Illinois needed every last second in College Park, and Ethan Moczulski made sure the trip ended with a win.
The kicker’s 26-yard field goal on the final play lifted the Illini past Maryland 20-17 on Saturday afternoon, capping a game that swung back and forth after Illinois opened the second half with a wrinkle and finished with a steady march down the field.
Katin Houser’s return at quarterback was the biggest personnel news for Illinois. He had been knocked out of the Michigan State game on October 10th with a broken hand and missed last week’s win over Oregon, when Michael Clayton II stepped in and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after guiding the upset in his first career start. This time, Clayton moved back to the sideline and Houser handled the offense, completing 18 of 32 passes for 223 yards and throwing a 16-yard touchdown to Brayden Trimble in the second quarter.
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 in Big Ten) still found itself chasing after three quarters, trailing 14-10 before freshman Javari Burnett changed the feel of the game on the first snap of the fourth. Burnett burst through for a 64-yard touchdown, his first in college, and suddenly the Illini had their first lead of the day.
Maryland answered with a field goal to knot the score at 17-17, but Houser wasn’t done. He led Illinois 67 yards in 13 plays over 5:45, setting up Moczulski’s winner and sealing the comeback.
Burnett finished with a game-high 80 rushing yards on six carries, while senior Collin Dixon was Houser’s top target with six catches for 103 yards.
For Maryland (2-6, 0-5), the loss kept the Terps winless in Big Ten play in their first game since head coach Mike Locksley was fired. For Illinois, it marked a third straight conference win, the program’s first three-game Big Ten streak since 2022, and left the Illini one victory away from bowl eligibility for the third time in the past four years.
Illinois turns around quickly, hosting Nebraska on Friday night at 7pm on FOX at Gies Memorial Stadium.
In Other News...
Illinois Took A Risk With Katin Houser Fans Can Already Feel
Katin Houser was back under center against Maryland just about three weeks after surgery on a broken hand, and Illinois did not ease him back in. The starting quarterback was thrust into a game that asked him to throw early and often, and the first half showed the obvious rust, even as the Illinois defense kept making timely stops to prevent Maryland from building on its chances.
Houser finished the half 11 of 19 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception, a line that reflected both the upside and the uncertainty of the move. The bigger question hanging over Illinois is whether pushing him back this quickly was worth the risk, not just for what it meant in this game, but for what it could mean for his health and the team's future. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Showed Off A Big Ten Strength Fans Will Notice Fast
Illinois opened its exhibition slate with a lopsided 88-44 win over Illinois-Springfield, and the first thing that stood out was how much returning firepower this group brings into the new season. Gretchen Dolan and Aaliyah Guyton each scored 14 points, while the Illini also got a look at Manuella Alves in her debut after she missed last season following knee surgery.
That blend of continuity and depth is a big reason Illinois enters the year ranked 23rd in the Associated Press Top 25. With its top eight scorers back from last season, the Illini already look like a team built to lean on experience, and the early signs suggest the Big Ten crowd will notice that quickly once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Pulled Off The Kind Of Late Rally Fans Needed
Illinois had to dig itself out of a late hole against Maryland, and the finish looked a lot more like the kind of resilient football fans have been waiting for. Freshman running back Javari Barnett sparked the comeback with a 64-yard touchdown run, giving the offense the burst it needed after a game that had been tight deep into the fourth quarter. Ethan Moczulski then finished the job with the game-winning field goal, a kick that kept Illinois rolling and pushed the winning streak to three.
Katin Houser did his part in a steady passing performance, going 18 of 32 for 223 yards and a touchdown, while the defense helped tilt the game with two takeaways. It was the sort of late rally that can change the mood around a team, especially when it comes with young playmakers stepping into the spotlight and the margin for error shrinking by the snap. [Read more 🡒]