Illinois gains confidence after disarray

IOWA CITY — Dysfunction, disconnect and disinterest often have swirled around Illinois' football program over the years, and this summer was no different.

Allegations of player abuse and an ensuing investigation cost Coach Tim Beckman his job one week before the season, leaving the Illini in disarray. But through the chaos, Illinois' players remained united and rallied behind interim head coach Bill Cubit. Now with a 4-1 overall record and fresh from a 14-13 comeback win against Nebraska, the Fighting Illini are a confident group entering Saturday's game at No. 23 Iowa (5-0).

Illinois trailed Nebraska 13-0 early in the fourth quarter in blustery Champaign. The Illini completed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Wes Lunt to wide receiver Marchie Murdock that cut Illinois' deficit to 13-7.

The Illini then followed with three straight three-and-outs and it appeared they exhausted all of their opportunities. Nebraska faced third and 7 from Illinois' 27 with about a minute left, and the Illini had no timeouts. Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. rolled right and rather than drop to the turf, he passed incomplete. The clock stopped, which gave Illinois another chance.

'We assumed that they were going to run it, so we were calculating how much time we we'd have left,' Lunt told The Gazette. 'We felt like we were going to have 25, 30 seconds left. Getting the extra 30 seconds was huge, especially with no timeouts left.

'As that happened, we were all excited and that sense of belief and confidence I think came through that moment, just knowing that we'd have a chance.'

Instead of attempting a field goal, Nebraska passed incomplete on fourth down and turned the ball over on downs. Illinois took over at its 27 with 51 seconds left, and Lunt completed his two first passes for 65 yards and the Illini moved to the Nebraska 7. Two pass interference penalties preceded a 1-yard touchdown pass from Lunt to Geronimo Allison with 10 seconds left for the win.

In years past, Illinois loses games like this. Maybe it would have with Beckman on the sidelines. But Cubit, 61, has become a calming influence on his team. He has coached college football since the mid-1970s and was guided Western Michigan from 2005-12. His veteran touch was vital for Illinois' close-knit group of players to remain unfazed through the coaching change and the pressure-packed situation on Saturday.

'I think Coach Cubit brings that confidence to the table for us and that sense of belief,' Lunt said. 'I think our team this year has been closer. In times like that it helps and shows. The defense kept getting us the ball back and our offense got it together and we won it. It was a just a great team win. It's a combination of how close we are as a team and Coach Cubit.'

Neither Lunt nor offensive guard Ted Karras minimized the defense's impact, either. In 2014, Illinois ranked last in Big Ten scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense. This year, Illinois ranks seventh, eighth and seventh, respectively, in those categories. The Illini have chopped points allowed nearly in half (34.0 to 17.8), rushing yards per game by 113.2 yards and total yards per game by 153.

While Lunt completed 8 of 18 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Illinois' defense held Armstrong to 1-of-8 passing for 16 yards. Nebraska's third-down pass was head-scratching, but the Illini still had to stop it.

The fact it was a team victory made it sweeter for Karras, a fifth-year senior.

'We haven't had that much success in the Big Ten in my career here,' Karras said. 'Starting off 1-0 in the Big Ten, beating Nebraska for the first time since 1924 ... and to do it at home in the fashion we did, it was a great win.'

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