Heading into Illinois’ Week 1 matchup against Toledo, much of its gameplan was centered around quarterback Dequan Finn.
Finn, a potent athlete, presented an immediate challenge for an Illinois defense with a handful of new faces and a first-time coordinator calling the shots. He also represented something the Illini’s nation-leading scoring defense didn’t see in 2022: a dual-threat quarterback that could beat them with his arm and his legs.
“[Finn is] probably one of the more dynamic, explosive playmakers we’ve ever faced at the quarterback position,” head coach Bret Bielema said.
And he reflected that on Saturday night.