Yes. It felt to me like an incoming loss before kickoff. MSU was given no chance in this game. And when that happens against a team with decent talent, watch out.
Michigan State 23, Illinois 15 Postgame
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
One of the most inexplicable spreads I can recall. Sparty isn't great but they aren't bad and it was obvious the suspensions were gonna have a minimal impact, plus the weather was going to randomize, tamp down offense, and hurt Illinois more if anything.
10 would have seemed a bit ambitious, but you could justify it. 17 was insanity.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I mean, they have played pretty bad and I’m pretty sure this is by far their best win of the season.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I mean obviously we're a comfortable favorite.
But how do you get from Nebraska +7.5 to Michigan State +17? MSU is better than Nebraska by any metric you cared to look at.
Both SP+ and FEI had it as 10.5. 6.5 points is a ton.
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Illinois has a very good D, but hard to argue that some of its statistical dominance isn’t because of the West being down — or at least the West’s offenses being down. Only given up 20+ points twice and both against East teams — and the bottom two for that matter.
Not sure Illini will ever have a better QB, RB, and receiver than DeVito, Brown, and Williams...but you are right that they need some more quality depth. One great player at a position cannot carry a team at the elite level.
Everyone made jokes about this during the game including me. But the more I think about it afterwards it doesn't sit well. Of course defensive players will sometimes flop on the field to get the injury timeout. But when it happens, it is usually an isolated and spontaneous thing and tends to happen only during two-minute drill type situations. But MSU was doing it over and over, consistently, all four quarters, predictably every time that you could see they were gassed. Just blatant in-your-face cheating throughout the entire game and absolutely nothing was done about it. Did all those fake injury breaks make a difference in the final outcome? It was a one-score game, so yeah, maybe. I mean, can eight extra timeouts translate into a ten-point swing? It's not inconceivable that we might have gotten a TD and field goal out of drives where we had them on their heels until they pulled that garbage and slowed our momentum. And the worst part to me is that it seemed pretty clearly to be a premeditated strategy that they worked out beforehand as part of their game plan.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I agree, unless of course MSU has a terrible conditioning program...
In any event, it was clear as day, to this guy wearing orange colored goggles, that MSU abused the injury timeouts decorum to their advantage. Anytime we wanted to go hurry up after a big first down, somebody went down. Hard to get a rythym going or even get a busted defensive assignment for a big play.
These over the top tactics have no place in the game, and karma will eventually catch up with Tucker and Co. Problem is that it is impossible to prove intent, so I will let karma take its course. For me, the way MSU handled the last 3 minutes is worth getting fired over. Inexplicable that Illini even had a chance to mount a last minute comeback.
Take this outcome to the shredder and get ready for Purdue.
the national
- the Front Range
This feels a lot like when Illinois lost to Iowa in 2007. We had that game, even scored the winning touchdown only to have it undone by a penalty (and it was a very windy day in Iowa city). That team only gained legitimacy by beating Ohio state on the road. This 2022 Illinois team has an opportunity in a few weeks to cement thier place, they have that marquee game ahead. Just gotta beat Purdue and then let the chips fall where they may. I’m still mad about the loss but so much of the season lies ahead. Very few big ten teams can say they have cracks at Mich and (potentially) OSU to cap a really great year of football. Hey, it could happen 
the national
- the Front Range
This bears repeating. I have confidence in Bielema. He’s very good at what he does. Battles are sometimes won or lost but he’s a veteran of this sort of war. He knows what to do.
Yup, you and others have talked on here about how the stars have aligned perfectly for us this season.
We can add "playing bad football at the right time" to the list of lucky things this year.
At the beginning of the season, if we had to choose 2 conference games to lay eggs, almost all of us would have chosen MSU and IU.
6-0 vs the West sounds great to me. It would be interesting to see what kind of things we would be saying about this season of the MSU and IU losses were flipped with the Wisconsin and Iowa wins.
Don't get me wrong, losing sucks. But losing the right games sucks a lot less.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Had to turn off my phone this afternoon while sitting in a plane taxiing for takeoff in Seattle after Isaiah’s 60 yd TD reception on our second drive. Turned it back on when the plane landed in Tokyo 12 hrs later and felt sick when I read the game account.
TOs aside, offensive production has been challenging this season excepting Wisconsin. That will make beating Michigan tough, even without turnovers. Can’t take Purdue for granted either.
A 7-1 start. No one would ever have projected that. What an accomplishment for these guys. I have faith in our coaches. The boys will be ready for Purdue.
I was supposed to arrive home in DC from this Asia trip around 5 next Saturday. Moved my flight up a day and am skipping meetings Friday so I can get home to watch the Purdue game.
Priorities.
TOs aside, offensive production has been challenging this season excepting Wisconsin. That will make beating Michigan tough, even without turnovers. Can’t take Purdue for granted either.
A 7-1 start. No one would ever have projected that. What an accomplishment for these guys. I have faith in our coaches. The boys will be ready for Purdue.
I was supposed to arrive home in DC from this Asia trip around 5 next Saturday. Moved my flight up a day and am skipping meetings Friday so I can get home to watch the Purdue game.
