The rumors had been floating in the community for a while: multiple Illinois players faced suspensions early in the season.
Turns out, the rumors were true.
On Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Lovie Smith sat tight end Lou Dorsey, receiver Carmoni Green, cornerback Nate Hobbs, defensive lineman Deon Pate and safety Bennett Williams.
They are suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules.
Three of the players — Dorsey, Hobbs and Williams — were listed as starters in the pregame depth chart. Green and Pate were listed as third-stringers.
"We have some team rules and if you break the team rules, there are consequences," Smith said.