Gameday Central | FINAL: No. 22 Illinois 21, No. 24 Michigan 7

CHAMPAIGN Call Saturday afternoon the culmination of a century of progress.

Or, at least, four years of progress under Bret Bielema's watch overseeing the Illinois football program.

The No.

22 Illini never trailed against No.

24 Michigan, defeating the Wolverines 21-7 on a picturesque fall Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium they'll be talking about for the next 100 years.

Here are 10 first impressions from the Illini's sixth win of the season that came 100 years and one day after Red Grange's historic six-touchdown performance during the 1924 dedication game at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday's game served as a rededication game of the venue that has stood in Champaign for a century.

Polling place The win by Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) against the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2) will almost certainly move up the Illini in the Associated Press Top 25 poll when it comes out Sunday afternoon.

Meaning, another ranked matchup awaits the Illini next Saturday when they travel to play at No.

2 Oregon (7-0, 4-0) in a 2:30 p.m.

kickoff at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Who knows? Maybe Oregon will be ranked No.

1 in the country if current No.

1 Texas loses to No.

5 Georgia tonight.

They're going bowling The 12-team College Football Playoff is the focus of every team in the country.

But the bowl games are still a factor.

Illinois made sure it would play again after its Nov.

30 regular-season finale against Northwestern at Wrigley Field with Saturday's victory.

For a program that has struggled to sustain success in recent memory, this is relevant.

Whoever and wherever the Illini play in either December or January will mark just the 21st postseason game in program history.

Winning the takeaway battle A key reason why Illinois beat Michigan? Its defense.

The Illini flustered Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle all game, with safety Matthew Bailey coming down with a key interception midway through the fourth quarter to end a promising drive by the Wolverines with Illinois ahead 21-7.

That came after Illinois forced and recovered two fumbles by the Wolverines in the first half (more below).

Steady Luke Luke Altmyer didn't dazzle like he did at Purdue.

Didn't need to, really, with the way the Illinois defense played.

The Illini quarterback was effective throwing the ball and running the ball, finishing 9 of 18 for 80 passing yards to go along with 48 rushing yards on 10 carries.

He didn't have any turnovers, an aspect of the game that plagued him in 2023 but has become a strength as he continues to make his case for All-Big Ten honors this season.

Don't know about Jack Michigan has a quarterback problem.

Namely, the Wolverines don't have a dependable option after J.J.

McCarthy led the Wolverines to a national title last season before the former News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year from Nazareth Academy bolted for the NFL.

Just like Jim Harbaugh.

Maybe the former Michigan coach had an inkling the Wolverines had no reliable QB this fall.

Tuttle struggled against the Illini defense, completing 20 of 32 passes for 208 yards.

The Illini defensive line, namely TeRah Edwards and Gabe Jacas, got after Tuttle in the second half as Illinois came away with five sacks in the game.

Arkin delivers Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin caught the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard pass midway through the second quarter from Altmyer to give Illinois a 13-0 lead.

But the most memorable play one of the Illini captains delivered came early in the third quarter.

Arkin pulled off a 36-yard run on a fake punt, setting up an eventual touchdown drive that was capped by a 1-yard run by Altmyer.

A subsequent two-point conversion pass from Donovan Leary to Zakhari Franklin, with Altmyer out of the game after his helmet popped off on the score, put Illinois ahead 21-7 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

But that two-score lead doesn't happen without Arkin doing his best Red Grange impression and hustling down the field.

Slow start Finishing drives was an issue for both teams in the early stages, with Illinois tallying just three points after its first 18 plays that spanned three drives and 98 yards.

Illinois turned the ball over on downs on its third drive, which ended when Josh McCray was met at the line facing fourth and one with 37 seconds left in the first half.

Turnovers plagued the Wolverines' attack during the second quarter; Michigan was kept off the board until 1:43 remained in the first half, with Kalel Mullings rushing into the north end zone from a yard out to trim the Wolverines' deficit to 13-7.

