According to a longtime Illinois beat writer, Saturday’s game vs. Ohio State might be the biggest game Illinois has hosted in over 100 years.
Bob Asmussen, who’s covered Illinois football for The News-Gazette for 37 years, says there’s massive excitement in Champaign for this weekend’s matchup as the 17th-ranked Illini welcome the top-ranked Buckeyes to town. Despite their stunning 53-point loss to Indiana, the Illini still have College Football Playoff aspirations – but they’ll need to at least keep the game competitive against Ohio State.
In this week’s Across The Field, Eleven Warriors’ Q&A before each game with a media member who covers the opposing team, Asmussen shares his thoughts on what happened against Indiana, what the Illini must do better to have a chance against Ohio State, Illinois’ CFP hopes, the excitement entering this week’s game, Illinois’ top players and how he expects Saturday’s game to play out.
Illinois suffered a 63-10 loss to Indiana in Week 4, but has otherwise won every game it’s played so far this season. How would you assess the first half of the season as a whole?
Asmussen: Before the season, I thought Illinois would go into the Ohio State game at 5-1. Where I messed up was I predicted the wrong loss. I figured the game at Duke, with a talented transfer quarterback, would be the one blip. But Illinois played well in the second half against the Blue Devils and pulled away for the win.
I have rarely been as surprised by an Illinois performance as I was when it went to Indiana and got thumped. I never saw it coming. Neither, apparently, did the Illinois players or coaches. They were mortified. An early blocked punt for a touchdown set the tone for the Hoosiers. My guess is in the history of college football, teams that block punts for scores win like 95 percent of the time. Indiana got on a roll and Illinois had no answers. It should have driven home at halftime.
What are the biggest things Illinois must do better than it did against Indiana to achieve a better result against Ohio State?
Asmussen: Avoid big plays on defense. Block better on offense. Those were the keys for Indiana, which riddled the Illinois defense with play after play after play. And the Illinois offensive line couldn’t protect quarterback Luke Altmyer or create any holes for the run game. Had Illinois turned the ball over a time or two (it had no turnovers), Indiana would have scored 80. Of course, you have to give Curt Cignetti a ton of credit for having his team ready to go.
Illinois was viewed as a real contender to make the College Football Playoff before the Indiana loss. Do you think a CFP berth is still achievable?
Asmussen: I do but it will take a close game Saturday (less than 20-point margin) and some help from the rest of the league. I believe the Big Ten will get four CFP bids. Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana are in great shape right now. Who gets the fourth? Illinois? Michigan? Penn State? When the Nittany Lions lost to UCLA, to me it put Illinois in contention for the CFP even with a loss to Ohio State. It will need to win all the rest to finish 10-2 and root for Duke, Southern Cal, Indiana and Ohio State to keep winning. If Duke and Southern Cal win eight or nine games, it makes the win look a lot better for Illinois.
What’s the mood like in Champaign entering this game? This would seem to be the biggest game Illinois has hosted in some time.
Asmussen: It might be the biggest game since Michigan came to town in 1924. Red Grange had the final word in that one: 39-14. Football has turned the corner with the fan base at Illinois. This is the third sellout in a row and everyone in town is talking about it. I live about a mile from the stadium and can normally go over there about two hours before the game. On Saturday, I am leaving four hours ahead of time. The crowd will be as loud as ever as long as Illinois hangs close. Fans are excited and hopeful, but also realize Ohio State is on a different level talent-wise.
Who are some Illinois players that could give Ohio State trouble?
Asmussen: Easy place to start is receiver Hank Beatty, who does a bit of everything. He is one of the top receivers in the country but has also run for a score, returned a punt for a score and thrown for a score. The coaches joked about him trying DB so he can get a pick. He is not a very big guy, which I think plays to his advantage.
Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has moved high up the Illinois career sacks list. He reminds me some of Simeon Rice. And quarterback Luke Altmyer is having one of the best seasons by an Illinois quarterback in more than two decades. I’d go back to Kurt Kittner’s 2001 season.
Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas has 20 career sacks, including four this season. (Photo: Zachary Taft – Imagn Images)
What’s your prediction for how the game will play out?
Asmussen: I have had Ohio State No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot all season. I am stunned by how good the team is after losing so many great players to the NFL. Tells me a lot about Ryan Day and the support he has in Columbus. Illinois needs to play a flawless game to stay close. The Illinois defense is missing its best player, Xavier Scott, who is out for the season with a leg injury. My guess is Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will have big games in Ohio State’s 35-21 victory.
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