinois than Bielema.
• Bielema's 12 Big Ten wins through his first three seasons at Illinois are the most since Lou Tepper won 13 in his first three seasons from 1992-94. Bielema has the fourth-most Big Ten wins through three seasons among the Illini's 13 head coaches in modern history (post-1940).
• Illinois is one win away from bowl eligibility. If the Illini win one more game this season, they will qualify for bowls in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11.
• Illinois has won 3+ Big Ten games in each of Bret Bielema's first three seasons as head coach. It is the first time Illinois has won 3+ Big Ten games in three straight seasons since 1992-94.

Paddock Has the Illini on the Brink of Bowl Eligibility
• Illinois' last two games have featured incredible performances from backup QB John Paddock. After starter Luke Altmyer left the game at Minnesota with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, Paddock has gone 27-for-39 passing for 592 yards and five touchdown passes - including two game-winning touchdown passes - in Illinois' wins against Minnesota and Indiana. 
• In his first start at Illinois, Paddock threw for 507 yards on 24-for-36 passing last week against Indiana in one of the greatest passing performances in Illinois history. He set the Illini's Memorial Stadium record for passing yards, plus had the second-most passing yards in Illinois history. For his efforts, Paddock was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
• In Illinois' last road game, the Illini had a thrilling 27-26 victory at Minnesota two weeks ago. After Altmyer was injured, Paddock entered the game for the first time with 1:25 remaining facing a 4th-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with Illinois trailing by five. He needed just 35 seconds to drive the Illini 85 yards on three straight completions, including a 46-yard game-winning touchdown throw to Isaiah Williams, who also caught the 22-yard pickup on fourth down to keep Illinois alive. Paddock finished 3-for-3 passing for 85 yards, one touchdown, and a 448.0 passer rating in one of the all-time great performances by an Illini back-up quarterback. 
• Paddock threw for 85 yards on Illinois' final drive at Minnesota, despite only playing 35 seconds. He completed passes of 22 yards, 17 yards, and 46 yards in succession to Isaiah Williams, Pat Bryant, and Isaiah Williams again on the game-winning touchdown.
• Paddock averaged 28.3 yards per attempt while going 3-for-3 passing at Minnesota. Prior to Paddock, Big Ten quarterbacks coming off the bench had averaged 5.28 yards per attempt (111-for-205 passing for 1,082 yards) when coming off the bench in Big Ten games over 35 appearances this season.

Four Final-Minute/OT Wins
• Four of Illinois' five wins this season have come in the final minute or overtime. Caleb Griffin has game-winning field goals to beat Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00), and Isaiah Williams has game-winning touchdown receptions from John Paddock at Minnesota (0:50) and against Indiana (OT) in each of the last two weeks.
• Illinois opened its 2023 campaign in dramatic fashion, using a 29-yard K Caleb Griffin field goal with five seconds left to take down Toledo, 30-28, at Memorial Stadium during Week 1.
• Altmyer led his second game-winning drive of the season and Griffin drilled his second last-second game-winning field goal to give Illinois a 27-24 upset victory at Maryland (10/14/23).
• Griffin's 43-yard game-winner at Maryland made him the first kicker to have two game-winning field goals (final minute) in a single season in Illinois history.
• Casey Washington has two game-changing catches in the final drive of wins. He had a 33-yard fourth-down catch during Illinois' final drive to beat Toledo, then had a 29-yard catch during Illinois' final drive at Maryland, both setting up Griffin's game-winning field goals. 

The Big Ten West Race
• Iowa has clinched at least a share of the Big Ten West title and can clinch a trip to Indianapolis by winning one of its remaining two games against Illinois (Nov. 18) or Nebraska (Nov. 24). 
• Despite starting the season with a 1-4 Big Ten record, Illinois has battled back into the Big Ten West race by winning its last two games. Illinois would need to win its final two games and Iowa to lose to Nebraska (Nov. 24) for the Illini to have a shot at a trip to Indianapolis. Even with those results, Illinois would still need help, as five Big Ten West teams are currently tied for second place at 3-4, behind the leader Iowa at 5-2. 

Offensive Explosion vs. Indiana
• Illinois scored 48 points against Indiana, the Illini's most points since scoring 55 vs. Minnesota on Nov. 3, 2018. Illinois also had 662 yards on offense, the first time going over 600 yards since the 2018 Minnesota game.
• Illinois' 662 yards of offense against Indiana are the most by any Big Ten team this season. Illinois is the only Big Ten team to eclipse the 600-yard mark on offense this season.
• Illinois' 507 passing yards against Indiana are the most by a Big Ten team this season.
• Illinois averaged 21.1 yards per reception, the highest mark by a Big Ten team this season and nearly an NCAA record. BYU set the NCAA record of 22.9 yards per completion with John Walsh at quarterback vs. Utah State on Oct. 30, 1993 (27 completions for 619 yards).

