Without a game last week, head coach Lovie Smith was able to devote the majority of his time evaluating his team’s performance through the first four games of the season and make an appearance on the recruiting trail.
“The one thing that can help our program is to get a win against a Big Ten team,” Smith said.
He’s right. The Illini haven’t won a conference game dating back to Nov. 5, 2016, when Jeff George Jr. led the game-winning drive in a victory over Michigan State, 31-27.
“It’s about playing the way you expect to play,” said defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson.