FOOTBALL GAME NOTES FIGHTINGILLINI.COM @IlliniFootball @IlliniFootball IlliniAthletics facebook.com/IlliniFootball #ILLINI @IlliniAthletics @IlliniAthletics facebook.com/IlliniAthletics GAME TWELVE OPENING KICK Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 // 2:30 pm // BTN • Kicking Off: The Fighting Illini (4-7 overall, 2-6 B1G West) travel to in-state rival #20/21 Northwestern (7-4, 7-1) on Evanston, Ill. // Ryan Field (47,330) Saturday to close out the season and battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy (2:30 pm CT, BTN). • Running Wild: The Illini are averaging 251.1 rushing yards per game, good for 12th-best in FBS and currently third on the Illinois season rushing average list. This year’s squad is averaging 145.5 yards per game more than last season (105.6), the biggest improvement in the nation from last year to this year. • November Run: In the month of November, the Illini rank third in the nation in rushing yards per carry (7.46), behind only Clemson and Georgia, fourth in rushing touchdowns (10), and sixth in rushing yards (315.7 ypg). • Big Play Run Game: The Illini running game is not only one of the best in the nation, it’s also very explosive. ILLINOIS (4-7, 2-6) #22 NORTHWESTERN (7-4, 7-1) » Ranks seventh in the nation in yards per carry for all games (5.99) and fifth in yards per carry in conference games (6.41), behind only Pittsburgh (6.92), Clemson (6.91), Oklahoma (6.86) and Wisconsin (6.44). TELEVISION BROADCAST | Big Ten Network » Kevin Kugler (PBP), James Laurinaitis (analysis) & » Leads FBS in runs of 70+ yards (5), 40+ yards (14) and 30+ yards (20). Ranks second in runs 60+ yards Lisa Byington (sidelines) + Bart Fox (producer) (6), third in 50+ yard runs (8), and third in 80+ yard runs (1). » Ran for 430 yards against Minnesota (11/3) on 35 carries (12.3 ypc), the eight-best rushing performance RADIO BROADCAST | Fighting Illini Sports Network in program history, then followed that up with 383 yards on the ground at Nebraska (7.8 ypc) on (11/10). » Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O’Donnell (analysis), » Illinois had three 70+ yard runs against Minnesota, a feat accomplished only once before in 129 years of Jason Davis (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) football – 9/16/1944 vs. Illinois-Normal (now Illinois State). » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online » Reggie Corbin’s 80-yard touchdown run at Wisconsin tied for the 10th-longest run in Illinois history. It was radio, XM (386) satellite radio & FightingIllini.com. the longest run by an Illini since Daniel Dufrene ran for 80 yards at Ohio State on 11/10/2007. » Illinois has had 10 100-yard rushing performances in 11 games – four by RB Reggie Corbin, four by QB A.J. GAMEDAY LINKS Bush Jr., and two by RB Mike Epstein. Last season, the Illini had one 100-yard rushing game. Gameday Information: FightingIllini.com/gameday • Runnin’ Reggie: Junior RB Reggie Corbin has been the Illini’s home run hitter this season. TRAVEL & TICKET INFORMATION » Leads the nation in yards per carry (8.76) with 1,007 yards on 115 carries despite missing most of the last The team plans to depart for Northwestern on Friday after- two games due to injury (10 carries combined in last two weeks after leaving both games early). noon. There will not be any media availability in Evanston » Is averaging 9.83 yards per carry in conference games and 9.31 yards per carry on the road. Both lead the until after the game. Illinois-Northwestern tickets are nation for any players with at least 50 carries. available at nusports.com. » Leads FBS in runs of 70+ yards (4), 60+ yards (5) and 50+ yards (7). Ranks second in FBS in runs of 80+ yards (1), 40+ yards (7) and 30+ yards (9), and fifth in runs of 20+ yards (14). » Has 1,007 rushing yards this season, the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season in Illinois history and the first since ILLINOIS SCOREBOARD Mikel Leshoure ran for an Illinois record 1,697 yards in 2010. He ranks 32nd in the nation in rushing yards. Sept. 1 .....Kent State ........................W, 31-24 Sept. 8 .....Western Illinois ....................W, 34-14 » Ran for a career-high 213 yards on 13 carries (16.4 ypc) and two touchdowns (72 and 77 yards) in the win Sept. 15 ....vs. South Florida (Soldier Field)........L, 19-25 over Minnesota. It was the eighth-best rushing performance in Illini history and the best since 2010. Sept. 21 ....