Illinois left College Park with a 20-17 win, but it took every bit of 60 minutes and a walk-off kick to get there.
Ethan Moczulski ended it with a 26-yard field goal as time expired, capping a tense Big Ten game that swung back and forth all afternoon. The Fighting Illini improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Maryland dropped to 2-6 and 0-5 in the Big Ten in Aazaar Abdul-Rahim’s first game as interim head coach after Michael Locksley’s mid-season dismissal.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said the win fit the way his team has had to grind through the season. “The way this team's persevered, nothing's really come easy,” Bielema noted. “Sometimes when you're a good football team, maybe a certain phase doesn't play all that great but you're able to still win a football game.”
Maryland got the first punch in the opening quarter when Malik Washington finished an opening drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Illinois answered in the second quarter after quarterback Katin Houser, back from a hand injury, threw an early interception and then settled in. With 27 seconds left before halftime, Houser found Brayden Trimble for a 16-yard touchdown to tie it 7-7.
The Terrapins went back in front in the third quarter on DeJuan Williams’ 17-yard touchdown run, but Illinois trimmed the margin with a field goal to make it 14-10. Then the fourth quarter opened with a bang: Javari Barnett ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run on the first snap of the period, giving Illinois a 17-14 lead.
Maryland answered with a tying field goal, setting up the final Illinois possession. Starting at its own 26 with 5:45 left, the Illini moved the ball methodically, drained the clock, used up Maryland’s timeouts, and set Moczulski up for the winner.
The box score told a harsh story for Maryland. The Terrapins kept getting chances in prime field position, taking over at the Illinois 12, the Illinois 45, the Illinois 49, and their own 45.
But those four possessions produced only seven points. Washington and Williams both turned the ball over, and those mistakes kept Maryland from cashing in on opportunities that could have changed the game.
Illinois had its own field-position problems and still found a way. Before that final 5:45 march, the Illini had not started a drive outside their own 25-yard line.
The result pushes Illinois into a crowded 3-2 group in the Big Ten with Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. The Illini will host Nebraska on Friday night.
Maryland, meanwhile, stays tied with Michigan State at the bottom of the conference and turns to Purdue next Saturday in West Lafayette. The Terrapins will need cleaner play after wasting those short-field chances against Illinois, and ball security is front and center after the turnovers by Washington and Williams.
The matchup with Purdue brings its own challenges. The Boilermakers are led by Ryan Browne on offense and have Fame Ijeboi, who has 588 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, driving the ground game.
Maryland will also lean on linebackers Daniel Wingate and Zion Elee up front, while offensively it will need balance through Williams and more involvement from leading receiver Chris Durr Jr. Purdue’s defense is anchored by linebacker JoJo Hayden, and ESPN Analytics gives the Boilermakers a 74.8 percent chance to win at Ross-Ade Stadium.
For Maryland, the loss was another painful finish. For Illinois, it was the kind of road win that can steady a season: messy, tight, and decided by one last kick.
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Two Illini Stepped Up When Bowl Hopes Needed Them Most
Illinois needed someone to seize the moment late against Maryland, and it got exactly that from a pair of players who gave the game its defining swings. Freshman Javari Barnett broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, a burst that helped keep the Illini in striking distance in a game that stayed tight all the way to the finish.
Matthew Bailey also made his presence felt on the defensive side, stacking up tackles for loss and forcing a fumble as Illinois fought through a tense fourth quarter. The 20-17 win pushed the Illini to five victories, leaving them one more step away from bowl eligibility and giving this team a little more breathing room as the season turns toward its final stretch. [Read more 🡒]
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For Illinois, the good news is there is enough depth to absorb the loss in the short term, at least in the games immediately ahead. Still, losing a player of Mirkovics caliber this close to the start of the season changes the feel of the buildup, and the bigger question now is how long the Illini will have to manage without him. [Read more 🡒]
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For Brad Underwood, that kind of impact is exactly why Vaaks keeps getting trusted. The Illinois coach singled him out for effort and winning plays, which matters in a rotation where every possession can shape how the group looks heading into the season. Vaaks may not be the flashiest piece on the floor, but the Illini clearly value the steadiness he brings when he checks in. [Read more 🡒]