It was another fantastic Saturday for the Illinois football program, as we secured our seventh win of the season with a significant triumph over Michigan State.
On a two-game losing streak and nearly a month since our last win, the Illini couldn’t afford another setback against the Spartans. Michigan State hasn’t been strong this season, so Illinois needed to showcase some offensive power.
Illinois started the game strong, quickly building a double-digit lead in the first half. Although Michigan State showed some resilience early in the second half, Illinois responded by advancing the ball down the field and building an unbreakable lead.
With the offense clicking and the defense holding firm for most of the game, Illinois secured a solid 38-16 victory over Michigan State.
Here are five huge observations from the Illinois football win over Michigan State
1. Illinois offensive line played flawlessly
Before the game on Saturday, I outlined three key factors for Illinois to beat Michigan State. One of those keys was ensuring Luke Altmyer had enough time in the pocket.
Altmyer is far more effective as a passer when he isn’t under pressure, so the Illini offensive line needed to step up and protect him against Michigan State.
Fortunately, the Spartans’ pass rush has been below average this season. With that in mind, I had high expectations for the Illinois offensive line, anticipating that if they performed well, Altmyer would follow suit. Those expectations were met.
I would argue this was the best performance by the Illinois offensive line all season. They set the tone early with a touchdown pass on the team’s second drive.
On that drive, Altmyer dropped back, and the pocket was flawless, giving him ample time to survey the field. He was able to watch Pat Bryant’s route unfold and delivered a perfect throw, resulting in a 57-yard touchdown.
The offensive line has struggled this season, allowing at least two sacks in all but two games in 2024. The last time they didn’t allow a sack was in week one against Eastern Illinois, an FCS opponent, back in August. However, on Saturday, the Illini offensive line rose to the occasion and played a stellar game, and the results were evident.
2. Seth Coleman and Gabe Jacas were nightmares on the edge
The Illinois defense performed exceptionally well on Saturday, with only two drives posing any real challenge. For most of the game, Michigan State struggled to find answers against the Illini.
Allowing fewer than 20 points in a game is a notable achievement, and much of the credit goes to the dominance of our edge rushers, Seth Coleman and Gabe Jacas.
I had anticipated a standout performance from Jacas, who has been Illinois’ sack leader all season, especially given the vulnerability of Michigan State’s offensive line. Not only did he deliver, but Coleman also played an outstanding game for the Illini defense.
Both players displayed great discipline throughout. Aidan Chiles favors run-pass option plays, but whenever he chose to keep the ball instead of handing it off, Coleman or Jacas remained patient and maintained excellent containment. This strategy limited Chiles to just 12 carries for 40 yards.
The pressure they applied in the passing game was equally impactful. Chiles rarely had sufficient time to make plays, with Coleman leading Illinois with two sacks and Jacas close behind with 1.5 sacks. Together, they combined for 10 tackles.
Coleman and Jacas were making game-changing plays all afternoon, shifting momentum in Illinois’ favor and shutting down any potential Michigan State rally. These two edge rushers are a formidable force.
3. Pay Bryant is bolstering his NFL Draft stock
Over the years, Illinois has seen some talented wide receivers. Most recently, the duo of Isaiah Williams and Casey Washington played a crucial role in many of Illinois’ victories in past seasons.
With Williams and Washington now in the NFL, I believe the best is still to come at the wide receiver position. Pat Bryant may be the most NFL-ready wide receiver Illinois has seen in years.
Bryant had an outstanding game on Saturday, finishing the win over Michigan State with four receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. Those 135 yards marked a career high, surpassing his performance against Indiana last season by four yards.
So far this season, Bryant has accumulated 43 receptions for 717 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s logged three 100-yard games and has reached at least 60 yards in all but three games. In his career, when Bryant records at least 50 yards receiving, Illinois holds a 14-2 record. Conversely, when he falls short of 50 yards, the team is 10-18.
Bryant’s numbers are impressive, but it’s his physical attributes that make him even more NFL-ready. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 pounds, he not only possesses reliable hands and strong skills out wide, but he’s also a sizable target capable of making contested catches.
Against the Spartans, Bryant only strengthened his NFL Draft prospects. He’s a player who could easily climb the draft boards and become a top-three-round selection in 2025.
