Illinois football isn’t winning with fashion, but we are winning, nonetheless.
The Illini traveled to the East Coast on Saturday and took on a reeling Maryland squad. The Terrapins had just fired their head coach, and they were looking for answers. Beating Illinois would have been a big boost to their team.
Shockingly, Illinois came out in the game with Katin Houser starting at quarterback. This was a decision I still question, but with the way our team played, we still managed to snag the win, 20-17.
Here are five Illinois football observations from the nail-biting win over Maryland
1. The Illinois defense was the MVP
Illinois went out to Maryland, and this game would have been a loss if it wasn’t for our defense.
The Illini offense struggled greatly throughout the contest. The Terrapins should have scored over 20 points in this game. Illinois’ defense locked down and forced Maryland into some key turnovers.
On the first drive of the game, Houser threw an interception. Illinois forced a fumble at the one-yard line. The Illini then had a key interception when we were down 7-0.
Illinois wasn’t able to sustain drives. This Maryland team could have easily won and actually blown us out of the water. Malik Washington only had 190 yards and failed to find the end zone through the air. He also had an interception. On the ground, the Terrapins failed to get to 100 yards.
This was Illinois’ first complete defensive game of the season. It came at exactly the right time.
2. Illinois needed the burst from Javari Barnett
Sometimes, to win ugly games, you need a source that no one expects. Illinois got that from running back Javari Barnett.
Barnett has been great when he has seen the field this season. That hasn’t come often, though.
Coming into the game, Barnett’s career-high was 50 yards, and it came in the Southern Illinois contest. He got his chance against the Terrapins and came through in a big way.
Illinois was down 14-10 entering the fourth quarter. On the first play of the final 15 minutes, Barnett got the rock and hit a hole on the right side. He took the ball 64 yards for a touchdown.
This score gave Illinois momentum. It enabled the offense to do something other than have a bunch of three-and-outs. Barnett’s massive play put this program over the top.
3. I still question starting Katin Houser
It was a win. You can’t complain about a victory when the chips are down. With that being said, I still question the decision to start Katin Houser.
Houser is three weeks removed from a broken hand. He had surgery on that hand. Illinois started him this week, and the broken hand was a factor in his less-than-ideal play.
When you look at the box score, Houser’s stats aren’t terrible. He threw for 223 yards and a touchdown. Houser also had one interception and only completed 56.3% of his passes.
You could see the impact of Houser’s hand in his accuracy. He wasn’t accurate. Illinois had plenty of completions, but those completions had a lot to do with great plays by our wide receivers.
Late in the game, Barry Lunney Jr. simplified the playbook and had Houser throwing shorter, simpler passes. This was a great move by the coaching staff. But regardless, having Houser starting put Illinois in jeopardy of getting a victory.
I believe we should have ridden with Michael Clayton II one more week. Let’s see what the freshman could do. Let Houser’s hand heal more. I think Illinois played him at least a week too soon.
4. Collin Dixon is one of the best wide receivers in program history
There is a lot of chaos going on with the Illinois football team this season. We parted ways with our defensive coordinator. Our starting quarterback got hurt. Starting running back Ca’Lil Valentine also went down for the season.
Illinois has fought through all of that to get to 5-3 overall, and it is on the back of wide receiver Collin Dixon.
Dixon has done some incredible work this season. He was targeted all day against Maryland, and the Terrapins knew the ball was coming his way. Dixon still finished with six receptions for 103 yards.
It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is for Illinois either. When Clayton was in there, Dixon still went for 65 yards and a touchdown against a good Oregon defense.
I am not sure I have seen a more sure thing for the Illinois offense. Dixon is etching his name in the Illini record book, and I think at the end of the day, he might end up being one of the best, if not the best, wide receivers in program history.
5. The Illini are fighting for Bret Bielema
Just four games ago, Illinois was floundering at home against Purdue. We lost that game 24-17, dropping to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten.
In this day and age of college football, players could have packed it in and waited for the offseason transfer portal. Instead of doing that, Illinois players have refocused and bought into what Bret Bielema is saying.
It is exciting that this team is still bought in right now. The result of the Illini still playing for something is three straight wins, one of which was over Oregon. We are now one win away from a bowl game. That seemed like a stretch after the loss to the Boilermakers.
Bielema has the Illini playing winning football. It doesn’t look great at all times, but when the final second ticks off, we are coming out on top. This shows me that the Illinois coaching staff has the ear of the players. That is huge for a program.
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