October 21st 2024

Illinois vs. Michigan: Recap
By Zayd Hussein

In a thrilling showdown that honored a century of history, No. 22 Illinois triumphed over No. 24 Michigan with a decisive 21-7 victory in the Rededication Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This electrifying match took place exactly 100 years and a day after the legendary Red Grange dazzled fans with six touchdowns against Michigan, making it a historic occasion for the Fighting Illini.

While Michigan struggled to find rhythm in the air, suffering a staggering five sacks—their highest in six years—Illinois’ defense stood firm, making crucial stops that turned the tide. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer may have completed only 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, but it was the ground game that truly shone, racking up an impressive 187 rushing yards. The exhilaration was palpable as the Illini celebrated their first home-ranked victory since October 12, 1991, in front of a roaring sellout crowd of 60,670 fans.

Emotions ran high in the post-game press conference, where coach Bret Bielema paid heartfelt tribute to his mother, who passed away two years ago on this very day, adding a deeply personal touch to the victory.

With their spirits high, the Fighting Illini now set their sights on a challenging matchup against No. 2 Oregon next week. Fans won’t want to miss this thrilling encounter, kicking off Saturday, October 26, at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS from the iconic Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon!