CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer and kicker David Olano were named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Altmyer and Olano helped lead #23 Illinois to a 34-32 win over #21 USC.
Altmyer accounted for four touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing, and 1 receiving) and 359 yards of offense in the win. He became the first player to have 300+ passing yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in a Big Ten game in at least 30 years. He was also the first Illini to have a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game since 1999 (Kurt Kittner, MicronPC.com Bowl vs. Virginia).
Altmyer engineered his national-leading sixth game-winning drive in the final minute or overtime over the last three seasons, as he led Illinois down the field to set up Olano's game-winning field goal. Olano nailed a 41-yarder as time expired to turn a 32-31 deficit into a 34-32 Illini win. Olano's kick was the third game-winning field goal in Illinois history kicked with the Illini trailing as time expired.
Olano made all six kicks in the win: two field goals (45, 41) and four extra points. This season, he is 6-for-7 on field goals, with his only miss coming because of a block on protection issues; 24-for-24 on extra points; and 29-for-31 on kickoff touchbacks.
#22 Illinois is back in action Saturday at Purdue. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
