Oct. 31—Beat writer Scott Richey previews the Illini’s 11 a.m. Saturday road game against the Terrapins at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md., as Bret Bielema and Co. try to move closer to bowl eligibility:
Three major storylines
Linebacker rotation tightening up
Illinois’ rotation at linebacker has fluctuated throughout the season. A season-ending foot injury to sophomore Grant Beerman in last Saturday’s win against Oregon, though, might further lock fifth-year linebackers James Kreutz and Ismael Kante into their starting roles and keep them on the field. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Kreutz has made 24 of his 43 tackles this season in the Illini’s last two games. Kante, also listed at 6-2 and 240 pounds, has added 15 tackles in that same stretch, with the Brooklyn Park, Minn., native now at 44 tackles on the season. Working his way back into the rotation is Colorado State transfer Robert Edmonson.
“Rob was actually our starting linebacker in the spring and then broke his foot,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “I thought Ish and James really did a nice job of kind of solidifying themselves in fall camp. Ish has played his best. James has definitely played his two best games (against Michigan State and Oregon). The last two weeks in practice and even last week during the game were some of (Edmonson’s) best reps. I’d build one more guy into that spot, but I’m pretty happy with those three guys.”
Contested catches are Dixon’s specialty
Collin Dixon has been Illinois’ runaway receiving leader since this season started. The 6-1, 215-pound senior will enter Saturday’s game at Maryland with 54 catches for 678 yards and 10 touchdowns. All career highs for the native of Tallmadge, Ohio. All totals that rank him, at minimum, in the top four of the Big Ten. Totals that have been bolstered by Dixon’s ability to haul in contested catches, which has become the norm now that he’s the clear focal point of opposing defenses. That was especially evident with his acrobatic catch late in the Illini’s 21-10 victory against the Ducks when his 23-yard touchdown reception in front of Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. sealed the home win last Saturday.
“It’s just a gift the kid has,” Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp said. “He has an unbelievable knack for finding the ball, tracking the ball. That stuff is natural. You can help with some of that stuff, but tracking the football and going up to catch it is a lot of natural ability. We talk all the time that it doesn’t need to be 50-50. It needs to be 80-20 in our favor. That’s giving the quarterback trust that if it’s close, we’re going to go make the play.”
‘Communication, clarity’ key to limiting big plays
Illinois has given up 38 chunk passing plays of 15 yards or more this season. What’s changed in the last two weeks, however, are the truly massive pickups through the air of 25 yards or more where the Illini defense simply got beat over the top. Like Jeremiah Smith’s 72- and 26-yard touchdowns for Ohio State. The last two weeks, however, have seen Michigan State post zero passing plays of 25-plus yards, and while Oregon had two, a 36-yarder to Hudson Lewis on the final play of the game meant nothing.
“Communication and clarity,” secondary coach Corey Parker said was the difference. “Now, there’s one message, and everybody is on the same page of, ‘Who has the guy going deep down the field, and how are we covering him deep down the field?’ The what is, obviously, the scheme. The how is the technique behind it. When you’ve got one, concise way of doing it, your failsafe is a little bit set inside what you’re doing. You’re teaching the guys if something goes wrong, this is how we fix it. Instead of it being four different ways of the what and the how, this is the way. If you’re wrong — whether you’re a veteran or a rookie — you’re going to be held accountable for it. That’s what’s helped the guys.”
Two key matchups
Illinois secondary vs. Maryland quarterback Malik Washington
Washington’s lone improvement this season as a passer has been a slight increase in overall efficiency, bumping up from a 57.7 percent completion percentage as a freshman to a 59.4 percent rate this year. Where the Terrapins sophomore runs into trouble is with his Big Ten-leading six interceptions. Illinois hasn’t had an interception since Matthew Bailey’s 88-yard pick six against Southern Illinois on Sept. 19, but Washington’s propensity to put the ball in trouble could be a boon for the Illini.
Illinois left tackle Nathan Knapik vs. Maryland linebacker Zion Elee
The complementary move to Brandon Hansen breaking into Illinois’ starting offensive line at right tackle was moving Knapik to left tackle in place of Christian Martin. It’s the position Knapik played in last year’s Music City Bowl with J.C. Davis sitting out, and it’s where the 6-7, 300-pound junior has shown more comfort. That move will likely create some one-on-one showdowns with Elee, who was a top 10 recruit in the Class of 2026 and leads Maryland as a true freshman with 31/2 sacks and 41/2 tackles for loss.
One stat that matters
The Illinois offense moved into the top 30 nationally for third-down conversion success after going 8 of 16 last Saturday against Oregon. The Illini defense holding the Ducks to just a 4 of 15 success rate on third down also helped their season average even if there’s far more room to improve on that side of the ball. Illinois’ third-down defense now ranks 107th nationally after Oregon’s 27 percent conversion rate ranked the second lowest for one of the Illini’s FBS opponents this season through seven games in 2026.
Illinois will win if …
its rejuvenated defense and improved run game can repeat their performance from last week’s upset win against Oregon. Michael Clayton II has risen to the occasion in fill-in duty at Michigan State and in his first career start against the Ducks, but the Illini coaches aren’t asking the world of their freshman quarterback. A stout defense and a rushing attack capable of chewing up yardage with the occasional big burst takes pressure off Clayton’s shoulders and should help the Illini take care of business on Saturday in College Park.
Maryland will win if …
somehow firing its coach (after he had fired the defensive coordinator two days earlier) is the move that doesn’t necessarily save the Terrapins’ season — not with a 2-5 record — but gives the program a sign of life. It would be a notable victory for interim coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who was going to be the new defensive coordinator until head coach Mike Locksley got the axe. Maryland hasn’t won a Big Ten game since its 2025 conference opener against Wisconsin on Sept. 20, 2025. That’s 12 losses … and counting.
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