Illinois realizes that stopping a two-game losing streak amounts to corralling opponents more effectively.
The Fighting Illini are yielding an average of 39.6 points per game in Big Ten play entering Saturday afternoon’s matchup against Rutgers in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois (5-3, 2-3) has hovered around that average in successive losses to No. 1 Ohio State and Washington, allowing 76 combined points while continuing habits that defensive coordinator Aaron Henry deemed “unacceptable.”
“Our players, our staff, we’re going to continue to work tirelessly to get the product that you guys expect and we expect on the field,” Henry said. “We know what it’s like to play really good defense around here, and we’ve just got to get back to that brand of football.”
Illinois was ranked No. 23 and still harboring an outside chance for a College Football Playoff berth before traveling to Washington, where the Illini defense allowed 449 total yards in a 42-25 loss. The unit produced no sacks, although defensive back Miles Scott had one tackle for loss and defensive linemen Pat Farrell and Angelo McCullom each recorded one-half.
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer passed for two touchdowns but has thrown three interceptions during his team’s two-game skid.
Limiting Rutgers counterpart Athan Kaliakmanis will be a focus for Illinois. Kaliakmanis helped the Scarlet Knights (4-4, 1-4) earn their first Big Ten win of the season last week, passing for 359 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another score at Purdue.
Jai Patel kicked a 30-yard field goal as time expired to clinch a 27-24 victory.
Rutgers also stood out on the ground, with Antwan Raymond carrying 29 times for 116 yards and a score. While the Scarlet Knights showed power formations more often than in recent weeks, coach Greg Schiano said he doesn’t expect a drastic shift to the running game in November.
“We believe in execution, and that’s what we’re gonna do,” Schiano said. “So there may be a couple of wrinkles here and there, but nothing that I think will be earth-shattering. We’re not going to the triple (option) or anything like that, OK?”
