CHAMPAIGN — M.J. Rivers II and Matt Robinson both popped up on the sideline after Illinois starter AJ Bush Jr. took a hard hit on the final play of the first quarter Saturday against Western Illinois.
Both true freshman quarterbacks started warming up. Both were potential replacements after Bush came limping off the field and into the medical tent. But only one was going to take the field as the backup quarterback.
Rivers didn't know that was him until the Illinois coaches sent him out to start the second quarter. He wasn't sure he was the Illini's No.