Tag: Illinois Fighting Illini

Georgia and Georgia Tech almost broke Penn State’s overtime record

Penn State still owns this college football record after an epic Georgia-Georgia Tech football game.

While not one of the most celebrated moments in Penn State history, the Nittany Lions do hold one of college football’s more ridiculous records. And after a rivalry matchup between Georgia and Georgia Tech on Friday night, that record still holds firm.

Georgia and Georgia Tech played an eight-overtime game that saw the Bulldogs come back from a 17-0 deficit to celebrate a wild 44-42 victory. After making a defensive stop on Georgia Tech’s two-point try to start the eighth overtime shortly after midnite, Georgia clinched the win when freshman running back Nate Frazier powered his way up the middle of the field for a short game-winning run. And as a result, Penn State’s record for the most overtimes played survived unrivaled.

Penn State lost a nine-overtime game to Illinois in 2021 by a score of 20-18. Needless to say, that game was far less entertaining than what unfolded in Athens, Georgia on Black Friday. Georga and Georgia Tech each outscored the Penn State-Illinois debacle by themselves by the end of the first overtime, with the score knotted at 40-40 going to the third overtime.

The Georgia-Georgia Tech game did become the longest game in SEC history once it moved to the eighth overtime session. Of course, it was the previous SEC record holder for most overtimes that led to the revised overtime rules in college football. LSU and Texas A&M played a grueling seven overtime game in 2018 under the old overtime rules that led to the NCAA Rules Committee moving to the 2-point try model once you enter the third overtime.

Penn State could potentially face Georgia in the upcoming College Football Playoff. Georgia’s win last night may have been enough to secure a spot in the 12-team field regardless of what they do in next week’s SEC Championship Game (Georgia will play the winner of Saturday’s Texas-Texas A&M game in the SEC championship game), although the Bulldogs do have two losses already. A third loss could make for some questions for Georgia in the field depending on what else happens around the country this week and next.

Penn State has its own work to do today though. Penn State hosts Maryland with a chance to likely secure a home playoff game in the first round. And if it somehow gets a big helping hand from Michigan, Penn State could play for the Big Ten title next week against Oregon.

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Illinois rocks Rutgers on fourth-and-13 TD pass in final seconds

Illinois stunned Rutgers with a TD and safety in the final seconds

With 13 seconds left in Saturday’s game between Rutgers and Illinois, the Scarlet Knights led by a point and the Illini faced a fourth down at the Rutgers 40.

Illinois was going to try for a long field goal until Rutgers called time to ice the kicker as he missed from 58 yards.

The decision by Greg Schiano backfired as Illinois put the offense back on the field and Luke Almyer threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant.

It mattered not that the two-point conversion failed because Rutgers somehow allowed Illinois a safety on the final play of the game to complete a 38-30 loss.

Rutgers attempted a circus lateral play as the game was ending and the ball went out of the end zone, awarding Illinois two points.

Rutgers had taken the 31-30 lead on a touchdown pass with 1:08 left only for everything to collapse in the final seconds.

Labaron Philon flirts with Alabama history in victory over Illinois

The freshman nearly made Alabama history Wednesday night.

As part of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s impressive 100-87 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday night, the team received an impressive all-around performance from freshman guard Labaron Philon that definitely caught the attention of most around college basketball.

In all, Philon played 33 minutes in the contest, and finished with a final stat line of 16 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.

However, did you know that Philon also flirted with Alabama basketball history in this game as well?

If the freshman would have collected three more rebounds, as well as one more assist, then Philon would’ve became only the fourth player in Alabama program history to record a triple-double in a game. The only three others to do so are Roy Rogers, Kira Lewis Jr., and most recently a year ago, Aaron Estrada.

Still early in this season as well, could the freshman eventually join that group later this year?

Photos from Alabama vs. Illinois in C.M. Newton Classic

Alabama and Illinois met Wednesday night in Birmingham.

Two of the top teams in the SEC and Big Ten officially met Wednesday night in Birmingham, Alabama, as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Illinois Fighting Illini collided in the C.M. Newton Classic.

