Luke Altmyer threw for one touchdown and ran for another as No. 22 Illinois defeated No. 24 Michigan, 21-7, in Champaign, Ill., on Saturday.
Altmyer completed 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards and rushed for 48 yards on 10 attempts. Aidan Laughery rushed for 54 yards on nine carries, and the Fighting Illini defense forced three turnovers and sacked Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle five times.
Illinois (6-1 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) had dropped its last six meetings vs. the Wolverines, with its last victory coming in 2009.
Tuttle completed 20 of 32 passes for 208 yards and Colston Loveland caught seven passes for 83 yards. Kalel Mullings rushed 19 times for 87 yards and one score for the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2).
Illinois scored on its first possession, as Laughery’s 29-yard run set up David Olano’s 47-yard field goal.
Early n the second quarter, Illinois linebacker Malachi Hood recovered a Tuttle fumble at Michigan’s 38-yard line, but the Wolverines defense again managed to limit the Fighting Illini to a 32-yard Olano field goal.
Donovan Edwards fumbled on the Wolverines’ next possession and Miles Scott recovered it, giving Illinois the ball at its own 49-yard line.
Altmyer had a 14-yard run and the Wolverines committed pass interference, leading to Altmyer’s 2-yard scoring pass to Tanner Arkin.
Michigan responded with a 72-yard drive. Tuttle completed two passes to Colston Loveland during the 12-play possession and Mullings scored on a 1-yard dive with 1:40 left in the half.
Olano had a 44-yard field goal attempt blocked on the final play of the half, which ended with Illinois up 13-7.
Arkin raced 36 yards on a fake punt to set up the first score of the third quarter. That play put Illinois at Michigan’s 16-yard line, and four plays later, Altmyer scored on a 1-yard run. The Illini added a 2-point conversion to make it 21-7.
Michigan’s Dominic Zvada had a 28-yard field goal attempt blocked in the final minute of the quarter.
After the Wolverines drove to the Illinois 15 midway through the fourth, Matthew Bailey picked off a Tuttle pass and returned it 20 yards. It would Michigan’s final scoring threat.
–Field Level Media