The Law Firm of Newton and Randolph
• Defensive tackles Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., who go by the nickname "The Law Firm," are one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation over the last two seasons.
• Newton was named to this year's AP Midseason All-American First Team. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn Consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last season. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus All-Americans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.
• Newton is the national leader in QB pressures among interior defenders with 39, according to PFF. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by 16 pressures with the next closest being Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. (23).
• Newton has been one of the most durable interior defenders in the nation, as he leads all Power-5 defensive tackles in snaps played with 611 (61.1 per game). Newton has played 58 more snaps than any other Power-5 interior defensive lineman and 94 more than any Big Ten defensive tackle.
• Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had seven pressures against Wisconsin, the fourth-most by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and six pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 94.3 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.
• Newton is tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks, along with Pitt LB Rasheem Biles. All three of Newton's blocks have come in Big Ten games, a field-goal attempt vs. Penn State (9/16/23), an extra point at Purdue (9/30/23), and another extra point vs. Indiana (11/11/23).
• Randolph is third in the nation in tackles per game among Power-5 defensive tackles with 5.1, behind only UCF's Lee Hunter (5.7) and Notre Dame's Howard Cross III (5.4).
• Both Newton and Randolph were named Preseason All-Americans by multiple outlets prior to the start of the 2023 season. Newton was Illinois' first-ever Preseason AP All-American.
• Newton led the nation in QB hits (19) and ranked sixth in the nation in pressures (54) in 2022.
• The Law Firm led the nation in TFLs (27.0) and QB pressures (81) among D-line duos in 2022.
• Newton and Randolph were second and third in the Big Ten in TFLs (14.0, 13.0) and ranked first and second among interior defensive linemen in 2022.
• Newton tied Pitt's Calijah Kancey (14.0) for the most TFLs by any Power-5 interior defensive linemen in 2022, and Randolph was third (13.0). Kancey was the ACC Def. Player of the Year.

#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
• Isaiah Williams leads the Big Ten in receptions with 68, nine ahead of Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., who ranks second with 59. Williams' 68 catches ranks 13th in the nation.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 893, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 1,063 receiving yards. Williams' 893 yards ranks 16th in the nation.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in first-down receptions with 39, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 44 first-down receptions. Williams' 39 first-down receptions ranks 14th in the nation.
• Williams leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the nation in yards after catch with 474, according to PFF.
• Williams is the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime and he did it in back-to-back games. He caught the game-winner with 50 seconds left to win at Minnesota, then had a walk-off winner to beat Indiana one week later.
• Williams has at least one catch in all 35 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 24 straight games.
• Williams has broken his career high in receiving yards in each of the last two games, while also tying his career high in touchdowns with two in back-to-back games. He had a career-best 131 receiving yards at Minnesota (11/4/23), then shattered that mark with 200 receiving yards against Indiana (11/11/23).
• Williams had the game-winning 46-yard TD catch at Minnesota with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Illinois trailing by five points, after also keeping the Illini alive earlier in the drive with a 22-yard reception on 4th-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with 1:25 remaining. Then, he had a 21-yard walk-off winner in overtime to beat Indiana last week.
• Williams' 200 receiving yards against Indiana are the second-most by a player in a Big Ten game this season, behind only Northwestern's Bryce Kirtz's 215 receiving yards against Minnesota (9/23/23). Williams' is among 15 players in the nation to have a 200-yard receiving game in a single game this season.
• Williams' 13 receptions at Minnesota are the most by a Big Ten player this season and tied for the fifth-most by any FBS player in 2023. The 13 receptions are tied for the second-most in a single game in Illinois history and the most by an Illini in 35 years.
• Williams is No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 200. In the Illinois record book, Williams trails only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85).
• Williams has 2,142 career receiving yards, eighth all-time in Illinois history. 
• Williams is the Power-5 active leader in receptions among players who have eligibility remaining.

Discher Leading Top-Ranked Special Teams
• Illinois leads the nation in blocked kicks (5) under first-year coordinator Robby Discher.
• PFF ranks Illinois' overall special teams unit at #8 in the nation. Iowa's unit is rated #3.
• All-American Johnny Newton has three blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue, vs. Indiana), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). Iowa (3) is the only other Big Ten team with more than two blocked kicks/punts.
• Illinois and Iowa are two of only 14 teams in the nation with 2+ blocked punts.
• Illinois' kick coverage unit forced and recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at Minnesota.
• K Caleb Griffin is the first Illini kicker to have two game-winning field goals in a single season. His 43-yard winner at Maryland was the second walk-off field goal on the road in Illinois history, along with Mike Bass' 46-yard winner as time expired at Wisconsin in 1982.
• Griffin hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half at Purdue, his career long. It was the 6th-longest in program history and the longest ever by an Illini in a road game.
• P Hugh Robertson's average is up to 42.7 yards/punt, 2.7 better than last season. 

The Illinois-Iowa Series
• Saturday will be the 79th meeting between the Illini and Hawkeyes in a series that dates back to 1899.
• Illinois and Iowa did not play a game from 1953-1966 because of a fight following the 1952 game.
• Illinois leads the all-time series 39-37-2, but trails 18-20-2 in Iowa City. 
• Last season, Illinois took down Iowa, 9-6, at Memorial Stadium, the program's first win over the Hawkeyes since 2008. Illini kicker Fabrizio Pinton went 3/3 on field-goal attempts, with his 36-yard field goal with 2:49 left the difference-maker. Illinois outgained Iowa by nearly 90 yards -- 121 to 32 -- in the fourth quarter, holding the Hawkeyes to zero third-down conversions and forcing one turnover in the final frame to seal the win. Chase Brown extended his 100-yard rushing streak to seven games, recording 146 yards on 31 carries. The Illini offense notched 316 total yards of offense -- 200 on the ground and 116 through the air -- in the win
• In Illinois' last trip to Iowa City in 2021, Illinois led 10-0 before falling 33-23. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema could not make the return trip to his alma mater due to being isolated in COVID protocols. 
• Al Brosky started one of the most impressive streaks in college football history when he intercepted a pass Nov. 11, 1950 against Iowa. That was the first of Brosky's NCAA record 15 consecutive games with an interception.
• Shawn Wax tied a program record with three touchdown receptions vs. Iowa 11/3/1990. 
• Dike Eddleman set an Illinois record with an 88-yard punt vs. Iowa 11/6/1948.