Illinois stuns No. 6 Wisconsin

No. 6 Badgers upended by Illinois on late FG

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The plan was for Wisconsin to roll into a showdown with Ohio State next week unbeaten, with a defense putting up historic numbers and a Heisman Trophy contender at running back. Illinois had other plans. James McCourt kicked a 39-yard field as time expired and the Illini pulled off the biggest upset of the college football season, knocking off No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23 on Saturday.

“Our program, we needed to get a signature win. I was just hoping today was the day, and the day came,” said Lovie Smith, the former Chicago Bears coach who entered the game 11-31 overall and 4-26 in the Big Ten since taking over Illinois in 2016.

“Against the No. 6 team in the country, we played them toe-totoe,” Smith said. “We saw so much fight. We learned an awful lot about ourselves. We’re pumped up. One of the best wins we can possibly have at this stage in our program.”

Tony Adams picked off a pass by Jack Coan for the Illini (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were 31-point underdogs, at midfield with 2:33 remaining that set up the winning drive.

Dre Brown’s tackle-breaking 13yard run got Illinois to the Wisconsin 25 with 34 seconds left and then the Illini set up McCourt to attempt a winner. The junior kicker was down the middle with the field goal to give Smith the most significant victory for Illinois in years.

“No matter if it’s an extra point or a game-winner you kind of have to take the approach that every kick is the same because if you take a different approach you might get thrown off or something might be a little different,” said McCourt, who missed a 40-yard attempt in the first quarter.

Fans rushed the field when it was over and “Jump Around” — a signature song at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium — blared through the speakers at Memorial Stadium.

“It was amazing,” Adams said. “It was an amazing feeling.”

After the first six weeks of the college football season produced few surprises at the top of the rankings, there have now been major upsets in consecutive weeks. Last week it was then-No. 3 Georgia losing at home to South Carolina in double overtime. Wisconsin becomes the second-highest ranked team to lose to an unranked foe this season.

This was even more stunning.

Holly Hart The Associated Press Illinois kicker James McCourt cheers with teammates after booting the winning 39yard field goal Saturday as the Illini upset No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23 in Champaign, Ill.