According to a longtime Illinois writer, Saturday’s game against Ohio State could be the biggest game Illinois has hosted in more than 100 years.
Bob Asmussen, who has covered Illinois football for The News-Gazette for 37 years, says there is tremendous enthusiasm in Champaign for this weekend’s game 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 have 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 covering the opposing team, Asmussen shares his thoughts on what happened against Indiana, what the Illini need to do better to have a chance against Ohio State, Illinois’ CFP hopes, the excitement ahead of this week’s game, Illinois’ best players and how he expects Saturday’s game to go.
Illinois suffered a 63-10 loss to Indiana in Week 4, but has otherwise won every game played so far this season. How do you judge the first part of the season as a whole?
Asmussen: Before the season, I thought Illinois would go into the game against Ohio State at 5-1. Where I made a mistake was in predicting the wrong loss. I thought the Duke game, with a talented transfer quarterback, would be the only problem. But Illinois played well in the second half against the Blue Devils and pulled away for the win.
I have rarely been more surprised by an Illinois performance than when they went to Indiana and got beaten. I never saw it coming. Apparently neither do Illinois players or coaches. They were mortified. An early blocked punt for a touchdown set the tone for the Hoosiers. I would guess that in the history of college football, teams that block punts for scores win about 95 percent of the time. Indiana went for it and Illinois had no answers. He should have gone home at halftime.
What are the most important things Illinois needs to do better than against Indiana to get 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 play after play after play. And Illinois’ offensive line couldn’t protect quarterback Luke Altmyer or create holes for the running game. If Illinois had turned the ball over once or twice (there were no turnovers), Indiana would have scored 80. Of course, you have to give Curt Cignetti a ton of credit for getting his team ready to go.
Illinois was considered a true College Football Playoff contender before Indiana’s loss. Do you think that a place on the CFP is still achievable?
Asmussen: Yes, but it will take a close game on Saturday (less than 20 points difference) and a little help from the rest of the league. I think the Big Ten will get four CFP offers. Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana are in great shape right now. Who gets fourth? Illinois? Michigan? Penn State? When the Nittany Lions lost to UCLA, it put Illinois in contention for the CFP, even with a loss to Ohio State. He’ll need to win everything else to finish 10-2 and back Duke, Southern Cal, Indiana and Ohio State to keep winning. If Duke and Southern Cal win eight or nine games, the win looks a lot better for Illinois.
What is the atmosphere like in Champaign before this match? This would appear to be the biggest game Illinois has hosted in quite some time.
Asmussen: This may have been the biggest game since Michigan came to town in 1924. Red Grange had the last laugh in that one: 39-14. Football has turned a corner with the Illinois fan base. It’s the third sold-out venue in a row and everyone in town is talking about it. I live about a kilometer from the stadium and can normally get there about two hours before the game. On Saturday, I leave four hours early. The crowd will be as loud as ever as long as Illinois stays close. Fans are excited and hopeful, but also realize Ohio State is on a different level talent-wise.
Which Illinois players could cause Ohio State problems?
Asmussen: An easy place to start is wide receiver Hank Beatty, who does a little bit of everything. He’s one of the best receivers in the country, but he also ran for a score, returned a punt for a score and threw for a score. The coaches joked that he was trying out for DB so he could have a choice. He’s not a very big guy, which I think works in his favor.
Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas moved to the top of Illinois’ career sack list. He reminds me a little of Simeon Rice. And quarterback Luke Altmyer is having one of the best seasons by an Illinois quarterback in more than two decades. I would 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 is your prediction for how the game will play out?
Asmussen: I’ve had Ohio State No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot all season. I’m amazed at how good the team is after losing so many great players to the NFL. That tells me a lot about Ryan Day and the support he has in Columbus. Illinois needs to play a flawless game to stay close. Illinois’ defense is missing its best player, Xavier Scott, who is out for the season with a leg injury. My guess is that Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will have big games in Ohio State’s 35-21 win.
