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Live Game Thread: Illinois vs. Rutgers Score Updates, Highlights and Analysis

Follow the score and action as we provide updates including news, analysis, video and more
Jason Langendorf|
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks onto the field prior to the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks onto the field prior to the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

In this story:

Illinois Fighting IlliniRutgers Scarlet Knights

Illinois (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) closes up shop at Memorial Stadium in Champaign with a decisive 35-13 win against Rutgers (4-5, 1-5 Big Ten) to bounce back from a rough week and preserve the possibility of another 10-win season and stay on track for the program's first-ever back-to-back nine-win seasons. A solid day's work.

Get game details, highlights and review the action from kickoff to final gun (read from the bottom up) below:

Fourth quarter

:01: In a bit of a statement, the Illini held the Scarlet Knights out of the end zone on the final play of the game – a third-and-2 inside the Illinois 5. Fittingly, cornerback Tyson Rooks locked horns with K.J. Duff on a corner route and broke up a throw-and-catch that Duff usually makes. That's a nice win for a beleaguered Illini secondary.

3:52: Kaden Feagin follows a nine-yard grinder up the gut with a three-yard loss where he tries to stretch it out rather than take on a small defender. No interest in seeing Feagin's 255 pounds running left or right. Get vertical, big fella.

5:47: Rutgers finally breaks through as quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and receiver K.J. Duff get together several times and finish off a nine-play drive with a three-yard touchdown reception. Illinois' cornerbacks, who have struggled against big receivers this season, have been getting the business from the 6-foot-6 Duff all day. Illinois leads 35-13.

10:20: Not so sure about the Luke Altmyer read-option keeper on second-and-9 with the Illini up 29 in the fourth quarter, but offensive coorindator Barry Lunney Jr. hasn't missed many beats today. And Speaking of reliability, kicker David Olano – who hadn't missed since Week 1 and entered Saturday's game 13-for-14 on the season – pushes a 45-yarder wide right to end a string of four straight Illini drives that ended in a touchdown.

Third quarter

3:26: Another long Illini drive (10 plays, 5:46), another Altmyer score. This time, on fourth-and-3 at the Rutgers 7, Altmyer, on the run, slings a bullet to Collin Dixon for a seven-yard touchdown. It's been a minute, but the Illini are on the right side of a rout again. Illinois leads 35-6.

8:18: Illinois offensive tackle Melvin Priestly leaves the field on his own power with what appears to be an arm injury.

9:40: Linebacker Gabe Jacas is breaking out, and boy howdy, is the Illini D glad to have him producing again. On third-and-5 from the Rutgers 30, Jacas drags down Athan Kaliakmanis for his second sack of the day to snuff a Scarlet Knights drive.

10:42: Wowza! Hudson Clement with maybe the catch of the year so far on the Illini's opening drive of the second half. On first-and-10, Luke Altymer lobs a back-shoulder beauty into the right-front corner of the end zone, where Clement contorted to create separation, make a play on the ball and secure it on the way down for a 20-yard TD. Brilliant stuff. Illinois leads 28-6.

Second quarter

:29: Luke Altmyer works a little more last-moment magic, driving the Illini 70 yards in under a minute, punctuated by a smartly disguised play that sprung Hank Beatty from a running formation into the left flats for a wide-open 1-yard touchdown pass. Illinois has struggled from time to time to hold off Rutgers pressure, but the offense is mostly humming along. Pretty impressive. Illinois leads 21-6 at half.

2:04: Trick and treat! After Luke Altmyer sandwiches a series of dangerous passes and tipped balls between some designed quarterback runs (for 36 and 16 yards), the Illini go back to him on ballsy play call by offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. On a direct snap to running back Kaden Feagin, Altmyer – lined up aside him in the shotgun – takes the handoff and zips three yards on fourth-and-goal thanks in part to sound blocking up front. Wildcat wrinkle. Great play. Illinois leads 14-6.

5:45: Another solid stop for the Illini D. After they stuff a Ja'Shon Benjamin run and get a gift of a drop, defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. bats down an Athan Kaliakmanis pass over the middle on third-and-9 from the Illini 22. Jai Patel boots home another field goal to help Rutgers draw within a point. Illinois leads 7-6.

10:34: Luke Altmyer is dropped for a sack in Illinois territory, and Melvin Priestly gets left holding the bag on an excellent Rutgers stunt. Altmyer gets it back by squirting out of the pocket to pick up the first on a 24-yard scramble. Then, moments later, he tries to float a simple screen pass to Hank Beatty but seems to completely miss Rutgers defensive lineman Farell Gnago in his flight path. Gnago knocks the ball out of the air and catches his own tip for an interception. Scarlet Knights ball on the Illini 46.

13:41: Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis is dealing, and he nearly answers back with his own touchdown pass to K.J. Duff on a deep throw to the left edge of the end zone. But Illini defensive back Jaheim Clarke does just enough to force the ball to bounce away harmlessly. Moments later, linebacker James Kreutz (replacing injured Dylan Rosiek in the lineup) knocks down a pass. On third-and-10 from their own 14, Illinois' defense pressures Kaliakmanis, who connects with Antwan Raymond – but well short of the first. Rutgers settles for a Jai Patel 26-yard field goal. Big moral victory for the Illini. Illinois lead 7-3.

First quarter

4:07: After an 11-yard Altmyer-to-Hank Beatty connection, the Illini have first-and-goal at the Rutgers 7. Altmyer fakes a quick handoff to Kaden Feagin, then rolls right with him, away from the rest of the action, flicking it to his wide-open running back for a touchdown. Illinois leads 7-0.

4:45: The Illini are on the move. Aidan Laughery chews up yards (especially on a gorgeously designed and blocked 19-yard haul), and tight end Tanner Arkin makes a pair of grabs to push Illinois into Rutgers territory. Timeout Illinois.

8:47: The Illinois offense, with Luke Altmyer working out of the shotgun, starts pass-run-pass. Altmyer drops back and narrowly avoids a safety on third down, floating a completion to Hudson Clement on a crossing route for a 16-yard gain and the first. Ball safely on the Illini 23.

10:15: Rutgers pulls off a brilliant special teams play, as a Scarlet Knight gunner pinned a Jakob Anderson punt at the Illinois 1-yard line before diving through the end zone. First-and-99 (so to speak) for the Illini.

10:24: Huzzah! A defensive stop! The Illini force three straight Athan Kaliakmanis incompletions, creating a bit of pressure on third-and-10 to squelch the Scarlet Knights threat at midfield.

12:13: Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and Rutgers come out in the shotgun spread and convert on their first two third-down attempts of the day. Not a great sign for the Illinois D.

Kickoff: It's a sunny, slightly brisk early-November morning at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, and we're most definitely ready for some football.

Illinois vs. Rutgers: What you need to know

How to watch

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. CT
Where: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
TV/stream: NBC

For more information, get our full How to Watch report here.

Injuries and pregame availability report

Get full analysis of injuries and pregame availability report here.

Illinois on SI staff picks

Get our staff predictions for Illinois-Rutgers here.

Published | Modified
Jason Langendorf
JASON LANGENDORF

Jason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.

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