Bob Asmussen hands out grades for Illinois following its win against Middle Tennessee:
Player of the Game: Illini kicker Taylor Zalewski
Yes, boss, that’s right, a kicker. When you calmly nail a 51-yarder in the final minutes to give your team the lead, you deserve the limelight. It’s a whole lot better than last week, when he clanked one off the upright in Chapel Hill.
Offense
Illinois: C
Middle Tennessee: B
Dropped passes weren’t the major problem for the Illini. They didn’t have a turnover. And West Lunt was only sacked once. But they failed when they had chances to break open the game.