A battle of Top 25 teams, this showdown between the Crimson Tide and Fighting Illini certainly lived up to the hype as well, with Alabama going on to win by a final score of 100-87.

This was an impressive showing from the Crimson Tide as well against a very talented opponent, as Alabama still hit triple-digits in points, even despite guard Mark Sears not scoring, with a big reason as to why being a combined 52% shooting as a team from the field.

Let’s take a look at some of the best photos from Alabama’s Top 25 clash with Illinois in the C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham:

Instant reactions to Alabama’s impressive win against Illinois in C.M. Newton Classic

The Crimson Tide and Fighting Illini collided in a Top 25 matchup Wednesday night in Birmingham.

The Alabama Crimson Tide played what was likely college basketball’s top game of the night Wednesday, traveling to Birmingham for a neutral-court showdown with the Illinois Fighting Illini in the C.M. Newton Classic.

A pair of Top 25 teams, this showdown between Alabama and Illinois lived up to the hype as well, with the Crimson Tide coming away with the eventual 100-87 victory in a game which they truly controlled from the start.

In this win, there were certainly many positives to take away for the Crimson Tide as well, but also a few negatives.

Let’s take a look at some of our instant reactions from Alabama’s Top 25 showdown with No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night:

Grant Nelson’s stellar performance

Wednesday night was likely the greatest performance for Alabama forward Grant Nelson so far this season, finishing with a final stat line of a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four blocks. Nelson also shot an impressive 9-of-15 from the field, as well as 4-of-9 from three.

Labaron Philon flirts with triple-double

Alabama freshman guard Labaron Philon flirted with a triple-double against Illinois in what was one of his top performances of the season. Philon finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.

Aden Holloway’s best game in Alabama uniform

Was this the best game from Auburn Tigers transfer guard Aden Holloway in an Alabama uniform so far? Holloway finished the game with 18 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, as well as 3-of-4 from three.

Alabama Crimson Tide’s strong shooting night

A big reason behind Alabama’s victory was the Crimson Tide’s shooting from the field. In all, Alabama shot a combined 52% from the field, as well as 32.4% from three and 84.6% at the free throw line.

Mark Sears, Clifford Omoruyi struggle

In the midst of Alabama’s win, two of the team’s top performing players so far this season struggled in guard Mark Sears and center Clifford Omoruyi. Sears finished with zero points, while Omoruyi, who spent a majority of this game in foul trouble, ended with six points and six rebounds, and his absence from the court was a big reason as to why Alabama was out-rebounded a combined 44-37.

Alabama wins turnover battle

Wednesday night was one of Alabama’s best games when it came to limiting turnovers, committing only seven all game, which was compared to 13 for Illinois. The Crimson Tide also capitalized off those Illinois’ turnovers, turning them into 18 points.

Alabama Crimson Tide now 4-1 overall

After the Crimson Tide’s win Wednesday night over Illinois, Alabama now sits at 4-1 overall for the 2024-25 season. The Crimson Tide’s next game will come Tuesday, November 26 against the Houston Cougars in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Alabama basketball schedule: Are the Crimson Tide playing today? 

Is Alabama playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Alabama Crimson Tide be back on the basketball court today? Well, the answer is yes.

Yes, after the Crimson Tide suffered their first defeat of the season last Friday night, Alabama will return to action later tonight for their first neutral-court contest of the year against the Illinois Fighting Illini out of the Big Ten.

The 2024 C.M. Newton Classic, this game will be played in Birmingham, Alabama, with tipoff set for 9 p.m. ET from Legacy Arena at BJCC, and will be available to watch live on SEC Network.

Alabama and Illinois are also two of the top teams in the SEC and Big Ten, with this game featuring a pair of Top 25 ranked teams.

