First Big Ten win. First Power Five win. First win in nearly a calendar year against an opponent that Illinois was not favored by multiple scores against.
The Illini’s upset victory in College Park on Saturday was desperately needed — not just by the team in its hopes of a successful season — but also by a fanbase that had begun to spiral and by a program that was on the brink of coughing away its newly built momentum.
Everything about it was huge.
To go on the road, as 13.5-point underdogs, coming off back-to-back uncompetitive losses to conference bottom feeders, and find a way to win is the type of moment that can change a season.