Luke Altmyer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini shut out Western Michigan Broncos 38-0 on Saturday night.
Kaden Feagin rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown and Ca’Lil Valentine ran for 63 yards and a TD. Hank Beatty caught six passes for 53 yards and a TD.
It was the seventh consecutive victory dating to last season for Illinois (3-0), its longest winning streak since it won seven in a row in 2011.
Illinois led just 10-0 at halftime, preserving the shutout with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. The Illini stopped the Broncos twice at the 1-yard line.
The Illini opened the season with decisive victories over three teams (Western Illinois, Duke and Western Michigan) with a combined record of 2-7, outscoring them 128-22. Now Illinois has an opportunity to show it deserves its No. 9 AP ranking - the team’s highest since 2001 and best September ranking since 1964 - with games coming up against No. 22 Indiana and USC.
