LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Football Game Against Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Indiana (3-6) travels to Illinois (4-5) for a Noon ET kickoff on Saturday.
The Hoosiers are coming off a 20-14 home victory over Wisconsin last week, while the Illini beat Minnesota 27-26. Today, one team will win its second consecutive game for the first time this season.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated with all the news and views in real time, with opinion and highlights thrown in as well, live from Memorial Stadium.
2:55 p.m. – Jamari Sharpe was on an island in single coverage against Isaiah Williams, and he got turned around. Williams broke free, and Paddock hit him for a 21-yard touchdown. FINAL: ILLINOIS 45, INDIANA 42
2:52 p.m. – On 3rd and 7, Sorsby dropped back then ran it up the middle. Couldn't tell if that was a designed draw, or if Sorsby thought he saw a hole in the defense. Either way, Indiana is forced to kick. Chris Freeman's 41-yard attempt is good. Illinois can win the game with a touchdown. Indiana can win the game with a stop. We'll go to double-overtime if Illinois kicks a field goal. INDIANA 45, ILLINOIS 42
2:50 p.m. – After two minimal gains on run plays, Indiana faces 3rd and 7. Allen calls a timeout to talk it over.
2:47 p.m. – Illinois wins the toss, so Indiana will start overtime on offense.
2:46 p.m. – We're headed to overtime tied 42-42.
2:41 p.m. – Sorsby floats it to E.J. Williams Jr. in the back of the end zone for the game-tying two-point conversion. Just an unbelievable game. That's a 6-play, 85-yard drive in 1:09. INDIANA 42, ILLINOIS 42
2:40 p.m. – Sorsby hits a wide-open DeQuece Carter for a 26-yard touchdown with 28 second remaining. Indiana needs a two-point conversion to tie the game, and Illinois calls a timeout to talk it over.
2:39 p.m. – Sorsby complete to DeQuece Carter for 25 yards, then rushes for another 13 yards.
2:38 p.m. – Sorsby picks up a first down with a 17-yard scramble.
2:37 p.m. – Indiana gets the ball back at its own 15-yard line, needing a TD and 2-point conversion with 1:37 left to tie the game.
2:29 p.m. – Henderson met immediately at the line for a minimal gain on 3rd and 4. Sorsby threw to McCulley along the sideline on 4th and 3, but his pass was too wide. Indiana turns the ball over on downs, and that could be the game. Indiana has two timeouts left with 2:58 on the clock, trailing by eight.
2:22 p.m. – Indiana stopped Illinois short of the goal line, so the Illini settle for a field goal. Indiana has 5:04 to overcome an eight-point deficit. ILLINOIS 42, INDIANA 34
2:18 p.m – On 3rd and goal from the 6-yard line, Illinois was flagged for a false start, as all 11 players were not set. The Illini had the ball at the 1-yard line a few plays ago, but now must score from the 11.
2:13 p.m. – Illinois continued to shred Indiana's defense, picking up gains of 20 and 21 yards on this drive. They're already in the red zone again.
2:05 p.m. – Brendan Sorsby with another gritty run, this time for a 5-yard touchdown. This game is far from over. ILLINOIS 39, INDIANA 34
2:01 p.m. – Tahveon Nicholson flagged for "spitting on a player," which is the first time I've seen that called. Trent Howland picked up 18 yards on a 3rd and 12 run, which was both a surprising call and a surprising execution.
1:58 p.m. – Indiana starts its drive by drawing a pass interference penalty, bringing it across midfield already. Sorsby adds an 11-yard rush on the next play.
1:54 p.m. – Illinois paved a huge hole for Reggie Love III, and he ran for a 37-yard touchdown. Illinois has a 27-0 advantage in the last 20:51 of the game. Illinois went for two and didn't get it. ILLINOIS 39, INDIANA 27
1:49 p.m. – Indiana stopped Illinois on 3rd and 1, but the Illini convert 4th and 1 with a nice cut from Isaiah Williams for a four-yard gain. The Hoosiers go into the fourth quarter trailing 33-27 after leading 27-12 with 5:44 left in the first half.
1:44 p.m. – Sorsby throws an interception, and Illinois takes over at the 19-yard line. Sorsby pump faked and looked for Coby, who beat the cornerback, but the double-move allowed time for the safety to come over and intercept the pass.
1:43 p.m. – Jaylin Lucas lined up next to Sorsby in the backfield, and the direct snap went to him for an 8-yard gain. Sorsby completed a pass to Donaven McCulley for a first down on the 3rd and 2. They're just feeding McCulley at this point.
1:37 p.m. – Indiana cornerback Jamari Sharpe got beat deep by Isaiah Williams for a 42-yard touchdown. Illinois lined up to go for two, but was flagged for false start so they kick. ILLINOIS 33, INDIANA 27
1:23 p.m. – Trent Howland got stuffed for a 2-yard loss on 3rd and 2, and Indiana chooses to punt from the 38-yard line. I thought Indiana might go for it on 4th and 4 there.
1:13 p.m. – Illinois converted 3rd and 11, but after review, the call is overturned and ruled incomplete. That's potentially a big swing in this game, as Illinois was driving yet again. Indiana will take over at its own 25-yard line after the punt.
1:07 p.m. – Sorsby fumbled the ball on a read-option play with Josh Henderson. Looked like he wanted to pull the ball away from Henderson, but he dropped it. Illinois takes over at its own 38-yard line.
1:05 p.m. – Sorsby starts the half with a 15-yard completion to Trey Walker, which gets another 15 yards tacked on for roughing the passer.
1:03 p.m. – Indiana starts the second half with the ball.
