CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — In front of a sold-out Homecoming crowd at Gies Memorial Stadium, No. 23 Illinois beat No. 21 USC, 34–32, on a last-second 41-yard field goal by David Olano.
The dramatic finish capped off a wild game in which quarterback Luke Altmyer accounted for four touchdowns — one passing, one rushing, one receiving, and another through the air — becoming the first Big Ten player since 2011 to accomplish that feat. Altmyer completed 20 of 26 passes for 328 yards and added 28 on the ground, guiding Illinois (4–1, 1–1 Big Ten) to a game-winning drive in the final two minutes — his sixth such drive in the last three seasons.
The Illini built a 31–17 lead late in the third quarter behind a 64-yard touchdown from Kaden Feagin and a trick-play score to Altmyer. USC (4–1, 2–1) stormed back with two late touchdowns and a two-point conversion to take a 32–31 lead with under two minutes to play. But Altmyer led the Illini down the field to set up Olano’s walk-off winner. Illinois travels to Purdue next Saturday for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff.