Alabama Crimson Tide 2024-25 basketball schedule

  • Nov. 4: vs. UNC Asheville (W, 110-54)
  • Nov. 8: vs. Arkansas State (W, 88-79)
  • Nov. 11: vs. McNeese State (W, 72-64)
  • Nov. 15: at Purdue (L, 87-78)
  • Nov. 20: vs. Illinois at C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Nov. 26-30: vs. Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame at Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Dec. 4: at North Carolina in ACC/SEC Challenge
  • Dec. 14: vs. Creighton
  • Dec. 18: at North Dakota
  • Dec. 22: vs. Kent State
  • Dec. 29: vs. South Dakota State
  • Jan. 4: vs. Oklahoma
  • Jan. 8: at South Carolina
  • Jan. 11: at Texas A&M
  • Jan. 14: vs. Ole Miss
  • Jan. 18: at Kentucky
  • Jan. 21: vs. Vanderbilt
  • Jan. 25: vs. LSU
  • Jan. 29: at Mississippi State
  • Feb. 1: vs. Georgia
  • Feb. 8: at Arkansas
  • Feb. 11: at Texas
  • Feb. 15: vs. Auburn
  • Feb. 19: at Missouri
  • Feb. 22: vs. Kentucky
  • Feb. 25: vs. Mississippi State
  • March 1: at Tennessee
  • March 5: vs. Florida
  • March 8: at Auburn

Record: 3-1 overall

Alabama 2024-25 Opponent Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini

Alabama and Illinois will meet Wednesday night in Birmingham.

After suffering their first loss of the 2024-25 season last Friday night on the road at Purdue, the Alabama Crimson Tide will return to action Wednesday night for yet another tough matchup, this time against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Crimson Tide and Fighting Illini will meet on a neutral-court, as both teams will make their way to Birmingham, Alabama for the C.M. Newton Classic. Illinois is also coming off a win, with this game likely to be their toughest opponent so far this season however.

Taking a deeper look at Alabama’s opponent however in particular, here is everything you need to know about the Fighting Illini entering Wednesday night’s game.

Illinois Fighting Illini Team Overview

  • Team Name: Illinois Fighting Illini
  • Conference: Big Ten
  • Arena: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
  • 2024-25 Record: 3-0 overall
  • Ranking: No. 25 in AP Poll, No. 20 in Coaches Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini will be the second consecutive Big Ten opponent for the Crimson Tide, coming to Birmingham undefeated at 3-0 overall. In addition to that, Illinois is also a consensus Top 25 team nationally, ranked at No. 25 in the latest AP Poll, as well as No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

Illinois Fighting Illini Coaching Staff

  • Head Coach: Brad Underwood
  • Associate Head Coach: Orlando Antigua
  • Assistant Coach: Geoff Alexander
  • Assistant Coach: Zach Hamer
  • Assistant Coach: Tyler Underwood
  • Assistant Coach: Kwa Jones

The head coach of the Fighting Illini is Brad Underwood, who is currently in his eighth season in Champaign. Under the guidance of Underwood, Illinois has had five-straight 20+ win seasons dating back to the 2019-20 campaign, and have also made the NCAA Tournament each of the last four years.

Illinois Fighting Illini 2024-25 Stats

  • PPG: 89.3 (No. 27 in NCAA)
  • PPG Allowed: 59.7 (No. 23 in NCAA)
  • FG%: 45.1
  • 3P%: 36.2
  • FT%: 72.5
  • RPG: 47.3
  • APG: 16
  • SPG: 4.3
  • BPG: 5.7

Averaging 89.3 PPG as a team, Illinois is among the top offensive scoring teams in the Big Ten, with the same also able to be said of defense where they allow only 59.7 PPG to opponents. The Fighting Illini also are one of college basketball’s top programs when it comes to three-pointers made per game at 12.7, which ranks No. 4 nationally, as well as sitting No. 7 in the nation with 47.3 rebounds per game.

Illinois Fighting Illini Names to Know

  • Tomislav Ivisic, Center – Sophomore
  • Will Riley, Forward – Freshman
  • Ben Humrichous, Forward – Graduate Student
  • Kasparas Jakucionis, Guard – Freshman
  • Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Guard – Sophomore

Illinois is led by one of the Big Ten’s top centers in sophomore Tomislav Ivisic, who at 7-foot-1 is currently averaging a near double-double for the season at 17.3 PPG and 9 RPG. The Fighting Illini also have two of the Big Ten’s top overall freshmen in leading-scorer Will Riley at 17.7 PPG, as well as do-everything guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who is averaging 9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 7.7 APG.

