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Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini win over Wisconsin

By Rees Woodcock

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema celebrates with a supporter as he heads to the locker room after a game against Wisconsin on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois won the game, 34-10, in Bielema’s return to Madison after coaching the Badgers from 2006-2012.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinUsat Wisconsin Vs Illinois Football 100122 2932 Ttm
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema celebrates with a supporter as he heads to the locker room after a game against Wisconsin on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois won the game, 34-10, in Bielema’s return to Madison after coaching the Badgers from 2006-2012.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinUsat Wisconsin Vs Illinois Football 100122 2932 Ttm /
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Oct 1, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) rushes with the football as Wisconsin Badgers safety John Torchio (15) defends during the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) rushes with the football as Wisconsin Badgers safety John Torchio (15) defends during the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Chase Brown continues his tear

I will be the first to say this, but Chase Brown’s performance was kind of boring. Think about that for a second. I expect him to rush for over 100 yards, so when he does, it is like, “yeah, that is what Chase Brown does.”

Brown has been absolutely sensational this season, but through the first drive or so against Wisconsin, I thought he was maybe going to have a come-back-to-Earth outing. That wasn’t the case at all.

In the first three Illinois drives on Saturday, Brown had seven carries for 11 yards. He was struggling to find room to run, and that was expected against Wisconsin. But I equate that to a great writer with writer’s block. Eventually, they break out of that short funk and start putting together a masterpiece. That is exactly what Brown would do.

From the fourth drive on, which was essentially the second through fourth quarters, Brown would have 18 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. He torched the Wisconsin defense for 6.5 yards per carry in the final three quarters of the game.

Ultimately, Brown would finish the game with 25 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown. This was his fifth-straight game with over 100 yards rushing. He now has 733 yards on the season and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

I would argue Brown is one of the best Illinois running backs I have ever seen. The current tear he is on is something that is extremely rare. I can’t wait to see what Brown can do for the final seven games of the 2022 campaign. Records will be broken.

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