Illinois got the result it needed on Saturday, and it got it in a hurry. A 48-10 win over Southern Illinois at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign helped the Illini avoid a 1-2 start, shake off last week’s home loss to Duke and turn the page with Ohio State coming up on the road.
The final score was lopsided, but the game still offered a useful snapshot of where Illinois stands. Some things looked cleaner.
Some things still looked shaky. And with Columbus next on the schedule, the margin for error is about to disappear.
The defense’s tackling was noticeably better. It wasn’t flawless, but it was a step up from the first two weeks, when the new-look Illini defense too often missed clean stops and let plays keep rolling. Against Southern Illinois, Illinois generally arrived under control, squared up and finished better at the point of contact.
There were still a few examples of players launching into hits without fully securing the tackle - Mac Resetich and Tanner Heckel were among them - but the overall effort was sharper. Heckel’s later vicious hit and wrap-up stood out as the kind of finish Illinois needs more of. The Illini also did a better job of shedding blocks and limiting yards after contact, though that standard will have to rise again next week if Illinois wants any real shot in Columbus.
On offense, Katin Houser spread the ball around more than he had with just one primary outlet. Collin Dixon was again the headline performer, finishing with eight receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns, but Hudson Clement and Brayden Trimble gave Houser reliable options in the middle of the field and underneath. Clement caught five passes for 69 yards, while Trimble added five receptions for 57 yards.
Trimble in particular kept drives moving by turning short catches into first downs with his yards after the catch. Ty Robinson also added a bit of explosion, and his 24-yard catch against the Salukis left him with four receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown on the season. Once Jayshon Platt is healthy, that receiver mix will be worth watching.
Ethan Moczulski also kept his strong start going. After David Olano’s walk-off 29-yard field goal in last year’s Music City Bowl and his move to Texas A&M, Illinois needed another dependable leg, and Moczulski has filled that role through three games. He hit a 51-yard field goal against Duke, added two more on Saturday and has produced 18 touchbacks in 19 kickoffs.
Not everything was clean, though. Houser’s interception in the third quarter was the kind of mistake that stands out even in a blowout.
He had Dixon isolated to the right, kept checking that side before the snap and then forced a throw into triple coverage. It was never there.
That kind of decision might not matter much against Southern Illinois, but it could become a real problem against Ohio State. The comparison that came to mind was simple: Luke Altmyer likely would have thrown that ball out of the end zone and moved on to the next snap.
Illinois also came out of the game with a bigger concern up front. Center Jake Renfro and offensive tackle Nathan Knapik both left with apparent injuries, and the Illini were already missing guards Maika Matelau and Brandon Henderson, along with key backup TJ McMillen, who is out for the season.
Christian Martin had a rough day as well, with a holding penalty, three pressures allowed and a poor run-blocking grade, according to PFF stats. Even if he bounces back, Illinois needs healthy and experienced help around him to have much of a chance against Ohio State.
In Other News...
Illinois May Have A New Offensive Star Before Big Ten Play
Illinois rolled past Southern Illinois 48-10, and the biggest sign of what might be coming for the Illini offense came from Collin Dixon. Katin Houser found him for two second-quarter touchdown passes, and Dixon finished with eight catches for 131 yards while adding another entry to the record book at Gies Memorial Stadium with a single-season touchdown reception mark.
Bret Bielema had plenty of reason to praise Dixon after the game, especially with Big Ten play looming and Illinois looking for reliable playmakers who can tilt the field. Southern Illinois coach Nick Hill was left to absorb the loss and turn the page toward conference play of his own, while Illinois gets a clearer picture of how dangerous this passing game can be when Dixon is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Dixon Is Forcing Illinois Fans To Rethink The Record Book
Collin Dixon has turned the first three games into a conversation piece for Illinois fans, and not just because of how quickly he has piled up yards and touchdowns. The wide receiver has seven receiving scores and 369 yards so far, enough to put his name on top of the record at Gies Memorial Stadium and to start drawing a fresh look at what the Illinois passing game can produce when one target keeps finding the end zone.
What makes it even more intriguing is how much history he is already chasing this early in the season. Dixon is close to tying and possibly breaking the Illinois single-season receiving touchdown mark, and he is already halfway to the career record as well, which says plenty about the pace he has set. The bigger question now is whether he can keep this kind of scoring run going long enough to turn a hot start into something that rewrites the record book. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Win Eases One Concern But Raises Another For Fans
Illinois opened the season with a comfortable 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, and the kind of result fans wanted to see after a summer of questions. The offense had stretches that looked sharp, with the line doing its part and Katin Houser putting together a productive day through the air, which at least gave Illinois something to build on heading into a tougher stretch.
Still, the final margin did not hide everything. Even with Southern Illinois limited to 10 points, there were defensive issues that showed up enough to keep the staff's attention, and the performance left a mixed feeling for fans who wanted a cleaner all-around start. One concern may have eased, but the next one is already waiting. [Read more 🡒]