After a tough loss to Duke in Week 2 under the lights of Gies Memorial Stadium, Illinois needed a game to get back before Big Ten play started. Southern Illinois just happened to be the team in the way of a pissed-off Bret Bielema squad, and they certainly felt the wrath of the Illini.
Illinois cruised to a 48-10 win over the Salukis, a win they needed before taking on Ohio State, a team that has run the Big Ten for over a decade now. What fans can love most about this win is that it wasn't all offensive or all defensive; the Illini played great complementary football and should feel good heading into Big Ten play.
With such a great win, I skipped out on a losers list today, seeing the positive side of the game with five winners and even one honorable mention.
5. Joe Barna
Not only has the Illinois defense been under fire since the start of the season, but the defensive line has taken a lot of the blame. Against Southern Illinois, the defensive line chose to change that narrative, and Joe Barna was the best of the best with three total tackles, two solo tackles, half a sack, and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
4. Juice Clark
Juice Clark's name hasn't been said too much this season, and a lot of that is due to the lack of production from the Illinois offense. Clark led the way, though, in tackles for the Illini with seven total tackles, five solo tackles, and even added two defended passes to his stat line.
This was a solid game for the Illinois defense, and one they needed before taking on a very tough Ohio State offense to open Big Ten play.
3. Matthew Bailey
The Illinois defense has been under a lot of heat the last two weeks, but let's face it, none of that heat was on Matthew Bailey, who by far is the leader of Bobby Hauck's crew. The defense looked marginally better today, only allowing 10 points, but what lands Bailey on the winners list is his 88-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.
2. Aidan Laughery
The run game has been a bit slower for Illinois so far this season, but even when Houser throws for 305 yards, the running backs still showed off with 198 rushing yards. Aidan Laughery led the way with 93 yards on four carries, granted it was aided by a 77-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Laughery didn't get as many touches as starter Ca'lil Valentine, but he made the most of the four he did get, especially on the touchdown run. Illinois offense was clicking today, and to see the run game get going has to feel good before facing the Buckeyes next week.
1. Collin Dixon
It feels like Collin Dixon should just buy some real estate on the winners list, given how often he finds himself on it. I mean, it is hard not to put him on it every week when he continues to put together stellar performance after stellar performance.
After an 11-reception, 166-yard, and three-touchdown game vs. Duke, Dixon came out against Southern Illinois ready for another big day, and he delivered. Dixon finished the game with eight receptions for 133 yards and another two touchdowns, breaking the single-season record for receiving touchdowns in Gies Memorial Stadium with seven so far this season.
There is no way, barring an injury that takes him out for the season, that Dixon doesn't break the single-season receiving touchdown record for the Illini this season, which is 10. He is only three away, and at this point, he is on pace to score 32 touchdowns this season, but that is against non-conference opponents, which probably isn't realistic once Big Ten play hits.
Honorable mention: Katin Houser
It seems like Katin Houser has settled in at Illinois just fine, and even though he isn't on the winners list, throwing for over 300 yards for the first time this season at least earns him an honorable mention. Houser finished with 305 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, helping the Illini to their bounce-back win before heading into Illinois' Big Ten opener vs. Ohio State next week.
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