Luke Altmyer threw two touchdown passes to Hudson Clement and Illinois sent Maryland to its sixth straight loss, 24-6 in Champaign, Ill., on Saturday.
Altmyer completed 15 of 25 passes for 172 yards and had one interception as Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) won its second straight game.
Clement caught three passes for 72 yards and the Fighting Illini rushed for 225 yards, including 81 by Kaden Feagin on 14 carries.
Malik Washington completed 25 of 46 passes for 238 yards and one interception for the Terrapins (4-6, 1-6).
Maryland only rushed the ball for 55 yards on 18 attempts.
Maryland needs to beat Michigan and Michigan State to reach bowl eligibility and the loss will likely fuel further debate about the fate of head coach Mike Locksley.
Leading 14-6 to start the second half, the Illini went 67 yards in seven plays (five runs) to increase the lead to 21-6. On second-and-1 at the 23, Altmyer found Clement all alone at the five and he scored his second touchdown of the day.
On their next possession, Illinois drove 61 yards to the Maryland 1-yard line, but the 14-play drive came up empty after Altmyer’s fourth-and-goal pass from the two was incomplete with 1:31 left in the third quarter.
Washington then led the Terps 95 yards to a first-and-goal at the Illinois three, but the defense stiffened, and Washington’s fourth-down pass was incomplete.
Maryland was 3-for-12 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth.
Illinois drove again and this time got points. After a holding penalty wiped out an Altmyer touchdown run, David Olano’s 33-yard field goal made 24-6 with 4:19 remaining.
Maryland took a 3-0 lead on Sean O’Haire’s 29-yard field goal on the opening drive.
Late in the first quarter, Maryland went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Illinois 49 and failed to convert. Seven plays later, Altmyer found Clement for a 22-yard touchdown and Illinois led 7-3.
After a short punt midway through the second quarter, the Terps started on the Illini 46 and O’Haire later connected from 43 yards to make it 7-6.
Illinois took the ensuing kickoff and went 75 yards in 13 plays. Altmyer hit Clement for 27 yards to the 25 and, seven plays later, Feagin went up the middle for a three-yard touchdown with 1:38 left in the first half.
–Field Level Media