TEAM NOTES

• Tonight’s attendance of 48,898 is the highest for an Illinois home opener since 2010 (52,217 vs. SIU).
• Head coach Bret Bielema is the fifth head coach in Illinois’ 134-year-program history to win his first three season openers.
  • George Huff (1895, 1896 & 1897), Robert Zuppke (1913, 1914 & 1915), Tim Beckman (2012, 2013 & 2014), Lovie Smith (2016, 2017 & 2018).
• Bielema is now 14-1 in season openers in his 15-year career as a head coach.
• Illinois trailed by as many as 12 points (19-7), marking its largest comeback win since the school-record 25-point come-from-behind win at Michigan State on Nov. 9, 2019.
• Illinois’ defense held Toledo to just 57 second-half rushing yards, after the Rockets rushed for 129 yards in the first half.
• Illinois has now recorded an interception in 13 of its last 14 games.
• 13 players made their Illini debut, while six players made their first career start as an Illini.
• Illinois has scored 30 points or more in three-straight season openers for the first time since a streak of five straight openers from 2004 through 2008.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Caleb Griffin kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.
  • It was Illinois’ first game-winner since James McCourt made a 47-yarder with :03 in a 23-20 victory at Rutgers (11/14/20).
  • It was Illinois’ first game-winner at Memorial Stadium since McCourt nailed a 39-yarder at :00 in a 24-23 win over No. 6 Wisconsin (10/19/19).
• QB Luke Altmyer was 18-of-26 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns in his Illini debut. Altmyer also led the Illini in rushing with 69 yards on nine attempts (7.7 avg).
  • Altmyer set career-highs in passing yards and rushing yards, while equaling his career-high mark in passing TDs.
  • Altmyer is the first QB to throw for 200+ yards in an Illini debut since Wes Lunt had 285 yards passing against Youngstown State (8/30/14).
• WR Pat Bryant had a game-high six catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first two-TD game of his career.
• DB Miles Scott recorded his first-career interception with a 48-yard TD return in the third quarter.
  • It was the first pick-6 by an Illini since Sydney Brown’s 39-yard TD return at Northwestern (11/22/22).

GAME TWO AT KANSAS JAYHAWKS ON SEPTEMBER 9

Illinois Falls on the road to Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Illinois dropped its first road game of the season, falling to Kansas, 34-23, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

Luke Altmyer tallied two rushing touchdowns, including a 72-yard score. That touchdown run was the second-longest touchdown rush by an Illini quarterback in program history.

Isaiah Williams totaled a season-high six catches for 99 yards, both of which led the Orange and Blue. Griffin Moore set career-highs in both catches and receiving yards, registering four catches for 56 yards. Hank Beatty and Casey Washington both recorded three catches apiece, while multiple Illini made their debuts against the Jayhawks.

Tip Reiman notched his first touchdown of the season, which came late in the first half.

Dylan Rosiek also forced his first-ever fumble, which was recovered by Clayton Bush for his first fumble recovery at Illinois. Xavier Scott made the first interception of his career early in the fourth quarter, while Jer’Zhan Newton secured his first two sacks of the season.

DANIELLE’S SCOUTING REPORT ON THE 2023 FIGHTING ILLINI

*Coach Bielema has brought a winning culture to Champaign, Illinois in just a short time. His record is 14-13.

*He achieved the first winning season for Illinois in 11 years. Loyal fans waited a very long time to see a winner.

*Eventhough they lost defensive coordinator Ryan Walters to Purdue as the head coach, the defense is still good enough to win their first Big 10 West title. Walters, however, did take some key personnel with him to Purdue.

*The schedule does not include conference heavyweights Michigan and Ohio State, two teams the Illini have always had trouble with.

*This is the third season in a row that Bielema has had to find new QB. He has found one in Ole Miss’ Luke Altmyer in for Tommy DeVito. Backing up Altmyer is Ball State transfer John Paddock.

*The offensive line is strong with three starters returning.

*The wide receivers are an improving group led by former QB Isaiah Williams, who led with 82 catches a year ago.

*Replacing RB Chase Brown, who is in the NFL with Cincinnati are Josh McCray and Reggie Love III.

*Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. wants balance in the attack and Bielema is in tune with him on that aspect.

*The defense is under a new coordinator in secondary coach Aaron Henry as Coach Bielema kept the job in-house. If his name sounds familiar, he played for Bielema at Wisconsin. Coach Henry has kept the same schemes that Walters was using. The Walters system led the nation in scoring defense at 12.8 points per game last season.

*Coach Henry is very blessed to have several key players back on defense. Up front, their strength is Jer’Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. play tackle.

*The linebackers are some of the best that Bielema has had at Illinois, his own words. Freshman All-American Gabe Jacas returned.

*The secondary lost lockdown corner Devon Witherspoon to the NFL. But they do return safety Matthew Bailey and Tahveon Nicholson.

*The special teams unit has a new coordinator in Robby Discher who has incumbents back to work with in PK Caleb Griffin, an Illinois native with a huge toe and Australian-born punter Hugh Robertson, who only needs to improve his 39.8 punt average. Discher wants to improve returns yardage and tighten up the coverage on unit.

*The Illini has one non-conference game left and that is Florida Atlantic on September 23.

*Illinois looks to improve upon an 8-5, 5-4 record from 2022. They are considered contenders in the Big West with Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Purdue and Iowa.