#10/9 Penn State (HOF Weekend) . L, 24-63 » Has four 100-yard games, all against Big Ten foes – 213 vs. Minnesota (11/3), 155 at Maryland (10/27), 137 Oct. 6 ......at Rutgers ........................W, 38-17 Oct. 13 .....Purdue (Homecoming) . ...........L, 7-46 at Rutgers (10/6), 100 at Wisconsin (10/20). Oct. 20 .....at #23/19 Wisconsin ................L, 20-46 • Roundtree Rolling: Sophomore DE Bobby Roundtree leads the Big Ten in sacks during conference games (7.5) Oct. 27 .....at Maryland . L, 33-63 Nov. 3 ......Minnesota (Dads Day) ...............W, 55-31 and is second in the nation in sacks during the month of November (4.5). He has two sacks in each of the last two Nov. 10 .....at Nebraska .......................L, 35-54 games (at Nebraska and vs. Iowa). For the season, Roundtree leads the nation in PBUs for a defensive lineman Nov. 17 .....Iowa..............................L, 0-63 (7) and has 8.5 sacks (21st in FBS / 2nd in B1G). Nov. 24 .....at #22/20/21 Northwestern ......2:30 pm (BTN) • Take Your Pick: Illinois has been among the top teams in the nation in interceptions all season. All times Central … Rankings are AP/Coaches poll week of game » The Illini’s 15 interceptions is tied for ninth in FBS and ranks third in the Big Ten. prior to November. CFP/AP/Coaches from November on. » LB Del’Shawn Phillips has four interceptions on the season to rank ninth in FBS and second in the Big Ten. WHERE TO FIND... NORTHWESTERN SCOREBOARD Notes 1-12 Aug. 30 .....at Purdue.........................W, 31-27 » Ten different Illini have at least one interception on the season. Media Information 2 Sept. 8 .....Duke..............................L, 7-21 Records to Watch 16 Sept. 15 ....Akron ............................L, 34-39 HOMEGROWN O-LINE Pronunciation Guide 17 Sept. 29 ....#14/15 Michigan . L, 17-20 Key Player Quick Facts 18 Oct. 6 ......at #20/19 Michigan State ............W, 29-19 The starting offensive line consists of all players from Illinois. The group of Oct. 13 .....Nebraska .....................W (OT), 34-31 Updated Rosters 19-20 Oct. 20 .....at Rutgers ........................W, 18-15 senior Nick Allegretti (Frankford, Ill.), redshirt freshman Kendrick Green Roster Breakdown 21 Oct. 27 .....vs. #20/19 Wisconsin................W, 31-17 (Peoria, Ill.), sophomore Doug Kramer (Hinsdale, Ill.), sophomore Vederian The Last Time 22 Nov. 3 ......#4/3/3 Notre Dame .................L, 21-31 Lowe (Rockford, Ill.) and sophomore Alex Palczewski (Mount Prospect, Ill.) Performance Center Info 23 Nov. 10 .....at #21/NR/NR Iowa .................W, 14-10 have started all 11 games and have played a majority of the snaps together, Game Summaries 24-27 Nov. 17 .....at Minnesota ......................W, 24-14 paving the way for Illinois’ potent rushing attack (251.1 yards per game, Player Bios 28-42 Nov. 24 .....Illinois ......................2:30 pm (BTN) Season Stats 43-48 12th-best in FBS), the most improved in the nation (+145.5 ypg). 1 // FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // @ILLINIFOOTBALL // #ILLINI 2018 ILLINOIS FOOTBALL // GAME NOTES ILLINOIS WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE // NORTHWESTERN GAME 19 MONDAY 20 TUESDAY 21 WEDNESDAY 22 THURSDAY 23 FRIDAY 24 SATURDAY 25 SUNDAY Smith Press Conference Post-practice availability No availability No availability No availability GAME DAY No availability (1 pm, State Farm Center - Players who weren’t at Illinois at Northwestern media room) Monday availability. (2:30 pm CT, BTN) (approx. 9:30 am) Coordinators and Select Postgame player/coach Players Available Smith B1G Teleconference availability (1:15-2 pm, State Farm (12:04 pm) Center media room) GETTING OFFENSIVE MEDIA INFORMATION The revamped Illinois offense, directed by new offensive coordinator Rod Smith, has made huge improvements in MONDAY’S SELECTED PLAYERS 2018. The Illini have made huge jumps in the national rankings from 2017 to 2018 in several key offensive catego- Illini coordinators and players will be available on Monday ries, including a 100+ jump in rushing offense (+110) and a 90+ jump in big rushing plays (+94), a category in at about 1:15 pm following head coach Lovie Smith’s which Illinois leads the nation. press conference on the 8th floor of the Memorial Stadium ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2018 Press Box. The players this week are OL Nick Allegretti, Category 2017 (Nat’l Rk) 2018 (Nat’l Rk) Improvement Nat’l Rk Diff. PK Chase McLaughlin, LB Del’Shawn Phillips and TE Rushing Offense (ypg) 105.6 (122) 251.1 (12) +145.5 +110 Austin Roberts. Rushes of 40+ Yards 2 (95) 14 (1) +12 +94 Scrimmage Plays of 60+ Yards 2 (92) 9 (5) +7 +87 POST-PRACTICE INTERVIEWS Total Offense (ypg) 280.4 (126) 406.3 (66) +125.9 +60 The first 25 minutes of practice are open to the media Scoring Offense (ppg) 15.4 (126) 26.9 (82) +11.5 +44 on Tuesday and Wednesday (8-8:25 a.m.). Interviews will take place after practice at about 9:30 a.m. on both QUICK STRIKE O days. Media are asked to wait in the Varsity Room outside the SE corner of the stadium (if practice is on the grass The revamped Illini offense has shown its explosiveness with 16 scoring drives of less than a minute this season, practice field) or in the player’s lounge on the north end third-most in FBS behind only Utah State and Alabama.