Asmussen's Review-Preview

Watch highlights from Saturday's loss here.

Review

Every game has a defining moment when the outcome is established. Here is the play from Saturday's Illinois-Purdue game:

THE SITUATION

The game is tied 7-7 late in the first quarter. Illinois had scored first for the first time this season against a Division I-A team, but Purdue had answered with a touchdown run by Jaycen Taylor. The Illini are driving again, using an 18-yard run by Juice Williams, a 7-yard run by Daniel Dufrene and an 11-yard run by Mikel Leshoure to reach the Purdue 29. The Illini haven't faced a third-down situation the entire drive.

THE PLAY

Leshoure's run gives the Illini another first down, their fifth of the game. For just the second time on the drive, Illinois looks to pass. Williams drops back and looks toward the west sideline. He lofts a pass high and deep, hoping to get his team into the end zone again. Purdue has multiple players in the area and seems to have the play figured out.

THE RESULT

Purdue strong safety Dwight Mclean intercepts the pass, the fifth thrown by Williams in 2009. Mclean returns the interception 13 yards before getting knocked out of bounds by Illini offensive lineman Jeff Allen. Williams goes to the sidelines, where he takes his helmet off. He is replaced on the next series by redshirt freshman Jacob Charest.

THE OUTCOME

Purdue goes on a long march toward its second touchdown. Using a combination of Ralph Bolden runs and Joey Elliott throws, the Boilermakers move deep into Illinois territory. Bolden converts a fourth-down play at the Illini 20. After a pass interference call against Illinois' Travon Bellamy, Purdue scores on the next play, with Bolden going in from the 3. Purdue adds another touchdown before halftime and cruises to its second consecutive victory.

THE RECORD (1-6)

Missouri 37 Illinois 9

Illinois 45 Illinois State 17

Ohio State 30 Illinois 0

Penn State 35 Illinois 17

Michigan State 24 Illinois 14

Indiana 27 Illinois 14

Purdue 24 Illinois 14

Saturday vs. Michigan, 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Minnesota

Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern

Nov. 27 at Cincinnati

Dec. 5 vs. Fresno State, 11:30 a.m.

PREVIEW

Illinois welcomes Michigan on Halloween afternoon. A quick read on the Wolverines:

LAST GAME

Daryll Clark threw four touchdown passes and the Penn State defense limited Tate Forcier to 140 passing yards as the Nittany Lions rolled to a 35-10 win at Ann Arbor. Clark hit 16 of 27 passes for 230 yards and Evan Royster ran for 100 yards. Michigan took an early 7-0 lead but was outscored 19-3 the remainder of the first half. Penn State forced four Michigan turnovers in winning at Ann Arbor for the first time in 11 years.

WHO TO WATCH

Though he didn't have a good game against Penn State, hitting just 13 of 30 passes, it is still freshman quarterback Forcier. He has elevated the play of the Michigan offense and helped the team within one game of bowl eligibility. A year ago, without Forcier, the Wolverines went 3-9. Forcier has a decent touchdown-to-interception ratio (9:5) and is ranked among the Big Ten's best in passing efficiency.

WHERE TO WATCH

It's back to ABC for the Illini, which was in Champaign-Urbana for the Penn State game. The game will be televised regionally, but the competition isn't very strong. The other games are Cal-Arizona State, Kansas-Texas Tech and Miami-Wake Forest. Maybe Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham will be covering the Illini again. They broadcast two Illinois games earlier this season.

REASON TO WATCH

The last time Illinois beat Michigan at home was in 1983. During that same stretch, the Illini have won three times in Ann Arbor, including last year's 45-20 blowout. The last time Illinois beat Michigan in consecutive seasons? That would be 1957-58.

BY THE NUMBERS

Illinois is in danger of dropping 10 consecutive games against Division I-A teams for the second time in the Ron Zook era. The team actually lost 12 in a row to I-A during the 2005-06 seasons. The streak ended when freshman quarterback Juice Williams led the team to a win at Michigan State. Ron Turner had two losing streaks of at least 11 games against I-A schools.

THE RECORD (5-3)

Michigan 31 Western Michigan 7

Michigan 38 Notre Dame 34

Michigan 45 Eastern Michigan 17

Michigan 36 Indiana 33

Michigan State 26 Michigan 20

Iowa 30 Michigan 28

Michigan 63 Delaware State 6

Penn State 35 Michigan 10

Saturday at Illinois

Nov. 7 vs. Purdue

Nov. 14 at Wisconsin

Nov. 21 vs. Ohio State

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