Takeaways from Illinois’ Dramatic Bounce-Again Win Over USC

One week faraway from his workforce’s jaw-dropping, trajectory-altering defeat to then-No. 19 Indiana, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema may hardly have imagined a greater coda than what unfolded at Memorial Stadium in Champagne, Illinois, on Saturday afternoon. 

4 quarters of topsy-turvy, sloppy-but-sensational soccer wherein the Illini led for hours of actual time earlier than a frantic comeback by No. 21 USC threatened to rewrite the script within the waning moments all boiled right down to this: a 41-yard subject purpose try by kicker David Olano as time was about to run out.

Bielema’s cool-handed quarterback, Luke Altmyer, and his punishing tailback, Kaden Feagin, had guided the Illini into kicking vary for a possible game-winning strive. The snap was clear, the maintain was good and Olano, a junior, linked to seal a dramatic 34-32 win that restored Illinois’ hopes of reaching the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 

David Olano #24 of the Illinois Preventing Illini kicks the game-winning subject purpose in opposition to the USC Trojans. (Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos)

Here is what stood out from an exhilarating afternoon in Champagne: 

1. Bret Bielema has not misplaced his workforce 

Following final week’s embarrassing loss to Indiana, which barnstormed Illinois for practically 600 yards of complete offense, it was truthful to marvel how the Illini would reply after plummeting within the nationwide rankings. The postgame feedback from Bielema, now in his fifth season, dripped with incredulity and disbelief after touchdown on the mistaken finish of such a one-sided beatdown that known as into query this system’s legitimacy on a nationwide stage.

Rallying the troops for one more ranked matchup in opposition to one other high-flying offense was going to be a legit problem simply seven days later, particularly contemplating how totally Illinois was outclassed in all three phases. 

However with the opening quarter of Saturday’s recreation got here an evaporation of any quick concern concerning whether or not the Illini would come to play. Defensive coordinator Aaron Henry’s group, ransacked and ravaged by the Hoosiers final week, together with a number of accidents to defensive backs, pried unfastened an instantaneous fumble on USC’s opening possession to grab momentum.

An Illinois offensive line that was pierced for seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback pressures by Indiana, responded with a powerful opening possession that included regular push alongside the inside. The Illini speeding assault accounted for greater than 50% of the workforce’s yardage on a 10-play, 70-yard landing drive that gave them an early lead, with quarterback Altmyer punching it in himself to the delight of an expectant crowd. 

2. Faculty soccer followers ought to be taught the title Hank Beatty

For good purpose, a lot of the offseason dialogue surrounding Illinois’ offense — a bunch that returned all 5 offensive linemen and one of many nation’s most skilled quarterbacks from a workforce that received 10 video games in 2024 — centered on who would step ahead at extensive receiver following some important departures. Gone was main wideout Pat Bryant, who caught 54 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns en path to second-team All-Massive Ten honors. Gone, too, was Zakhari Franklin, the workforce’s second-leading receiver with 55 catches for 652 yards and 4 touchdowns. No different participant on final yr’s roster eclipsed 300 receiving yards or three receiving scores, a mirrored image of simply how closely Illinois leaned on Bryant and Franklin.

By way of 5 video games, nonetheless, it has change into more and more clear that Hank Beatty is a reputation faculty soccer followers throughout the nation ought to familiarize themselves with as Massive Ten play continues. Beatty caught 20 passes for 294 yards and one landing as a member of the supporting forged in 2024, however his function has expanded exponentially to this point this season. He entered Saturday’s recreation in opposition to USC with 21 catches for 302 yards — each workforce highs — and had already discovered the top zone as a runner, receiver and punt returner.

Beatty wasted little time including one other column to his stat sheet by throwing a 3-yard landing cross to Altmyer early within the second quarter. The Illini ran their very own model of the famed “Philly Particular” by utilizing a jet sweep reverse to free Beatty, who would end with six catches totaling 81 yards, for a lofted throw towards Altmyer in the fitting nook of the top zone. That rating pushed Illinois again in entrance, 14-7, and capped a second consecutive scoring drive of at the least 70 yards. 

3. The Trojans are too undisciplined to be CFP contenders

One of many irritating habits that has plagued USC throughout three-plus seasons underneath head coach Lincoln Riley is the proclivity to accrue penalties in head-scratching portions. In 2022, which was Riley’s first season, the Trojans completed tied for 77th nationally in penalties per recreation (6.3) and tied for ninetieth in penalty yards per recreation (58). In 2023, when USC stumbled to 8-5 total, the Trojans completed tied for 122nd in penalties per recreation (7.3) and 123rd in penalty yards per recreation (64.9). In 2024, when USC slapped collectively a sub-.500 document in Massive Ten play, the Trojans completed tied for 66th in penalties per recreation (5.8) and 69th in penalty yards per recreation (51.4). 