Priorities.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
be safe weary traveler....................having you back home safe is an Illini Nation priority...............Had to turn off my phone this afternoon while sitting in a plane taxiing for takeoff in Seattle after Isaiah’s 60 yd TD reception on our second drive. Turned it back on when the plane landed in Tokyo 12 hrs later and felt sick when I read the game account.
TOs aside, offensive production has been challenging this season excepting Wisconsin. That will make beating Michigan tough, even without turnovers. Can’t take Purdue for granted either.
A 7-1 start. No one would ever have projected that. What an accomplishment for these guys. I have faith in our coaches. The boys will be ready for Purdue.
I was supposed to arrive home in DC from this Asia trip around 5 next Saturday. Moved my flight up a day and am skipping meetings Friday so I can get home to watch the Purdue game.
Priorities.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Empty possessions, special teams blunders doom Illinois football vs. Michigan State
Illinois football had five possessions in Michigan State territory end without points, and the Illini picked up its second loss of the season.
By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois had a chance to extend its lead in the Big Ten West, but its offense came up empty.
Illinois came away without points on five separate drives into Michigan State territory, the final one ending as the clock struck zero with a chance to tie the game.
Those empty possessions culminated in the Illini falling 23-15 to Michigan State at home Saturday. A late score by Isaiah Williams, who had 98 yards receiving with two scores, wasn’t enough.
Chase Brown had 33 carries for 136 yards while Tommy DeVito was 25-for-37 for 288 yards and two scores.
The Illini offense was 1-for-6 on fourth down with just two scoring drives to show for 441 total yards. The defense gave up as many points as it did in the past two games combined. Many of those MSU drives were aided by good field position. The Spartans’ average starting field position was their own 38-yard line.
With Purdue losing to Iowa, the Illini (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) maintain a lead in the Big Ten West. Instead of having a scenario where a win next week against the Boilermakers would clinch a division title, Illinois now may need to win that game and then one of its following two.
.The Illini outgained the Spartans (4-5, 2-4) 441-294, but during moments where the offense was in prime position to get on the scoreboard, it came up empty.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois' Bret Bielema says officials apologized for call in red zone vs. Michigan State
Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema says officials apologized to him for wrong call that aided Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
Erik Hall
Illinois football lost a tough battle to Michigan State on Saturday in Champaign, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Illinois 23-15.
A key stat for Illinois was that it went 1-for-6 on fourth-down conversions.
One of those fourth-down conversions was affected by a call that the officials later admitted to Illinois coach Bret Bielema that they got wrong.
With 45 seconds left in the first half, Illinois' Chase Brown was called for a block-below-the-waist penalty on third down. Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker initially declined the penalty to put the Illini in a fourth-and-9 situation at the Michigan State 19-yard line.
But when Illinois came out on the field to go for it on fourth down, Tucker was allowed to change his mind and accept the penalty. It moved Illinois back 15 yards to the Michigan State 34-yard line with a third-and-24 situation.
"At the end of the half, we were right on the verge," Bielema said on Illinois' postgame radio show. "I got an apology from the officials for screwing that up. They basically allowed them to change the call there. They apologized so that won't happen again."
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An apology ??......................WTF ?........
They had five punts, averaging 50 yards per punt. We had 3, averaging 21 yards per punt. That's a difference of 180-190 yards in field position. [Robert beat me to the point in his article.]
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illini80
- Forgottonia
Pretty much everything I was worried about all week, but tried to not rain on everyone’s parade. Football has to be played with emotion and while we played hard we didn’t have the same edge we’ve seen. MSU has talented players and probably more depth than we do. They aren’t a great team by any means, but they are good enough to win some games. Like against Wisconsin and us. As others have said, I’m disappointed but not discouraged. Lots of learning moments. I was hoping to see Josh McCray take a heavier load and punish their linebackers. I still question whether he is 100% and hope our injuries in the secondary are minor.
One big negative is special teams. I hoped we had solved some issues there, but they certainly hurt us today. Their punter vs ours was a game changer. Griffin didn’t seem to have his full leg strength today either. I wonder if that had anything to do with not taking the early FG.
One big negative is special teams. I hoped we had solved some issues there, but they certainly hurt us today. Their punter vs ours was a game changer. Griffin didn’t seem to have his full leg strength today either. I wonder if that had anything to do with not taking the early FG.
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
disappointing loss yesterday. after sleeping on it, here’s my take:
i realized that the disappointment i felt yesterday was not the disappointment i typically associate with illini football. THAT disappointment usually comes after several uninspired losses to start the B1G slate as I realize that another fall will pass without me really getting truly excited about illini football.
