>>CFB: Indiana Gets By Illinois For First Big Ten Win
Richard Lagow threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, leading Indiana to a 24-14 victory over Illinois on Saturday.
The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-6) racked up 428 yards offense and used a balanced attack to earn their first Big Ten win of the season.
Coming into the matchup, Indiana was ranked last in the conference in rushing yards per game at 114.6. But on Saturday, Indiana had 139 rushing yards led by Cole Gest who ran for 82 on 17 carries.
Both teams got off to slow starts, but with 1:28 left in the first quarter Jalen Dunlap recorded his first career interception which set the Illini (2-8, 0-7) up at their own 44-yard line but they went three-and-out.
Morgan Ellison broke the scoreless tie on a 2-yard plunge with just under three minutes left in the first half. His fourth score of the season capped a 10-play, 45-yard drive.
Illinois didn't give up another rushing touchdown, but Lagow got the job done threw the air. He completed 32 of 48 attempts to 10 receivers with Ian Thomas and Simmie Cobbs Jr. both scoring.
The Illini struggled to find much offensive rhythm early. In the first half, Illinois recorded just 72 yards of total offense.
However, the Illini eclipsed that total on one play in the second half. On the first play of Illinois' eighth drive, Jeff George Jr. threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Louis Dorsey.
Dorsey finished with three catches for 107 yards. Caleb Reams also caught a touchdown pass from George - the first of Reams' career - early in the fourth quarter. It brought the Illini within three. But that was as close as they would get.
George threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns, but lost a fumble and threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers recorded seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in earning their first conference victory since Nov. 26 of last year.
Illinois has now lost 10 consecutive Big Ten games.
The Illini play at Ohio State on Saturday.
>>CFB: South Dakota State Gets By Illinois State
Taryn Christion accounted for three touchdowns, Chase Vinatieri kicked a 43-yard field goal in overtime, and South Dakota State improved its FCS playoff chances with a 27-24 victory over Illinois State on Saturday.
South Dakota State (8-2, 5-2 Missouri Valley Conference), ranked sixth in the FCS poll, has won four straight and is a game back of North Dakota State atop the conference standings. The 17th-ranked Redbirds (6-4, 4-3) have lost two in a row.
Illinois State's James Robinson, who finished with 83 yards rushing and two touchdown runs, bullied up the middle from 5 yards out for a score to tie the game 24-24 with just over two minutes remaining.
In overtime, The Redbirds' Sean Slattery hooked his 41-yard field goal attempt before Vinatieri's kick split the uprights.
Christion threw two touchdown passes in the first half, and ran for an 84-yard score.
>>CFB: Western Illinois Blanks Indiana State
Sean McGuire threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns - three in the second quarter - and Western Illinois shut out Indiana State 45-0 on Saturday.
The win was Western Illinois' sixth on the road, something the school had never before achieved in 113 seasons of football. The Leathernecks entered the game ranked No. 11 in the FCS polls.
McGuire completed 17 of 25 passes with touchdown tosses to Adam Conrady for 21 yards, Jaelon Acklin for 23 and a shovel pass that Steve McShane turned into a 46-yard TD in the breakaway second quarter. McShane capped the first half with an 81-yard punt return for a score and a 31-0 halftime lead.
Western Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference) rolled up 409 yards of offense to Indiana State's (0-10, 0-7) 133. The Sycamores managed eight first downs, were 1 of 12 on third down conversions and gained just 43 yards on the ground.
Lemonte Booker gained 51 yards on 20 carries for Indiana State.
