Illini show they’ve improved
Illinois lost its sixth straight meeting against Iowa on Saturday, but it was clear the Illini have improved.
They lost 19-10 at Kinnick Stadium — a far cry from the Hawkeyes’ 63-0 rout last season at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
“We’re a different team,” coach Lovie Smith told reporters in Iowa City, Iowa. “We were there at the end against a good football team.”
The defeat snapped Illinois’ four-game winning streak.
Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley threw for 308 yards, and Keith Duncan kicked four field goals to set a Big Ten single-season mark with 27.
The Illini, who had outscored opponents 79-22 in the second halves during their streak, drove into Iowa territory on three consecutive possessions in the second half but got only a field goal.
But the fact Illinois (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) was competitive against No. 17 Iowa (8-3, 5-3), which last week handed Minnesota its first loss, is a mark of progress. The Illini won the rushing battle with 192 yards on 39 carries while allowing 79 yards on 32 attempts for the Hawkeyes.
Here are three takeaways from the defeat:
1. Missed opportunities haunted Illinois. Illini fans probably are scratching their heads wondering what happened at the end of the first half. Even if you can figure out Smith’s rationale, the plays leading to the break were costly.
With 16 seconds left and Illinois on the Iowa 37-yard line after three Brandon Peters incompletions, Smith called two timeouts. The coach then decided to go for it on fourth-and-6. Peters was sacked for a 14-yard loss, handing the Hawkeyes the ball at the Illinois 49.
Smith called it a “bad coaching move.” Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley completed a 22-yard pass to Tyrone Tracy, and Duncan kicked a 45-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead as time expired.
“Disappointment with how the first half ended,” Smith said. “Wish I had that call back.”
He told reporters if he had a do-over, he would have punted. At least credit the typically taciturn Smith with being transparent.
2. Yes, that was targeting. Geno Stone’s hit knocked Peters out of the game with 2:44 left. Peters remained facedown on the field for a few moments after it appeared he took a helmet-to-helmet hit by the Iowa defensive back.
But after a review of the third-down hit, officials left the no-call for targeting stand.
Asked if the hit was targeting, Smith replied: “Absolutely.” At the very least, it should have been called a late hit, he said.
Matt Robinson relieved Peters but threw an incompletion on fourth-and-9. Receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe nearly nabbed it, but it went off his hands — unlike the previous game in which he grabbed a fourth-and-17 pass for 37 yards to help beat Michigan State.
But Illinois wouldn’t have been put in such a predicament if targeting had been called.
3. Turnover magic wasn’t on Illinois’ side — for once. Illinois entered as one of the nation’s best at creating turnovers. They had 26 takeaways, including 16 fumble recoveries, leading to their recent success. That was missing Saturday.
The Illini offense turned the ball over three times, and the defense got only one turnover.
“That was big-time,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters. “We did a great job of getting takeaways.”
Peters rushed for a career-best 76 yards and kept Illinois in the game. But he threw two interceptions and fumbled.
His fourth-quarter fumble on the Illinois 47 set up a 29-yard Iowa field goal that gave the Hawkeyes their nine-point lead. Peters threw a pick just three plays into Illinois’ first drive and another on a flea-flicker into the end zone.
Iowa had forced just 13 turnovers in its first 10 games and won for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings.
“We had the opportunities,” Smith said, “but we didn’t make the plays today.”
Illinois plays host to Northwestern (2-9, 0-8) on Saturday.