Defense never recovers from first Michigan TD

An Illini defense that improved from 91st in the nation last season to 15th entering the game picked a bad day to lose the spark. The Wolverines piled up the yardage from that first play, when the Illini bit on play action, then the shocked Illinois defense didn't recover.

"As a defense, we don't like to give up big plays like that," safety Trulon Henry said. "It bothered us. You have to let those plays go. Once a negative happens, you have to get it out of your head."

Supinie