CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —Â Illinois took care of business on Homecoming, defeating Minnesota, 26-14, to move to 6-1 on the season and into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West.
The victory is the program’s fifth consecutive win, while the Illini have won six straight home games at Memorial Stadium.
The Fighting Illini registered 472 yards of offense and went 4-for-4 on fourth-down conversions in the win, while Chase Brown rushed for 180 yards, his eighth straight game with over 100 yards on the ground.
“Excited to get another one for us. The guys prepared really well all week,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “Today didn’t happen because of this week. It happened because of the way we’ve done things since January.
“The last time we beat Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota was 1983. I was 13. We keep chipping away at these numbers, and I am really excited where we are at.”
Illinois opened the scoring on the first drive of the game, needing four minutes to drive 75 yards down the field before eventually finding the end zone. After using seven chunk plays, the Illini got on the board when Tommy DeVito connected with Chase Brown for a 40-yard touchdown reception to take an early 7-0 lead.
On Minnesota’s first drive, Kendall Smith made his fourth interception of the season, snagging the ball away from a Golden Gopher receiver to register the takeaway and put the Illini offense back on the field.
Illinois then extended its advantage at the start of the second quarter, using 15 plays to move into the red zone. Isaiah Williams made three catches on the drive, including a fourth-down conversion, before Fabrizio Pinton converted a 31-yard field goal to push the Illini edge to 10-0.
The Illini responded after the Golden Gophers pulled within three, closing their final possession of the first half with an eight-minute, 19-play, and 72-yard drive and a 23-yard Pinton field goal to head into the break with a 13-7 lead.
Illinois registered 250 yards of offense in the first half while going a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions. Brown ran for 93 yards in the opening 30 minutes, while the Illini defense held the Golden Gophers to 123 yards and just 17 passing yards.
After Minnesota took its first lead of the game, Illinois moved quickly down the field and found the end zone for the second time on the afternoon. Brown surpassed 100 rushing yards for the eighth straight game before a 35-yard Brian Hightower catch moved the Illini inside the 5. Two plays later, DeVito punched the ball in from five yards out for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season as the Illini retook the lead, 20-14, just over five minutes into the second half.
The Illini defense forced punts on the next two drives, and the offense extended its lead to two possessions. A 15-play drive that included three third-down conversions ultimately resulted in a 23-yard Pinton field goal, his third successful kick of the game.
Pinton hit a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to remain perfect on the game – and on the season – to push the lead to 26-14.
Two Illinois interceptions in the closing four minutes of the game – one apiece from Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown – sealed the dominant home performance.
Minnesota quarterbacks combined to complete just six passes for 38 yards and three interceptions, while DeVito went 25-for-32 with 252 yards and both a passing and rushing touchdown.
The Illini held the Golden Gophers to 180 total yards of offense, while Illinois had nearly 40 minutes of possession.
Illinois will take advantage of a bye week next week before returning to action on the road at Nebraska on Oct. 29.