THIS disappointment is different. i am excited about illini football again. and they let us down. and we’re all sad about it. but the fact is, they have allowed us to be proud and excited about the team again. my older brother texted me yesterday and said that for the first time in a long time, he felt proud to wear and illini football shirt around town. my entire fall has been elevated by the excitement around the team. i am looking forward to saturday college football again
hot take time: this loss (just like the indiana loss) came at a perfect time. none of the players on our roster have experienced the kind of college success we have experienced this year. they all (rightfully so) were probably feeling themselves a bit, and it led to yesterday. we weren’t the focused, methodical team that got us here. this loss, while a bummer, will refocus and rededicate the team to the grind. i truly feel that yesterdays loss sets us up for a final, inspired push to the B1G West title. I feel better about our chances against michigan after yesterday, we shall see
LILMHS
(licensed illini loss mental health specialist)
i realized that the disappointment i felt yesterday was not the disappointment i typically associate with illini football. THAT disappointment usually comes after several uninspired losses to start the B1G slate as I realize that another fall will pass without me really getting truly excited about illini football.
THIS disappointment is different. i am excited about illini football again. and they let us down. and we’re all sad about it. but the fact is, they have allowed us to be proud and excited about the team again. my older brother texted me yesterday and said that for the first time in a long time, he felt proud to wear and illini football shirt around town. my entire fall has been elevated by the excitement around the team. i am looking forward to saturday college football again
hot take time: this loss (just like the indiana loss) came at a perfect time. none of the players on our roster have experienced the kind of college success we have experienced this year. they all (rightfully so) were probably feeling themselves a bit, and it led to yesterday. we weren’t the focused, methodical team that got us here. this loss, while a bummer, will refocus and rededicate the team to the grind. i truly feel that yesterdays loss sets us up for a final, inspired push to the B1G West title. I feel better about our chances against michigan after yesterday, we shall see
LILMHS
(licensed illini loss mental health specialist)
illini80
- Forgottonia
Just one more comment on Lunney’s play calling. I don’t love every call by any means, but he has a limited set of things to work with. Our receiving corps is better than I expected, but we do not have a downfield threat. We can’t stretch the field like some are calling for because we can’t get open. IW is a great weapon on short routes with a chance to pick up some blocks, but he’s not a game changing guy who can get open whenever he want’s. Part of what makes TDV so impressive is how efficient he’s been with limited options. Chase Brown is fantastic, but when defenses are keyed in on him we just don’t have enough other options. Our O-Line has done a good job, but we don’t blow people off the line we make small gaps that chase excels at finding and bursting thru. We do the little things well most of the time and that’s been enough. I expect a lot of growth as we get more talent. Overall the staff has done a great job maximizing the talent we do have. At least that’s my opinion.
Finally, the downfield blocking on that first touchdown was just outstanding. I’m not sure I’ve seen better. That’s great coaching and execution by the players. On to Purdue! I expect a much different outcome next week!!
Finally, the downfield blocking on that first touchdown was just outstanding. I’m not sure I’ve seen better. That’s great coaching and execution by the players. On to Purdue! I expect a much different outcome next week!!
The play calling was horrendous for us…. We do have more than just telegraphing Chase Brown run after run. A little imagination would help sometimes. I could see a tough game coming when we get first down at their 3 yard line and can’t get it across in 4 attempts. No imagination at all yesterday. Looked totally predictable and lathargic.
On the other side, play calling was keeping our D off balance most of the day…..especially on 3rd down calls. Kudos to them.
Glad Bret commented on all the MSU “injuries”.
That was very frustrating to me. I’m. It sure we could have done anything about it. We clearly wanted to go fast.
MSU faking injuries is beyond strategy and gamesmanship. It should have been a defensive delay of game penalty.
“A defensive delay of a game occurs when a defensive player prevents the ball from being placed or an offensive player from getting back to the line of scrimmage so they can run the next play. To call or not call this penalty is ultimately up to the referee's judgment on a player's actions.”
That was very frustrating to me. I’m. It sure we could have done anything about it. We clearly wanted to go fast.
MSU faking injuries is beyond strategy and gamesmanship. It should have been a defensive delay of game penalty.
“A defensive delay of a game occurs when a defensive player prevents the ball from being placed or an offensive player from getting back to the line of scrimmage so they can run the next play. To call or not call this penalty is ultimately up to the referee's judgment on a player's actions.”
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I have to admit, the responses on here to the loss have been much milder, measured and, dare I say, rational than I expected. Mind you I haven’t — nor do I plan to — read the game thread. I’m guessing there are plenty of unhinged comments in there. I said fairly early on in the game that it was getting a bad feeling as the game reminded me of the Indiana game. Then Robertson began punting and it was full on deja vu.
Just need to get ready for Purdue and take it to them. Season won’t quite be as special as we hoped, but can still be very impressive none the less. One of the worst parts of the loss is that it has pretty much ended my dreaming of beating Michigan — this year. It was probably a long shot — and sure it could still happen — but it was starting to feel more like a “medium shot” if I squinted just right when I closed my eyes.
Beat the Boilermakers!
Just need to get ready for Purdue and take it to them. Season won’t quite be as special as we hoped, but can still be very impressive none the less. One of the worst parts of the loss is that it has pretty much ended my dreaming of beating Michigan — this year. It was probably a long shot — and sure it could still happen — but it was starting to feel more like a “medium shot” if I squinted just right when I closed my eyes.
Beat the Boilermakers!
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