The Illinois Fighting Illini will be leaning on the nation's leading rusher a little bit more this Saturday when Minnnesota visits Memorial Stadium in Champaign for Homecoming.
Chase Brown leads the nation in rushing and with quarterback Tommy DeVito out with injury this week, Illini HQ beat writer Bob Asmussen says the Illini will be leaning on the junior a little more than normal.
Illinois enters the AP top 25 rankings for the first time in over a decade this week. Asmussen has a top 25 vote and ranked Illinois no. 23 and says while you might think because he's close the program and knows everyone well, he gives them a more critical review than you might think.
The Golden Gophers are expected to have star running back Mo Ibrahim return from an ankle injury of his own in a battle that could factor heavily into the Big Ten West race. Minnesota allows just 222 yards per game and are the No. 1 ranked total defense. Additionally, they lead the country in time of possession (37:58 per game) while Illinois checks in at No. 8 (34:06).
Brown leads the country with 879 rushing yards and runs of more than 10 yards (28) entering the week. Illini DT Keith Randolph has a sack in his last four games.
