Illinois 31, Chattanooga 0 Postgame
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Fighting Illini offense cruises in win over outmatched FCS foe Chattanooga
The Illini had 502 total yards but more importantly zero turnovers in a blowout win over FCS Chattanooga.
- ANDERSON KIMBALL
The score put Illinois up 31 near the end of the third quarter and was a bounce-back game against an overmatched FCS opponent in Chattanooga.
After Illinois entered its bye weeks with ball security concerns — eight turnovers in two weeks — a 31-0 win over the Mocs on Thursday at Memorial Stadium was an example of the answer it's looking for.
A total of 502 yards and no turnovers on offense were signs Illinois (3-1) took care of business.
"I've seen it in practice," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. "But I really challenged our guys. Actually, on Thursdays practice I didn't like the way we kind of ended so I made the offense stay out and do extra reps, and play a little bit cleaner. And I'm glad I did because I think you saw that today in the way they executed."
Chase Brown started the scoring with a 9-yard TD run with 12:15 left in the first and the Illini led the rest of the way. Brown had 108 rushing yards and set an Illinois record as the first player to have five-straight 100-yard games.
He also passed Illini and Chicago Bears legend Red Grange on the career rushing yards leaderboard and finished the night 14th with 2,167 career rushing yards.
Brown's first was one of a couple for the Illini. The win over the Mocs meant Bielema had back-to-back wins for the first time in his tenure. With Williams and Pat Bryant both going over 100 yards, it was also the first time in program history the team had two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher in the same game.
I hope the page explodes today with positive responses to this game. It seems to me though that people love to post more when its negative. If we would have lost like we have in the past we would probably have 10 pages of complaints and heads on the chopping block! But we win 31-0 and only 3 pages! WTH loyalty! Lets go! It better be because most of us were too happy last night! Thats my excuse.
I always preface my comments with I don’t know football, but I almost wish we opened up both playbooks all the way to overload Wisconsin’s prep to make them pick and choose what they want to prep for.
the national
- the Front Range
You were better than one of the writers who thought we would win 31-28.
I can’t explain how nice it is to have a solid, well coached team to watch again. We’ve had our issues, but we are playing like a good big ten team.
We will lose some games due to special teams and a turnover or two this year, but we are finally building something.
Now, I hope some of that NIL $ will help with recruiting to really get this thing going.
We will lose some games due to special teams and a turnover or two this year, but we are finally building something.
Now, I hope some of that NIL $ will help with recruiting to really get this thing going.
Illinisteve25
- Champaign
Chattanooga did not look like the team many on here thought would give us a test and keep the game close. Not sure if it was more Illini looking good or them being over hyped. That sure was fun to watch though! Will hold off one more week before I call this defense elite as I want to see them against Wisconsin... Very impressed so far!
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
So much fun to watch - schemes are solid, players in a position to succeed and play fast.
On to Madison - would love to get another W and put BB over the 0.500 mark - for good!
#mustwatchfootball!!
On to Madison - would love to get another W and put BB over the 0.500 mark - for good!
#mustwatchfootball!!
3-1 start gives a lot of us optimism. Halfway to bowl eligible in September. What's more encouraging is we look like an actual well coached B1G team. So far a change we are looking forward to the conference schedule instead of dreading it.
We have a good shot at 6-6 or even 7-5. Nothing of course is without much anxiety as this is Illini football but we have a chance.
Can we win at home over Purdue? Yes. Iowa? Yes. Can we win at home over Minny and ScUM? Taller order but doable I think over Minny, would take a top shelf effort.
Can we win on the road at Nebby? Northwestern? Yes. Mich St? Another taller order.
So if we don't do the Amber Heard thing that IL FB has become famous for we have a real shot at being a bowl team. What a great feeling.
We have a good shot at 6-6 or even 7-5. Nothing of course is without much anxiety as this is Illini football but we have a chance.
Can we win at home over Purdue? Yes. Iowa? Yes. Can we win at home over Minny and ScUM? Taller order but doable I think over Minny, would take a top shelf effort.
Can we win on the road at Nebby? Northwestern? Yes. Mich St? Another taller order.
So if we don't do the Amber Heard thing that IL FB has become famous for we have a real shot at being a bowl team. What a great feeling.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Once their QB realized he was going to have multiple large angry individuals in his earhole on every dropback he made a business decision to get back to Tennessee alive and that was your ballgame.
Our pass rush is really something. Jacas is getting a lot of deserved plaudits, but Seth Coleman was in the backfield on every snap last night.
So glad we went to the game last night! Fun, dominant game by the Illini!
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
We're not going to win any more games by just having too much for our opponents, it's now going to be all challenges like Indiana was where we have enough to win (bar Michigan), but the differences will be made in playing clean and intelligent and excelling in situational football.
I was having this debate last with friends. Is it better to be able to spring all these new schemes on Wisky with them having no tape on them or better to give them all kinds of things to have to prep for? Going into this game I was leaning more toward the former, but now I think the latter. Not only did we give Wisky a lot to think about, but last night’s performance had to give the offense tons of confidence that they can do these things and play that way. And you have to think that Wisky has been planning much more for Saturday’s OSU matchup than us, so in some ways it is almost like a short week for them heading into our game with all they now have to worry about. And I’m sure Lunney and company still have a few aces up their sleeves. I think it also has to give our D confidence knowing what our offense is capable of.
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
Great victory.....now that the salad is done...Bring on the entree.....
These next two games......Now the big fat guys up front have to show their metal. Wisconsin and Iowa will have a different level of competition
than we've seen this year. That's where these next two games will be decided. If our D-line can be anywhere as close to as good as the first 4
games we can slow down the run and hit the QB. If our O-line can give us a little running room and keep Danny D. off his back, we have a chance
for a sweep of our big 10 neighbors to the north and west.
than we've seen this year. That's where these next two games will be decided. If our D-line can be anywhere as close to as good as the first 4
games we can slow down the run and hit the QB. If our O-line can give us a little running room and keep Danny D. off his back, we have a chance
for a sweep of our big 10 neighbors to the north and west.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
We have a great coaching staff, not only in developing players but in identifying potential in underrated players. I was at the game and I can't remember a less stressful and enjoyable experience as an Illini season ticket holder. I love how this team is developing. I am not predicting we win the BIG west, but I don't feel like we will be embarrassed by anyone. Feeling good about 6 or more wins and a bowl game for the holidays!