CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Coming off its first and only bye week of the season, Illinois is set to play the first game of a four-game stretch to close the regular season on Saturday. The Fighting Illini travel to Minneapolis in search of their third consecutive win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
After beating Minnesota on the road in 2021 in what was the program's first-ever victory over an opponent ranked in the College Football Playoff top 25, the Orange and Blue took down the Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium on Homecoming last season. Looking for their first three-game win streak against Saturday's hosts since the 1993-95 seasons, Illinois needs to get back on track as it fights to earn back-to-back bowl berths for the first time in over a decade.
"A bye week always brings a lot of perspective and a lot of analysis, so we are into this game week against Minnesota, a team that obviously has played really well as of late. They have played well all year long, to come out with another win on Saturday to put themselves in the front of the Big Ten West race," said head coach Bret Bielema. "This game is really about Illinois and Minnesota. I know that is where our guys are going to take it. We are into a four-week window, and we are going to take it one week at a time. Regardless of where we are at, to have this four-week window is truly a blessing."
Minnesota enters the contest with a 5-3 record and sits tied atop the Big Ten West standings with a 3-2 mark against conference opponents. The Golden Gophers have lost only once at home thus far this season, a 52-10 loss to Michigan in early October, and they have accumulated the most home victories among Big Ten West teams over the last two seasons.
With the Illini recording a thrilling 27-24 victory in their last road game, at Maryland, here are a few storylines to watch leading up to Saturday afternoon's 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Illinois offense carries confidence in the run game after recent rushing improvements
The Illini totaled a season-high 223 yards on the ground against Wisconsin on Oct. 21, their most in a game since Aug. 27, 2022. Luke Altmyer led the way with 112 yards on the ground, while Kaden Feagin gained 97 yards on his 24 carries in his second consecutive start.
After calling back-to-back outings with over 125 yards on the ground as a team, Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. praised the team's offensive line for their recent improvements in establishing the ground game.
"I think they have answered the challenge in that regard. We are running the ball better," Lunney said. "I thought the last two weeks, we ran the ball pretty well in Big Ten play. We are going to have to do it again this week. These guys are really stingy against the run. I've seen guys rise up to the challenge.
"I think the guys took a direct challenge of running the football the last couple weeks and have answered that challenge. Our backs and tight ends have had a lot to do with that. It's been a group effort. That's something that as you go into November in the Big Ten, you have to be able to run the football to be able to have a chance to win games, and that is something we will have to do on Saturday."
While the Golden Gophers allowed 109 rushing yards in last week's 27-12 win over Michigan State, the Minnesota defense conceded only 11 yards on the ground against Iowa the previous week in a road win over the Hawkeyes.
Bielema announced that RB Reggie Love III, who missed the Illini's last two games, returned to practice and could potentially play on Saturday. While Illinois has found success on the ground in Love's absence, his return could prove pivotal if the Illini want to secure the road win on Saturday.
"They are very systematic as a program. I have a lot of respect for the way they play. They are not overly complicated on defense, but they are just so well-coached, so sound in their scheme, and they have good players," said Lunney on Minnesota's defensive success this season. "They play with a lot of confidence, and that creates a really good defense. That is what we are playing this week, which will be a tremendous challenge, especially going on the road."
Illinois defense brings next-man-up mentality to Minneapolis given Newton's first-half absence
After receiving Pro Football Focus' highest grade by a Big Ten defender since 2019 following Illinois' most recent contest, Jer'Zhan Newton will miss the first half of Saturday's game. Newton was ejected for targeting in the third quarter against the Badgers on Oct. 21, which comes with a one-half suspension for the subsequent game.
Despite losing the team's All-American defensive lineman for the opening 30 minutes, defensive coordinator Aaron Henry knows the guys behind Newton on the depth chart are eager to step up and produce this weekend.
"Any time you lose a talented player, I think it's massive, but that's where other players have to step up," Henry said. "Other players have been waiting for the opportunity all season, and nothing is greater than the opportunity they'll have on Saturday. I know Johnny is obviously champing at the bit. I know the guys who are behind him will be champing at the bit for that opportunity, so I think we will be more than just fine. Obviously, Johnny is a big piece. I don't want to downplay that. He's a really special, talented player, but I think we have enough guys around him at that position to at least fill that void until he returns at halftime."
The Illinois defensive front will certainly need to step up to the challenge against a Minnesota offense that ran the ball 50 times last week. The Golden Gophers lead the Big Ten in rushing attempts (339) for an average of over 40 carries per game.
Minnesota features several options who have all proven capable of producing this season. Saturday's hosts boast five players with over 100 yards on the ground, all of whom have totaled at least 50 rushing yards in a game this season. Darius Taylor leads the team with 591 yards, which ranks fifth in the conference, despite playing just five games. Taylor missed Minnesota's game last week, but the Golden Gophers continued to find success with a different option, as RB Jordan Nubin tallied 204 rushing yards in Taylor's absence.
Registering over 100 yards in seven straight games and over 200 yards on four occasions, the Minnesota run game will serve as a significant challenge for the Illinois defensive line, especially with Newton being forced to watch from the sidelines during the first half.
"They do what they do, and they are really good at it," Henry said. "Since Coach Fleck has been there, they just get better and better throughout the season. They have always run the football. It has been on display a little bit more because I think their offensive line is really, really talented. It's Big Ten football, so they try to put themselves in positions to win. They can control the clock, control the game. They play fewer snaps holistically, but they give themselves a chance at the end of the game for it to come down to the wire.
"That's just a testament to their program, a testament to those guys up front, and it's their identity. That's who they are. That's who they've always been. He's always wanted to have a really good run game, so I think Saturday will be a testament to that."
Illinois is ready to get back into the swing of things after a productive off week
Bielema's first two seasons in Champaign featured schedules with two off weeks. The Fighting Illini played during Week 0 in back-to-back campaigns in 2021 and 2022, and the Orange and Blue only have one off week this year for the first time since 2018.
The Illini used the week to rest, recover, and recruit. With injuries starting to pile up, Illinois took full advantage of the off week to get guys back to health and back on the football field.
"It was a refresh and a recharge, mentally and physically, for our players and the coaches to some degree," Lunney said. "The various things we do during bye weeks, it was all very beneficial for us."
The Orange and Blue are 3-1 after off weeks during Bielema's time at Illinois, including two wins after off weeks during the 2022 season: a 31-0 victory over Chattanooga and a 26-9 road triumph over Nebraska. The team's record-breaking nine-overtime win over #7 Penn State in 2021 also came after an off week.
With two weeks to prepare for the Golden Gophers, Bielema says it's "a very delicate balance" to avoid over-preparing for an opponent. Given the team's recent success following the off week, the Illini are eager to suit back up and begin a four-game stretch to close out the regular season.
"It is something I have taken a lot of pride in in what we do and how we do it," Bielema said, "but I think the key is being able to understand that you get a little bit of a jump, but you also can over-prepare for an opponent.
"It will be a challenging week, but it is one we are excited for."