Forcing turnovers Jacas and Bailey forced fumbles from Tuttle and Donovan Edwards, respectively, in the second quarter as Illinois' defense held Michigan to 142 total yards in the first 30 minutes of play.

Those fumbles were recovered by Malachi Hood and Miles Scott, who had an interception brought back by a holding penalty two plays prior.

Scott's recovery led to Altmyer finding Arkin for the game's first touchdown.

Altmyer finished the first half with 68 passing yards and a touchdown while completing eight of his 14 attempts.

Off and running Aidan Laughery was the focal point of Illinois' offense in the early stages, with the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley product rushing for 29 yards on the third play of the game.

Laughery finished with 54 rushing yards on nine carries, while McCray contributed 50 rushing yards on 17 carries, sealing the outcome late with some timely runs in the fourth quarter to keep the first-down chains moving.

The Illini finished with 187 rushing yards against the Wolverines, good numbers especially with Kaden Feagin's status unknown moving forward the rest of the season.

Cause for celebration A sellout crowd of 60,670 was announced as the 77th sellout in Memorial Stadium history, a fitting number for the venue's rededication game as Illinois wore throwback uniforms commemorating Red Grange's performance against Michigan on Oct.

18, 1924.

*** END OF THE THIRD QUARTER A one-yard touchdown rush from Luke Altmyer added to.

Illinois' lead early in the third frame.

Altmyer's helmet popped off during the play, which led to backup quaterback Donovan Leary finding Zakhari Franklin on the ensuing two-point conversion.

*** HALFTIME Kalel Mullings found the end zone on a one-yard rush with 1:40 left in the second quarter to bring No.

24 Michigan within six points of No.

22 Illinois.

The Illini maintain a 13-7 lead at halftime.

David Olano's 44-yard field goal attempt was blocked as the clock expired on the second quarter.

*** 7:53 Q2 No.

24 Illinois leads No.

22 Michigan 13-0 thanks to a two-yard touchdown pass from Luke Altmyer to Tanner Arkin.

*** 11:35 Q2 A 32-yard field goal from David Olano caps a five-play, 24-yard drive and gives No.

24 Illinois a 6-0 lead over No.

24 Michigan at Memorial Stadium.

*** END OF THE FIRST QUARTER No.

24 leads No.

22 Michigan 3-0 after the first quarter of a Big Ten contest at Memorial Stadium.

The venue's 100th anniversary celebration is off to a good start thanks to a 47-yard field goal from David Olano that capped Illinois' first drive of the game.

Luke Altmyer has thrown for 33 yards on four completions, while Aidan Laughery leads the Illini in rushing with 47 yards on four carries.

Michigan has the ball and will begin the second quarter facing second down on its own 27-yard line.

The Wolverines are in the midst of their third drive, while Illinois has also possessed the ball three times.

A sellout crowd of 60,670 fans is announced as the 77th sellout in Memorial Stadium history.

*** PREGAME Here's how you know today's game between Illinois and Michigan has got a little something extra to it ...

there was actually standstill traffic three hours before kickoff to get into the tailgate/parking lots.

(Let's just say that's not the norm here in Champaign).

But today's game does have some extra juice.

There's the rededication of Memorial Stadium and the celebration of 100 years of Illini football in this building.

It's also the 100th anniversary (plus one day) of Red Grange demolishing Michigan almost singlehandedly.

The rematch a century later is also a matchup between ranked teams with No.

22 Illinois and No.

24 Michigan playing in the first ranked vs.

ranked game at Memorial Stadium since those two teams met for an epic night game in 2000.

The game's on CBS, to boot.

So a lot came together to make for a special game day in Champaign.

Something Illinois coach Bret Bielema would like to see on a regular basis without needing any extra pomp and circumstance.

Follow along all afternoon to see if the Illini can notch a win in front of a second sellout crowd this season:.

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