Take It Away: Illini Turn Rutgers Turnovers Into 38-10 Win

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- At some point, one must beg the question of why Illinois would even bother to play offense.

The takeaway momentum shift arrived again in Champaign for Lovie Smith’s Illinois defense as the Illini used two defensive scores and 21 points off three Rutgers turnovers to blow away the Big Ten cellar dweller.

When Illinois, a three-touchdown favorite Saturday afternoon, appeared to be sleepwalking its way through the first two and a half quarters, Rutgers handed them two fumbles and suddenly Illinois (5-4, 3-3 in Big Ten) was running away with a 38-10 win.

"They attack the football every play," Rutgers interim head coach Nunzio Campanile said following his program's 18th straight Big Ten loss. "Obviously, he’s been doing that for a long time, Coach Smith, it’s been the calling card of his teams, and they did a great job of it.”

Over a nine-minute and 59 second period, Illinois used defensive touchdowns from Nate Hobbs (a 36-yard fumble return) and Dele Harding (a 54-yard interception return) along with two big plays from Brandon Peters (a 54-yard run and a 52-yard touchdown) to blow open its third straight conference win.

"Defensively, we need to take the ball away," Lovie Smith said. "That's part of our DNA. We rely on that. That is what we expect to do."

Saturday marked the second game this season Illinois has had multiple defensive scores but the last time it was accomplished was a disappointing 40-17 loss at Big Ten West Division leader Minnesota.

Harding’s touchdown is the second time he had a pick-six as the senior, who also led the team in tackles today with 12, gave the Illini an early lead in Minneapolis with a defensive score. Harding’s score Saturday was simply the cap of a quick momentum turnaround that has become the hallmark of Lovie Smith’s defensive unit.

"As far back as I remember, (defensive takeaways) have been a base part of football for me," Smith said following his first three-game Big Ten winning streak at Illinois. "I'll say it goes back to Jim Norman, my high school, John Cooper (who Smith worked under at Ohio State), (former Tennessee defensive coordinator) Larry Marmie down the line...Tony Dungy. All of those guys stressed it as much as we do now."

Peters, who came in averaged 4.5 yards per game rushing, nearly led the Illini in rushing with 41 yards on three carries. Illinois finished with just 324 yards of total offense on an afternoon where Peters needed to just complete six passes.

"The guys (on the sideline) definitely feel (the momentum shift) when turnovers happen," Peters said. "It may not be talked about or verbalized but it feels like a big weight taken off your shoulders."

The Illinois defense led Rutgers freshman quarterback Johnny Langan to just 127 total yards (86 passing, 41 rushing) but forced the young, run-first signal-caller into two key turnovers.

Illinois will try to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2014 with a road game at Michigan State for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on FS1.