The scoreboard said Illinois 26, Minnesota 14.
All the other numbers screamed cruel, unusual punishment.
Illini football has gone gonzo, people. Enjoy it while it lasts, which might be for the rest of this already-special season and beyond.
The Illini are 6-1 — that means bowl-bound — after outgaining the Gophers 472-180, out-possessing them 40:04 to 19:56, winning the turnover battle 3-0 and pumping belief into fans that the Orange and Blue Express is well on its way to Indianapolis, site of the Big Ten championship game, in December.
“This game wasn’t won this week,” coach Bret Bielema said.