Illinois

 

The Illini would enter the game in the UP-Coach’s poll ranked #9 while the Hoosiers entered at #19.

Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes and D'Angelo Ponds scooped up the punt he blocked and returned it 11 yards for a score, leading  Indiana past Illinois 63-10 for its first win over a top 10 foe in five years — and easily the most lopsided.

Indiana's previous best was a 31-10 victory at then No. 9 Ohio State in 1987. It marked the first time since 1950 the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini squared off with each ranked. 

The Fighting Illini offense struggled as quarterback Luke Altmeyer was under pressure all night. Illinois allowed five sacks and rushed for only 3 yards in the first half, falling into an insurmountable 35-10 deficit. Indiana sealed the win with TD drives on each of its first two second-half possessions.

It was the worst loss of coach Bret Bielema's tenure at Illinois and the worst for the Illini since a 63-0 rout at home against Iowa in 2018.

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

Game summary © ESPN