UFR: Why not kick the field goal?

The big question, of course, is why the Illini didn't kick the field goal on fourth and 2 at the 17 late in the fourth quarter trailing by 10. Score the three points there then try the onside kick with an opportunity to get it in the end zone at the end of the game to tie it. Or win it with a two-point conversion -- depending on what the chart says, of course. Here was the explanation from Zook. "We knew we needed two scores. (Offensive coordinator) Paul (Petrino) felt like he had a good play called, we were gonna get it, get the score." That good play called was an incomplete pass in which Nathan Scheelhaase threw a hitch when A.J. Jenkins was running a fade.

Marcus Jackson