Michigan loses by two scores at Illinois, falls to 4-3 on season

The Michigan Wolverines fell to 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in Big Ten play on Saturday after a 21-7 loss at Illinois, who moved to 6-1, in a matchup of ranked teams. That will no longer be the case for U-M heading into next week’s game against Michigan State.

It was Jack Tuttle’s first start in a Michigan uniform, but it was more of the same for the offense. Despite some flashes throughout, the team could only muster 7 points on thes scoreboard.

Here is the blow-by-blow recap from the game in Champaign.

First quarter

Michigan won the coin toss and deferred, putting its defense on the field first against Illinois. The Illini went 46 yards in 7 plays, helped by a 29-yard run from tailback Aidan Haugherty, but U-M didn’t break on the drive, holding the offense to a 47-yard field goal make from David Olano. Illinois took the early 3-0 lead at the 12:07 mark. Michigan responded with a three-and-out on offense, followed by a 33-yard punt from Tommy Doman to give the Illini the ball back on their 40-yard line with 11:06 to go.

Michigan’s defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, helped by an 18-yard completion that was called back due to a holding penalty by the Illini. It would force a punt down to the U-M 11-yard line with 9:58 on the clock. The Wolverines went 33 yards in 8 plays on the following drive, but another punt from Doman that went for 29 yards gave Illinois the ball with 5:14 on the clock, starting on their 27-yard line. Illinois would go 51 yards in 8 plays before turning the ball over on downs at the U-M 22-yard line with 33 seconds left in the quarter.

Illinois 3, Michigan 0

Second quarter

Michigan’s drive, which started at the end of the first quarter, ended after three plays. Quarterback Jack Tuttle fumbled on a scramble attempt at the 14:12 mark, giving the ball to Illinois on the U-M 38-yard line. The Illini took advantage with their second made field goal of the game, pushing the lead to 6-0 over the Wolverines at the 11:35 mark.

On the following possession, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards fumbled the ball on the second play of the drive, turning it back over to Illinois near midfield with 10:57 to go in the half. The Illini took advantage with the game’s first touchdown, a two-yard pass from QB Luke Altmeyer to TE Tanner Arkin at the 7:53 mark. After the extra point, the Illinois lead was pushed to 13-0.

The Wolverines got their act together and responded in a big way with the next possession, going 72 yards in 12 plays and taking 6:07 off the clock, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown rush on fourth-and-goal from graduate running back Kalel Mullings with 1:40 remaining.

Illinois drove down the field on its final possession of the half, going 49 yards in 9 plays before a field goal attempt was blocked as time expired. Michigan safety Makari Paige got a hand on it to send the game into halftime.

Illinois 13, Michigan 7

Third quarter

Michigan started the half on offense, but three plays and a negative-6 yard drive later, U-M was punting back to Illinois with 13:03 on the clock. The Illini followed it up with an 8-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a one-yard rush from Altmeyer on the goal line. After a two-point conversion, Illinois pushed its lead to 21-7 with 9:16 to go.

Michigan tried to cut into the deficit with a 15-play drive that went 65 yards and set up a field goal attempt, but it was blocked after a botched snap and hold, leaving U-M without any points after putting a near-9 minute drive together. The quarter would expire with Illinois driving on its own side of the field.

Illinois 21, Michigan 7

Fourth quarter

That Illinois drive ended after 17 yards and 5 plays, giving way to Michigan at its 16-yard line with 13:22 to play. U-M went 69 yards in 12 plays, taking 5:24 off the clock, before Tuttle threw his first interception of the game (his second turnover overall). Illinois returned it to the 22-yard line. It would follow it up with a 3-and-out, punting back to Michigan. Sophomore wideout Semaj Morgan returned it to the Illinois 43-yard line with 5:39 to go, but the offense would turn it over on downs with 3:14 to go. The Illinois offense would punt with 1:02 to go after 5 plays for 9 yards, giving the ball back to Michigan with 1:02 to play. The clock would run out with Illinois in the lead.

FINAL: Illinois 21, Michigan 7

Michigan vs. Illinois final box score