Illinois Football: 3 observations from the Illini loss to Wisconsin

The Illinois football team went up to Madison and got their butts handed to them by the Wisconsin Badgers

This was a game that many Illinois fans thought the program could win. Coming off a 2019 campaign that featured six wins and a bowl game appearance, the expectations were higher this year than ever before. Not to mention, the Illini took down the Badgers in 2019 in what was a great upset victory.

Despite a turnover on the second play of the game and an easy score by Wisconsin, this game wasn’t out of hand early on. Illinois was able to return a fumble for a touchdown with 3:22 to go in the first half to bring the score back to 14-7.

After that fumble return, the wheels fell off for the Illinois football program. Wisconsin would have a quick drive and score a touchdown on their next possession. Illinois then couldn’t sustain a drive and had to give the ball back to the Badgers before halftime. They would score on one play and just like that, the score went from 14-7 to 28-7 in a matter of a couple of minutes.

Illinois had a chance to change the tides in the third quarter but couldn’t convert on fourth down plays in Wisconsin territory. If they convert those fourth down plays, then this game could have been a lot closer.

The Badgers would tack on two more touchdowns and a field goal to win the game 45-7. Illinois’ offense failed to score a single point. They essentially gave up a touchdown as well. The defense didn’t look great either, but the Illinois offense put the defense behind the eight ball.

There were so many things that went wrong on Friday night. Thankfully, we have a long week to get the issues corrected.

Here are three observations from the Illini loss to Wisconsin.