NCAAF Game Preview - Michigan at Illinois
Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:00 PM EDT

Bama
47
TxAM
28
F
FlaSt
14
Clem
45
F
SCar
20
UGA
17
F(1OT)
Fla
28
LSU
42
F
Okla
34
Tex
27
F
MSU
0
Wisc
38
F
USC
27
ND
30
F
PSU
17
Iowa
12
F
Colo
3
Oreg
45
F
Hawaii
37
Boise
59
F
Utah
52
OreSt
7
F
Mich
42
Ill
25
F
WaSt
34
AzSt
38
F
Lou
62
Wake
59
F
UVA
9
MiaFL
17
F
TxTch
30
Bayl
33
F(1OT)
Mem
28
Temp
30
F
Cin
38
Hou
23
F
App
17
ULLaf
7
F
Syr
10
NCSt
16
F
ULMon
24
TxSt
14
F
ColSt
35
NM
21
F
MiaOH
16
WestMI
38
F
Toled
7
BGSU
20
F
MissSt
10
Tenn
20
F
MD
14
Purd
40
F
Rut
0
Ind
35
F
GATec
23
Duke
41
F
JacSt
28
E Il
20
F
Vill
24
JMU
38
F
Ball
29
E Mi
23
F
OD
17
Marsh
31
F
Lamar
20
SamHu
17
F(2OT)
NMS
28
C Mi
42
F
NIU
39
Ohio
36
F
Kent
26
Akr
3
F
BYU
23
SoFL
27
F
UConn
7
Tul
49
F
SJSU
38
NEV
41
F
UNLV
34
Vand
10
F
IASt
38
WVU
14
F
URI
17
VaTec
34
F
MidTN
13
FlAtl
28
F
GASt
31
CoCar
21
F
UAB
33
UTSA
14
F
Fres
24
AF
43
F
Army
8
W Ky
17
F
NorTx
27
SMiss
45
F
Miss
27
MIZ
38
F
UMass
21
LT
69
F
UNCC
23
FLInt
48
F
Navy
45
Tuls
17
F
Neb
7
MIN
34
F
Ark
20
KY
24
F
Wyo
22
SDSU
26
F
Wash
51
Ariz
27
F
Michigan-Illinois Preview
Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:29 AM

Jim Harbaugh and his players say they often see their new-look offense clicking behind closed doors, taking advantage of speed in space.

No. 16 Michigan (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is hoping to carry over success with the ball into games when everyone is watching.

Illinois (2-3, 0-2) may be very accommodating.

The Fighting Illini haven't put up much resistance during their three-game losing streak, giving up nearly 39 points per game to Eastern Michigan, Nebraska and Minnesota.

The Wolverines have a shot to put together a feel-good performance as they did in a 52-0 win over Rutgers two weeks ago. Michigan may need a boost of confidence, coming off a 10-3 victory against Iowa in which it was held scoreless over the last three quarters.

During games, big plays have been rare on the ground and through the air.

"You see it in practice all the time," offensive tackle Jon Runyan said. "I'm not worried about it."

Harbaugh insists first-year offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has the unit hitting its stride and players seem to believe the same.

"The sky really is the limit for this offense," quarterback Shea Patterson said. "It's just a matter of time."

Here are some things to watch when Michigan plays at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2011:

TURNING IT OVER

Illinois' best chance to pull off an upset, or at least keep the game close, may be tied to a trend.

The Illini lead the Big Ten with nine forced fumbles and eight recoveries. Michigan, meanwhile, has lost seven fumbles to rank 13th in the conference and among the worst in major college football

INJURY REPORT

Michigan: Linebacker Josh Ross is expected to miss his third straight game with an undisclosed injury. Harbaugh declined to give an update on defensive end Kwity Paye, who left last week's game with an apparent hamstring injury, and tight end Sean McKeon, who was injured in the Wisconsin game. It also is not clear if backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey has been cleared to play after leaving the third game of the season with a concussion.

Illinois: Quarterback Brandon Peters, a graduate transfer from Michigan, left last week's loss at Minnesota with an upper body injury and it isn't clear if he will be healthy enough to face his former teammates.

"I know he's pumped up and of course hoping he'll be ready to go this week," Lovie Smith said.

NEXT MAN UP

If Peters isn't cleared, Matt Robinson will likely start in his place. The sophomore was 15 of 29 for 125 yards in his first extended opportunity to play last week in relief of Peters.

"He did OK for a backup quarterback coming into a game in a tough situation," Smith said. "I think we could have helped Matt with some of the passes we dropped."

KICKING TANDEM

Harbaugh has used a unique approach to kicking, rotating Jake Moody and Quinn Nordin. Moody is 5 of 6 on field goals, missing his first kick last week. The alternating opportunities have left Nordin with 55-yard and 58-yard field goals he has missed.

"Both are kicking really well," Harbaugh said. "I think they're in a good rhythm. They're confident with their preparation and the flow in game."

BRONZED BUTKUS

Illinois is unveiling a larger-than-life bronze statue of Dick Butkus, who helped the program win the 1964 Rose Bowl before going on to have a Hall of Fame career as an all-time great NFL linebacker.

Butkus is expected speak to the team.

"If you need a little more motivation, than I know Dick Butkus can give you that," Smith said. "He's gonna pump the guys up and get them ready the best he can.

---

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Team Record Comparison

Michigan Illinois
Standings
Rec
Away/Home
Streak
--%>