Here is the Illinois Sports news from around the country and around the internet.
USA Today: Illini defense riding high with North Carolina test ahead
For much of the past three seasons, defense was almost a dirty word at Illinois. The Illini were at the back of the Big Ten in almost every category.
Two games is a small sample, but so far this season Illinois has given up just a field goal and picked off five passes — close to the seven they intercepted all of last season.