Minnesota 25, Illinois 17 Postgame
Those fumbles happened because of the relentless pressure that the Gophers were able to apply up front. They had the way better players in the trenches today. That was the difference in the end.
They diddied us in the trenches on both sides of the ball
I feel like we haven't gotten more pressure on the opposing teams QB versus our QB in ages. We allow them to get into too much of a rhythm and almost hope they miss a wr or make a bad decision. This allows teams to control way more of the clock throughout the game than they should.
Yes the refs didn't feel like calling holding or illegal contact downfield all day but there was a lot we could control.
Yes the refs didn't feel like calling holding or illegal contact downfield all day but there was a lot we could control.
Is that even legal?
The refs were very bad but that’s not why we lost
How so? They are on their way to 4-5 today
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Have to disagree with you about Minnesota playing a clean game. They had 6 or 7 presnap penalties on offense. Did not turn the ball over though.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
And the idea that we did not play a clean game because we missed a 55 yard blast-and-pray from our backup kicker and took a strip sack under endgame desperation is.....strained logic.
We needed perfection or luck to win today and got neither, but needing that at home tells you who is the better team, just as all the statistically rigorous methods warned.
We got perfection against Nebraska, luck against Purdue, and Tuttle against Michigan. We should apologize for precisely none of it, but should be hard-headed about where we are.
Fumbles, penalties, giving up big plays on 3 and long. continuing to try to run up the middle [hasn't worked all year] no outside running threat. Surprised they have got this far. Coaches NEED- NO MUST watch film and see they are playing into the opponent defensive scheme. Opponents know you run the same play over and over on 3rd down!
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
A bit late to the party since I was working through this one and checking periodically, but sorry for jinxing the team with my confident "Bielema has never lost to Minnesota" comment in the pregame thread 
Imagine what the dline will be like next year when we lose Seth, Edwards, briggs, Holmes and possibly Jacas
Luke missed some throws in the first half, but to your point, he basically has to be spot on. When he is, we can run with almost anyone. When's he's "average" we gotta scratch and claw
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
And that was the key in the end. Illini had a fumble and turnover on downs on their own side of the 50 (resulted in 6 points) and the late fumble to seal the game. Sure Illinois scored after the inexplicably stupid decision of fake punt, but in a one score game, the turnovers proved costly. It just gets frustrating watching some times when key blocks are simply missed allowing free range at the QB.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Gotta hit the transfer portal hard and/or hope we can actually develop a few of the younger d-lineman on the roster.
Hate to lose that one. Everything just felt “off” to me.
This was my first game in person this season. The video board was playing video of military introducing themselves and saying I-L-L during the first part of the 3 in 1. Please tell me this was operator error (a big one) and that we don’t play things in the scoreboard while the band is playing at halftime?
This was my first game in person this season. The video board was playing video of military introducing themselves and saying I-L-L during the first part of the 3 in 1. Please tell me this was operator error (a big one) and that we don’t play things in the scoreboard while the band is playing at halftime?
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
Being an Illini football fan is so tough. Every single time I feel like we're finally turning the corner, a WTF loss like this one happens.
The path to success is very nonlinear. Id rather us spend some time here in 5-8 wins territory every year than our previous 9 win anomaly followed by a bunch of 2-3 win seasons.
End of the day we are going bowling this year somewhere with 3 more to play
Frankly, the only player I fret about losing out of that bunch is Jacas.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
That will happen when the run game is nearly non-existant. Nearly 1/3 of the rushing yards came on one play.
Luke has been great, but an extra year to read progressions will be key for him. He is a touch slow there, but I don't necessarily blame him when the line doesn't hold up. Having explosive playmaking receivers and a good qb had been the equalizer for most of these games (today included). The only 2 games where Illinois looked completely mismatched is the Oregon and Penn State games.
Today will still hurt, as the team had the lead late and simply did not make the plays when needed.
To me, this is the major issue and has been for quite awhile.