Illini run defense to be challenged with Wolverines

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois football will have its work cut out for it in one area specifically on Saturday against Michigan.

The Illini host the Wolverines with a 2:30 kickoff on CBS. Illinois comes in at 5-1 and ranked No. 22 in the country. Michigan is 4-2 and ranked No. 24.

The reigning national champions present a rather unique offense. Michigan rarely throws the ball. The Wolverines, who have played a couple different quarterbacks on the 2024 campaign, have totaled just 133 passing attempts on the season- the lowest mark in the Big Ten. For comparison, Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown the ball 164 times.

Naturally, this means Michigan runs the ball a whole lot. Two Michigan running backs, Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, have more than 70 carries each and a combined 943 rushing yards.

“They run the ball at a very, very high clip,” Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “No matter who is at quarterback… They got two tailbacks that are ridiculous… They’re going to try to control the game, I would like to think, in the run game and try to open it up for explosive plays down the field. Going into a game of this magnitude our goal is to make sure that we contain that and limit that, and try to create as many negative plays, as many takeaways as possible.”

Its another tough test for the Illini run-defense after being exposed against Penn State. The Nittany Lions, when handing Illinois its lone loss of the season, rushed for 239 yards. Purdue ran for the exact same number in Illinois’s narrow week seven win.

“They’re big and physical,” Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison said of Michigan. “…We just got to play our game and knock back on the front side, squeeze on the back side and play with extension.”

“They’re talented,” Illinois outside linebackers coach Clint Sintim said of the Michigan running backs. “They can make you miss, obviously they can run through you. And, that offensive line is pretty talented. So, they’re a big, physical group that likes to run the ball and they got two premier backs back there who do a good job.”

Illinois’s rush defense ranks fourth-worst in the Big Ten, allowing 150.5 rushing yards per game on average. Its allowing 202 rushing yards per game in its last four games.

“We’re going to spend time looking at film and finding different ways to stop the run,” Sintim said. “Our guys will buy into that and hopefully it shows up on Saturday.”

“They have a really good [offensive] line,” Henry said, pointing out Michigan’s tight end can block well in addition to his pass-catching abilities.

Michigan is averaging 191 rushing yards per game. However, the Wolverines are scoring just 23.5 points per game, a mark which ranks fourth-worst in the Big Ten.

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