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LIVE BLOG: FINAL - No. 19 Iowa 35, Illinois 21

Feel free to log in and join the in-game discussion as for the Illini Gameday Live Blog as Illinois hosts No. 19 Iowa for a 2: 30 p.m. kickoff.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good afternoon from the campus of the University of Illinois at Memorial Stadium as Illinois (2-3) hosts No. 19 Iowa (4-2) for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. Illinois is a 13.5-point home underdog. We're a few hours away from game time with weather conditions via Weather.com in Champaign is calling for temperatures in the low 40s to upper 30s with little to no wind.

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No. 19 Iowa at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday Dec. 5, 2020: 2:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium.

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: N/A (No fans allowed for Big Ten games in 2020)

Records: Illinois 2-3; 6-7 (4-5 in Big Ten) in 2019; Iowa 4-2; 10-3 (6-3 in Big Ten) in 2019.

Line: Iowa by 13.5. The last time Iowa visited Memorial Stadium they defeated Illinois 63-0 on Nov. 17, 2018.

Series notes:  Illinois leads the all-time series 38-35-2. However, the Illini’s last win in the series was a 27-24 victory in Champaign on Nov. 1, 2008. Matt Eller kicked a 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds left and Illinois withstood Iowa’s fourth-quarter comeback. Illinois sacked Ricky Stanzi six times, scoring a touchdown on one of them when DB Dere Hicks forced a fumble, scooped up the ball and ran in for 24-9 lead in the third quarter. The 2008 win snapped Iowa’s five-game winning streak against Illinois

TV: FS1; Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Ben Leber (analyst).

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/ XM satellite radio & SiriusXM Internet and at FightingIllini.com.

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2:15 p.m. UPDATE - The 33 seniors on this Illinois football program are being honored right now. 

Illinois senior tailback Mike Epstein isn't dressed today with an unknown injury. 

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2:20 p.m. UPDATE - Illinois linebacker Delano Ware has been ruled inactive with an unknown injury. It's likely that senior Milo Eifler will be active today. 
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2:40 p.m. UPDATE - Iowa will begin this game with the football. 

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13:05 Left in 1st - Illinois 0, No. 19 Iowa 0 - Khalan Tolson gets his first solo sack and Iowa goes three and out after a short kick return. Illinois sends backup kicker Caleb Griffin returns the punt (yes, the backup kicker). 

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TOUCHDOWN ILLINI: 8:10 left in 1st - Illinois 7, No. 19 Iowa 0 - A 27-yard touchdown pass right down the middle of the field to Daniel Barker completes a near flawless first drive for the Illini. Peters was 3 of 3 for 45 yards and had a 13-yard run. Excellent read and throw by Peters on the TD. 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 6:44 left in 1st - Illinois 7, No. 19 Iowa 0 - Illinois has scored in a home game versus Iowa for the first time since 2014. Iowa has gained a total of three yards in its first two drives and their field position didn't start at the 20-yard-line. Illinois pass rush has been active today. Apparently, backup kicker Caleb Griffin as the punt returner is a thing now. 

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4:49 left in 1st - Illinois 7, No. 19 Iowa 0 - Illinois crosses midfield but a confusing screen pass in the middle of the field gets stuffed. I'm not sure the idea was sound there but Iowa is pinned deep again. 

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End of 1st: Illinois 7, No. 19 Iowa 0 - Really good reads by Illinois in this first quarter. They're simply counting how many Iowa defenders are in the box and that is dictating the play call. Right now Iowa is content with six in the box and Illinois has 53 rushing yards in first quarter. Peters is 5 of 5 for 54 yards and a TD. 

Screen Shot 2020-12-05 at 3.17.41 PM

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TOUCHDOWN ILLINI: 13:30 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 0 - A fade route from Peters to Josh Imatorbhebhe is reviewed and ruled that it is a touchdown catch. A 12-yard strike for the Illini and Peters is 7 of 7 for 91 yards and two touchdowns. 

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INJURY UPDATE: Illinois linebacker Khalan Tolson is down on the opposite side of the field and needing help from the Illinois training staff to get to the sideline. Illini already without Barnes and Ware in the second level of their defense. They could be down to four scholarship linebackers after this play. 

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9:53 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 0 - Illini defensive ends force a sack to end Iowa's drive but the field position dictates a 3-and-out drive for Illinois. Illinois defense with two sacks and three tackles for loss.

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IOWA TOUCHDOWN: 6:18 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 7 - Iowa systematically drives 52 yards for its first score that ends with a 22-yard touchdown strike from Petras to Sam LaPorta (first career TD) and involved a missed tackle by Illini defense. 

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5:10 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 7 - Illini go three and out again and Iowa set up with great field position. The momentum shift of this game would be complete if Hawkeyes scored here. 

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IOWA FG: 2:54 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 10 - Illinois defense holds Iowa to a 40-yard field goal. However, Iowa has outgained Illini 101-27 in this quarter. 

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IOWA FG: 0:14 left in 2nd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 13 - Iowa had 1st and goal but three fade routes that go incomplete and the Illini manage a defensive stop. A 27-yard field goal by Duncan makes it 13 consecutive points for the Hawkeyes. 

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HALFTIME: Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 13 - Hawkeyes crawl back into this one with 13 consecutive points thanks to a resurgence of yup, you guessed it with an Iowa offense but passes to the tight end. Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters is 8 of 11 for 101 yards and two touchdowns but Illinois had just 51 total yards in that second quarter and four on the ground. 

Screen Shot 2020-12-05 at 4.15.31 PM

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UPDATE: Illinois officials announced linebacker Khalan Tolson and defensive lineman Jamal Woods will not return after suffering injuries today. 

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12:59 left in 3rd - Illinois 14, No. 19 Iowa 13 - Illinois' first drive is stalled and then Peters nearly throws his first interception today. Illinois defense needs a stop coming out of this halftime break.  

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IOWA TOUCHDOWN: 8:24 left in 3rd - No. 19 Iowa 21, Illinois 14 - Iowa takes its first play of the second half 70 yards on nine plays and ends with a 4-yard touchdown pass. Iowa has scored points on four straight possessions and Iowa QB Spencer Petras is 11 of 14 for 146 yards and two touchdowns since starting 3 of 7 early on. 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 4:48 left in 3rd - No. 19 Iowa 21, Illinois 14 - A promising drive ends with another punt after Peters overthrows a WIDE OPEN Donny Navarro. Since starting 8 of 8, Peters has been way less accurate (2 of 10 for 15 yards).

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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 1:05 left in 3rd - No. 19 Iowa 21, Illinois 14 - Great play by Illinois linebacker Milo Eifler to dislodge a critical third-down pass forcing an Iowa punt. Illinois may not get many more chances so this upcoming drive seems really important. Illini have just 51 yards since the first quarter. 

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IOWA TD PASS - 12:40 left - No. 19 Iowa 28, Illinois 14 - Illinois forced to punt again after a 3rd-down Peters sack. Iowa turns the great field position into Petras' third touchdown pass. Two Iowa tight ends have their first career touchdown pass. Petras came into this game with four TDs in six games. He has three today. 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 8:12 left - No. 19 Iowa 28, Illinois 14 - Illinois going with Isaiah Williams at quarterback on this drive and he has taken them down to the Iowa 16-yard-line. Iowa calls a timeout to reshape its defensive scheme for a running quarterback. 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 7:31 left - No. 19 Iowa 28, Illinois 14 - A 15-play drive ends with no points as the Isaiah Williams show is stalled out in the red zone. Iowa comes with a fourth down blitz up the middle and Illinois can't slip out an open receiver to counter it. 

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