Illinois Closes Home Schedule With 38-16 Victory Over Michigan State
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois returned to the win column with a 38-16 victory over Michigan State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium behind a dominant and complete showing.
The Illini’s 22-point win marked the program’s first time recording six home wins in a season since 2001.
Josh McCray tallied a career-best three rushing touchdowns, including two 1-yard scores in the fourth quarter. McCray amassed a team-high 61 yards on his nine carries, including a 30-yard rush in the final frame.
Pat Bryant secured the fifth 100-yard receiving game of his career, finishing with a career-high 135 yards on just four receptions. His 57-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter marked the longest reception of his career.
Luke Altmyer went 19-for-32 with 231 yards and two passing scores, which both came in the first half.
The Illini defense held the Spartans to 2-for-15 on third down, including a 1-for-10 mark in the second half. Illinois also totaled five sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) will close the regular season with back-to-back Big Ten road games, a stretch that begins next Saturday, Nov. 23, with a meeting with Rutgers. The Fighting Illini and Scarlet Knights are slated to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Peacock.