12:38 p.m. – Pat Bryant beats the Indiana secondary to the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. That was a long, crisp pass from Paddock. INDIANA 27, ILLINOIS 26
12:33 p.m. – Sorsby sacked twice on that drive for losses of seven and 11 yards. Indiana punts. Donaven McCulley was a bit shaken up after a pass interference penalty, but he returned to the game on third down.
12:25 p.m. – Indiana's secondary is really struggling today. It allowed gains of 19 and 38 yards to Pat Bryant to start the drive, followed by a 20-yard touchdown by Casey Washington. The Hoosiers are still leading, but plenty to clean up in the defensive backfield. INDIANA 27, ILLINOIS 19
12:22 p.m. – Kenari Wilcher returned Indiana's kickoff for a touchdown, but it's called back for holding. Illinois has made several special teams mistakes today.
12:17 p.m. – Sorsby broke a few tackles on his way to an 18-yard touchdown run. Coaches have said they've always liked Sorsby's physical running style, and he showed it there. Freeman's extra-point attempt was blocked. INDIANA 27, ILLINOIS 12
12:15 p.m. – Indiana catches a bit of a break on 3rd and 3, as Illinois' Denzel Daxon was flagged for holding.
12:12 p.m. – Paddock fumbled the snap then threw an ill-advised pass that floated right to Indiana's Louis Moore for an interception. The stat broadcast credits Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi with a pass breakup. Indiana takes over at its own 48-yard line.
12:08 p.m. – Donaven McCulley is starting to take over this game. He made a heck of a catch in tight coverage for a 23-yard gain to start the drive, then capped it off with a 6-yard touchdown reception when Illinois was called for pass interference. He's up to seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns – all career-highs. INDIANA 21, ILLINOIS 12
12:02 p.m. – Jaylin Lucas nearly returned the kickoff for a touchdown, but it's called back for a holding penalty on David Holloman. Indiana will take over at its own 31-yard line.
11:58 a.m. – Solid coverage from the Indiana secondary forces another Illinois punt in the red zone. Paddock made a somewhat risky throw that never had much of a chance. Illinois mad a 27-yard field goal. INDIANA 14, ILLINOIS 12
11:55 a.m. – Another big play for the Illini, this time a 28-yard pass from Paddock to Pat Bryant. Illinois is already in the red zone after that play, plus a 15-yard facemask penalty on Lanell Carr earlier.
11:49 a.m. – A simple slant route leads to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to McCulley, his fourth of the year. INDIANA 14, ILLINOIS 9
11:46 a.m. – Illinois leads Indiana 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.
11:44 a.m. – Really not sure why Indiana continues to run the option. It just lost six yards on that play, and gained no yards on an option play to Lucas earlier. After an injury timeout, Indiana will have second and goal from the nine.
11:41 a.m. – Sorsby's makes his best throw of the day, a sharp completion to Donaven McCulley, who gained most of the 41-yard pickup after the catch. Indiana already nearing the red zone.
11:37 a.m. – JoJo Johnson completely blew that coverage, allowing a 67-yard gain from Illinois' top playmaker Isaiah Williams. Illinois scores on the very next play, an 8-yard run from Reggie Love III. Illinois missed the extra-point attempt, though. ILLINOIS 9, INDIANA 7
11:31 a.m. – Indiana goes to Howland again at the goal line, and he gets just enough for a 1-yard touchdown. That's Howland's first-career touchdown. INDIANA 7, ILLINOIS 3
11:26 a.m. – Trent Howland plows ahead for a crucial first down on 3rd and 2, then picks up eight yards on another 3rd and 2.
11:24 a.m. – Illinois muffed the punt, and Indiana recovered at the 34-yard line. That's a play Indiana really needed, as its offense has struggled to move the ball early on. It has good field position now.
11:22 a.m. – Indiana goes three-and-out again. Tried an option play to Jaylin Lucas, but the perimeter blocking was nonexistent. Sorsby's third-down throw was high.
11:16 a.m. – Indiana's defense holds strong in the red zone. Mangum-Farrar and Burris stuffed runs for one-yard losses on first and second down, then the Indiana secondary gave Paddock no lanes to throw. Illinois settles for a 24-yard field goal. ILLINOIS 3, INDIANA 0
11:15 a.m. – Indiana safety Jordan Grier flagged for holding in the end zone, setting Illinois up with 1st and goal at the five-yard line.
11:13 a.m. – The first big play of the game goes 33 yards through the air from Paddock to Pat Bryant. Illinois had a mismatch there with IU linebacker Jacob Mangum-Farrar in coverage. Illini get another chunk play, this time 23 yards to Kaden Feagin over the middle. Aaron Casey almost got a finger on it, but the Illini reach the Indiana 10-yard line instead.
11:06 a.m. – Pretty ugly first possession for the IU offense. Henderson gained two yards on a first-down run, Sorsby's pass got batted away on second down, then a screen pass to Henderson never had much of a chance of being completed. Indiana and Illinois trade three-and-outs to start.
11:04 a.m. – Strong start for the Indiana defense. Jordan Shaw's CB blitz on the first play made Paddock's throw difficult, then Aaron Casey, Lanell Carr and company stuffed the run on second down. Looked like Phillip Dunnam might have gotten a hand on Paddock's third-down pass.
11 a.m. – Indiana won the coin toss and deferred, so Illinois will receive the opening kickoff. Pretty light crowd in Champaign today, but here we go.
10:26 a.m. – Illinois was a 6.5-point favorite as recently as last night, but the line has moved a few points, making the Illini a 4-point favorite now. ESPN's matchup predictor gives Illinois a 64.1% chance to win.
10:15 a.m. – Illinois starting quarterback Luke Altmyer is out for today's game, so Ball State transfer John Paddock will get the start. As expected, Indiana will be without Noah Pierre, Jamier Johnson, Omar Cooper Jr. and Cam Camper.
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