Feeling the blues: Illini comeback falls short in 42-25 loss to Michigan

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A furious second-half rally simply couldn’t mask the massive 28-point deficit hole Illinois dug itself against a nationally-ranked opponent.

Despite 25 unanswered points to get within three in the fourth quarter, Illinois suffered its sixth straight Big Ten loss and 26th in 30 conference games in the Lovie Smith era.

“You go through a week of practice and you feel like you’re ready to play,” Smith said following the third four-game losing streak under his watch in four years at Illinois. “Don’t like the way we started the game today, kinda simple as that, especially on the defensive side of the football.”

Throughout the third quarter where Illinois outscored Michigan 10-0, the Illini found momentum by outlining a seemingly non-stop Wolverines offense through 30 minutes 113-11.

“You go through a week of practice and you feel like you’re ready to play,” - Illinois head coach Lovie Smith

Lovie Smith’s defense early on Saturday it was the same verse more like the first in an uninspiring first half. The Illini have now lost 24 in a row against ranked opponents and 33 of its last 34 since beating No. 1 Ohio State nearly 12 years ago.

“It’s not like there’s no hope for us,” Illinois wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe said. “You know what I’m saying? t’s not like we’re getting obliterated every single game.”

In a home stadium that appeared just half full and of that half were blue and yellow-clad Michigan fans, the nationally-ranked Wolverines looked in the first half every bit as overly talented and dominate over Illinois as the 23-point pre-kickoff spread suggested.

The last time Illinois wore all blue uniforms was a 63-0 loss last season to Iowa but Saturday’s 17-point loss means the Fighting Illini athletics personnel may not throw out this uniform combination soon afterward.

If it were not for a missed 34-yard field goal and a fumble near midfield, the 28-7 halftime deficit for the Illini (2-4, 0-3 in Big Ten) would’ve likely been worse. For the third straight game, a Big Ten team that struggled in the run game found its rushing mojo against a seemingly helpless Illini defense. Michigan (5-1, 3-1) arrived at Memorial Stadium this weekend averaging 128.4 rushing yards per game but had surpassed the 200-yard mark on the ground before the halftime.

“We had some good disruptive plays but we let out too many yards, too many big plays, too many explosive plays and we’re not tackling as well as we should be,” Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen said. “I think we need to believe a little more especially in that first half. I think in that first half we were a little starstruck kind of and that can’t happen.”

Over the first 30 minutes of play, Michigan had 8.5 yards per rush and 21.4 per completion as Shea Patterson had a pair of touchdown passes before the halftime break.

Five of Illinois’ first seven drives resulted in the three-and-out variety as Illini offensive coordinator Rod Smith continued to play hot potato with the quarterback position.

Matt Robinson, who got his first career start due to the ongoing injury situation of Brandon Peters, was swapped in and out with freshman sensation Isaiah Williams. With a week of practice preparation, Robinson looked much more steady and finished 16 of 25 for 192 yards and two total touchdowns. Williams, who did not make the trip to Minnesota the previous week with an undisclosed injury.

In a completely depressing reversal of trends, even the Illini special teams units had issues as punter Blake Hayes badly executed two kicks in the first quarter and had one blocked that led to a Michigan touchdown one play later.

Smith, who just finished his 42nd game as head coach at Illinois, said after this loss his program isn’t ready to start and/or finish a productive four-quarter game against a quality opponent.

“You have to look for positives with where we at right now and we’re six games into the season and we’re at the half and there is disappointment but there’s a lot of football left to go,” Smith said.

The Illini will host No. 8 Wisconsin next weekend at Homecoming for an 11 a.m. kickoff.

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