Someway, someway, the penalty state of affairs for Riley’s workforce has been noticeably worse to start the 2025 season, at the same time as USC raced to a 4-0 document behind one of the crucial explosive offenses within the nation. The Trojans have been penalized 5 occasions within the opener in opposition to Missouri State, eight occasions in opposition to Georgia Southern in Week 2, 9 occasions at Purdue in Week 3 and 11 occasions in opposition to Michigan State final weekend. They entered Saturday’s tilt at Illinois tied for 118th in penalties per recreation (8.3) and 129th in penalty yards per recreation (80.8), second-to-last within the Massive Ten for each classes, forward of solely UCLA. 

The errors adopted USC into Memorial Stadium, the place Riley’s workforce was flagged six occasions for 57 yards within the first half alone. A type of penalties — brought on by an ineligible receiver wandering too far downfield — wiped away what would have been a 75-yard landing cross from quarterback Jayden Maiava to wideout Makai Lemon on a fantastically executed trick play. As an alternative, the five-yard penalty took a game-tying rating off the board throughout a drive that in the end ended with a turnover on downs. 

The Trojans completed with eight penalties for 69 yards in comparison with simply 5 penalties for 42 yards in opposition to Illinois. It’s tough to beat high quality opponents with so many self-inflicted wounds. 

Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans appears on through the second quarter in opposition to the Illinois Preventing Illini. (Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos)

4. Illinois is in command of the Massive Ten’s second tier

Ever because the Massive Ten added its quartet of West Coast faculties two seasons in the past and eradicated the division format that bifurcated the league for greater than a decade, an unofficial tier system has slowly taken form. Atop the totem pole sit conventional powers Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan, with these three applications joined by high-flying newcomer Oregon, the defending Massive Ten Champion and No. 1 total seed in final yr’s Faculty Soccer Playoff. The second tier contains groups like Indiana and Illinois, legit postseason contenders with out the pedigree of these above them. The third tier consists of potential challengers like Iowa, Washington, USC and Nebraska, at the least one in every of which may nonetheless emerge as a viable menace this season. Everybody else is behind them. 

In reaching final yr’s playoff after which thumping Illinois by 50 factors earlier this month, Indiana confirmed it’s far nearer to gaining acceptance into the primary tier than lingering with anybody else. And the Hoosiers’ forthcoming video games in opposition to No. 6 Oregon (away) and No. 3 Penn State (away) will go a great distance towards figuring out how real that candidacy actually is. Nevertheless it’s clear that in two brief years, head coach Curt Cignetti has lifted Indiana above the likes of Illinois, Iowa, Washington, USC and Nebraska.

What was far much less clear, at the least getting into Saturday’s recreation in opposition to USC, was how far Illinois deserved to tumble following such a stunning defeat final week. Was Bielema’s workforce truly a third-tier squad that punched above its weight in 2024? Or are the Illini firmly entrenched proper behind the blue bloods due to Bielema’s spectacular five-year rebuild? 

By slicing by USC’s protection the best way that Illinois did — leaning on a speeding assault that churned out 171 yards and a landing on 35 carries; trusting Altmyer to finish a crisp 77% of his passes whereas throwing for 328 yards and two scores with out an interception — Bielema’s workforce proved that it’s firmly entrenched within the second tier. And which means there’s nonetheless an opportunity for the Illini to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 

4 ½: Constructing a contemporary roster nonetheless means turning over each stone

Due to simply how radically NIL and income sharing have modified faculty soccer, an overwhelmingly quantity of consideration is paid to participant acquisition efforts through highschool recruiting and the switch portal. These are the avenues by which an awesome majority of rosters will proceed to be constructed. 

However USC’s shrewd addition of shifty tailback Waymond Jordan from the junior faculty ranks has proven simply how useful it may be to look at each path towards faculty enrollment. Jordan was considered because the No. 1 JUCO working again within the nation after carrying 218 occasions for 1,614 yards and 20 touchdowns in 12 video games at Hutchinson Group Faculty in Hutchinson, Kansas — a résumé ok to internet him the 2024 NJCAA D1 Soccer Offensive Participant of the Yr and recruiting curiosity from quite a few Energy 4 applications. 

Coming into Saturday’s recreation, Jordan led all Trojans’ tailbacks in speeding makes an attempt (57), speeding yards (443) and speeding touchdowns (three) earlier than placing forth one other sturdy displaying in opposition to Illinois. He carried 20 occasions for 94 yards and two scores to stability an offense that leaned an increasing number of closely on its passing assault down the stretch. 

Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and faculty basketball for FOX Sports activities. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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