Photo Gallery: No. 1 Oregon puts the hammer down on Illinois

Photo Gallery: No. 1 Oregon puts the hammer down on Illinois

Oregon took their home field as the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 2012 and the Ducks didn’t disappoint. They put a blitzkrieg on the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half to take a 35-3 halftime lead and eventually won 38-9.

The Ducks are now 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten action as they seemingly head straight towards the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.

Perhaps by now, we should all see that this team is different from others. There has been no letdown, and they are experts at blocking out the outside noise that could derail them from achieving the ultimate goal of winning Oregon’s first-ever National Championship.

Speaking of noise, Autzen Stadium brought the noise once again and disrupted yet another Big Ten offense that just wasn’t ready for that kind of noise level.

Here are the best pictures of what was a beautiful day in Eugene.

ESPN ‘College GameDay’ crew makes picks for Oregon Ducks vs. Illinois Fighting Illini

The ESPN College GameDay crew made their official picks for the top-25 showdown between No. 1 Oregon and No. 20 Illinois.

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks have a major opportunity on Saturday afternoon inside Autzen Stadium. With the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini coming to town, Dan Lanning and his team have a chance to establish themselves as the best team in the nation and assert some dominance.

The Ducks have done a good job of that so far this year, winning every game on their schedule and looking dominant in the past two weeks against both Ohio State and Purdue. Now the eyes of the world will be back on them in Eugene with another top-25 matchup on tap. 

ESPN’s “College GameDay” was in Indiana for the matchup between the Hoosiers and the Washington Huskies, but they still spent some time on this game and previewed what will go down.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew made its picks for Saturday’s winner in the Autzen. Here’s how they selected:

Desmond Howard: Oregon
Pat McAfee: Oregon
Nick Saban: Oregon
Guest Picker Kyle Schwarber: Oregon
Lee Corso: Oregon
Kirk Herbstreit: Oregon

The game between Oregon and Indiana kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS in Eugene, Oregon.

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3 Keys to Victory for the No. 1 Oregon Ducks against No. 20 Illinois

The Oregon Ducks three keys against the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday.

The Oregon Ducks are just hours away from their first game as the AP No. 1 team since 2012, and won’t have an easy challenge in their first test as Kings of the Hill. The Illinois Fighting Illini are headed to Autzen Stadium as the No. 20 ranked team in the country, and although the Ducks are heavy favorites, this might not be an easy game.

Oregon comes into this game undefeated at 7-0 and Illinois is 6-1, with their only loss coming against Penn State. Last week, Illinois took down the reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines, and they are fully in midseason form.

Below, are my three keys for Oregon this weekend to ensure victory. Obviously, many factors will contribute to the winner of this game, but if the Ducks do these things, they should be in a good spot to win.

Exploit the run game

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Through eight weeks of the season, Illinois’ run defense has been poor. They rank third-to-last in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed per game with 145.3, ahead of only Rutgers and Purdue. Jordan James has been one of the finest backs in college football this year, and since the Boise State game, Oregon’s O-line has been great. If James and the O-line can maintain their current level of play, the Ducks will be in good shape to win this game.

Take away Altmyer’s deep ball

Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

In the Big Ten this season, no one has a higher adjusted completion percentage (completion rate with WR drops counted as completions) on deep balls than Illinois’ quarterback Luke Altmyer with 59.3%. The Ducks’ secondary has been playing its best football since the second half of the Ohio State game, and they’ll need to keep it up this week, especially against the long ball.

Win the turnover battle

In all three phases of the game, the Oregon Ducks outmatch the Illinois Fighting Illini by a good margin, so for the Fighting Illini to win this game, they’ll need to control the ball and — likely — generate a few extra possessions. If Oregon can protect the ball — and potentially generate a few takeaways of their own — they’ll be in control of the game.

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