Iowa football vs. Illinois score: Live updates, highlights, analysis

No. 17 Iowa got four Caleb Shudak field goals, a Charlie Jones kick return touchdown and a Jack Campbell pick-6 in a 33-23 Senior Day win over Illinois at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes improved to 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten and stayed in contention for the West Division crown. Illinois fell to 4-7, 3-5.

» Box score: No. 17 Iowa 33, Illinois 23

» Recap: Iowa keeps Big Ten West hopes alive by outlasting Illinois

» Hlas column: Iowa’s imperfect perfect November continues

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» Game Report: Turning point, numbers, notes and more

» Feature: With 3 key secondary pieces Hawkeyes find contributions from others

» Gallery: 39 photos from Iowa’s win over Illinois

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4th Quarter updates

0:31 4th: Iowa 33, Illinois 23

So, disregard the “Iowa covers” update below. Brandon Peters threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Williams as the Illini went 75 yards on five plays for a garbage time touchdown.

1:36 4th: Iowa 33, Illinois 16

Iowa had secured the win. Jack Campbell might have just made sure the Hawkeyes covered the 12-point spread as well. The Iowa linebacker intercepted a tipped pass and brought it back 32 yards for a touchdown.

1:55 4th: Iowa 26, Illinois 16

Caleb Shudak’s fourth field goal of the day should wrap this one up. This kick was good from 29 yards out. It was a seven-play, 43-yard drive after the turnover on downs that included a Tyler Goodson 21-yard run and Gavin Williams 16-yard rush on back-to-back plays. That put Goodson at 132 yards on 27 carries in the game.

5:37 4th: Iowa 23, Illinois 16

Illinois picked up just 7 yards after the interception and lined up to punt on fourth-and-3 from the Iowa 46. But the Illini called timeout and sent the offense back on the field. Luke Ford dove for a Brandon Peters pass just past the line to gain, then Iowa’s Quinn Schulte forced an incompletion for a turnover on downs.

7:02 4th: Iowa 23, Illinois 16

Iowa forced another three-and-out, but Illinois got the ball right back. Kerby Joseph picked off Alex Padilla on the second play of Iowa’s drive and gave the Illini the ball at their 47.

9:53 4th: Iowa 23, Illinois 16

Caleb Shudak kicked a 29-yard goal to bump the Hawkeyes’ lead to seven. Iowa started the drive at its 17 after two personal fouls on Illinois after the punt return and benefited from a roughing the passer penalty on a trick play but still couldn’t find the end zone. Alex Padilla’s third-and-goal pass from the 11 was broken up.

11:27 4th: Iowa 20, Illinois 16

Another Illinois three-and-out. This time Brandon Peters went deep on third-and-2, but Iowa’s Dane Belton broke up the pass. Iowa got it back at the Illinois 47 ... and then two personal fouls on the Illini tacked on 30 yards, so the Hawkeyes have it at the 17.

13:02 4th: Iowa 20, Illinois 16

Iowa forced a three-and-out from the Illinois 6 and appeared to have good field position to try to start putting this one away. Instead, a penalty on the punt return backed the Hawkeyes into their own territory and they went three-and-out with a drop and a sack included. Illinois takes over at its 7 after a 52-yard Tory Taylor punt and a holding penalty on the Illini.

3rd Quarter updates

2:46 3rd: Iowa 20, Illinois 16

James McCourt kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal. A 44-yard pass from Brandon Peters to Casey Washington got Illinois into Iowa territory and the Illini picked up a few more yards to set up the field goal attempt.

9:12 3rd: Iowa 20, Illinois 13

Iowa opened the second half with a 48-yard Caleb Shudak field goal. He’s 2-for-3 in the game. It was an 11-play, 42-yard drive for the Hawkeyes that started with Tyler Goodson runs of 6, 6 and 13 yards. Alex Padilla’s third-and-3 pass hit Nico Ragaini in the hands but fell incomplete.

2nd Quarter updates

0:38 2nd: Iowa 17, Illinois 13

Dane Belton dove for an interception at the Illinois 41 with 54 seconds left in the half, but the Iowa offense couldn’t take advantage. Caleb Shudak’s 57-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

3:13: 2nd: Iowa 17, Illinois 13

James McCourt kicked a 45-yard field goal to end Iowa’s run of 17 unanswered points. Illinois converted a third-and-7 from its 28 when Brandon Peters threw a 20-yard strike to Donny Navarro. Peters was 4-of-5 on the eight-play, 48-yard drive, the only incompletion a drop on second-and-5 from the Iowa 27.

6:41 2nd: Iowa 17, Illinois 10

Caleb Shudak ki6cked a 51-yard field goal to extend Iowa’s lead. It was an 11-play, 58-yard Iowa drive that started at its 9 with a Tyler Goodson 23-yard run. The Hawkeyes ran the ball three straight plays from the Illini 30, all for a loss of 1, leading to the field goal attempt.

14:08 2nd: Iowa 14, Illinois 10

The Arland Bruce IV drive. The Iowa freshman made a twisting 28-yard catch on the sideline on third-and-9 to keep the drive alive, then ran over a defender for a 2-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal. It was a seven-play, 50-yard drive for the Hawkeyes.

1st Quarter updates

3:05 1st: Illinois 10, Iowa 7

Charlie Jones finally broke one. Iowa’s dynamic kick returner brought one back 100 yards for a touchdown to get the Hawkeyes on the board.

3:20 1st: Illinois 10, Iowa 0

A special teams miscue results in points for Illinois. Iowa had success early, driving to the Illini 44. But Tyler Goodson was held to a gain of 1 on third-and-4 and the Hawkeyes decied to punt. The snap went through Tory Taylor’s legs and Illinois got the ball at the Iowa 28 via a turnover on downs.

A first-down tripping penalty pushed the Illini back and they settled for a field goal, which James McCourt made from 46 yards.

8:37 1st: Illinois 7, Iowa 0

A 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive for Illinois to open the game. Brandon Peters hit Luke Ford for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

The Illini converted three third downs, including a third-and-7 from the Iowa 25 in which Peters eluded a blitz and found Chase Brown for a 9-yard gain.

Injury report

Iowa’s secondary is affected by a number of injuries.

Starting cornerback Matt Hankins is out, as is cornerback Terry Roberts. Jermari Harris is likely to start.

Per Iowa radio reporter Rob Brooks, starting safety Jack Koerner is doubtful.

Offensive tackle Mason Richman is also out.

Quarterback Spencer Petras warmed up and is available after missing last week’s game against Minnesota. Alex Padilla was listed No. 1 on the depth chart on Monday.

Pregame storylines

The story of the week, of course, was Bret Bielema’s COVID-19 diagnosis preventing the first-year Illini coach from a homecoming.

But, as Mike Hlas wrote, his Illinois rebuild appears to be ahead of schedule.

And Jeff Johnson pointed out that the Illini were prepared for this exact scenario, so don’t expect Bielema’s absence to affect the game too much.

What we can expect is two defenses stealing the spotlight. John Steppe is picking a 21-13 Iowa win, and the Hawkeyes need it to keep Big Ten West title aspirations alive. Wisconsin is in first via the head-to-head tiebreaker and faces Nebraska at 2:30 p.m.

Here are the rest of our picks and some Illinois-Iowa Fun Facts.

How to watch Iowa vs. Illinois

Time: 1:05 p.m. CT

TV: FS1

Live stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Listen online: The Varsity Network