Illinois Football: 3 key players for the Illini to beat the Kansas Jayhawks

3. Luke Altmyer

The last player I want to note as being one of the key players for Illinois to beat Kansas is, obviously, Luke Altmyer.

This season, I believe, the Illinois offense goes as Altmyer goes. He showed flashes of being good in the first half against Toledo, and then he was unleashed in the second half. Altmyer flinging the ball around in the second half, along with a pick-six, was the reason Illinois won the game last weekend.

Kansas doesn’t have a good defense in any form or fashion. They were one of the worst teams in the country in both rush and pass defense in 2022. The Jayhawks played a terrible Missouri State team in week one, so the numbers are going to be a little skewed.

When I say that Altmyer is a key player for the Illini to beat Kansas, I don’t mean that he should throw the ball an exorbitant number of times. I think Illinois should still focus on the run because this helps our defense. But when Altmyer is called upon, he is going to need to convert some big-time passes.

If Illinois can get another 69% completion day out of Altmyer against Kansas, and maybe erase that bad interception, then I think we come away with the road victory. A lot rests on his shoulders. I think he can lead this offense.