The day is Nov. 9, 2019.
Only three weeks after James McCourt’s game-winning FG over undefeated No. 6 Wisconsin, the Illini were winners of 3 in a row, notching victories over Purdue and Rutgers (respectively) in the ensuing two weeks.
The location is East Lansing, Michigan.
The Illinois Fighting Illini (5-4) were looking to do something that an Illinois football team had not done since 2014: make a bowl game. The Michigan State Spartans (4-4) were standing in their way.
Illinois football has seen a fair share of success throughout the program’s 132 years, but what transpired on this night will go down forever as one of the most memorable and dramatic games in Illinois sports history.