By Woodrow Carroll
For the second week in a row, the Fighting Illini scored first and last in their Big Ten Conference football game, and, for the second week in a row, lost the game!
The University of Illinois, up against the Purdue Boilermakers in a key West Division battle Saturday, Nov. 12 in Champaign, ended up on the short end of a 31-24 final score. Suddenly, a season that looked so bright only a couple of weeks ago has gone sour. Back to back losses to Michigan State and Purdue will cause the change.
Illinois, 7-3 down to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten West, is in a four-way tie for first place in the West with Purdue, Iowa, and Minnesota. Given the Illini will play at undefeated Michigan at 11 a.m. on ABC-TV Saturday, Nov. 19, a three-game losing streak is likely to confront the Illini entering into the season finale, Nov. 26, at Northwestern. Michigan, 10-0, is ranked No. 3 nationally.
Iowa and Minnesota, two of the teams tied for first place in the Big Ten West with Purdue and Illinois, will play in Minnesota Saturday, Nov. 19. Short of an Illini upset victory in Ann Arbor, the Illini will not be among the West Division leaders come that evening.
If you are looking for favorable signs when the Fighting Illini play Michigan, a deep look deep into the Michigan-Illinois series is needed to find something positive for Illinois. The two schools first squared off in 1898 and the Wolverines lead the series 71-23-2, and, the are on a five-game winning streak against Illinois.
The Illinois loss to Visiting Michigan State November 5 attracted more than 56,000 in Champaign. The fans were apparently suspicious of the Illini going into the game with Purdue. Little more than 45,000 went to Memorial Stadium.
For the record, the Illini grabbed an early 7-0 lead against Purdue and then completed the day’s scoring with a 38-yard field goal in the game’s final minute. In between, however, it was Purdue doing most of the damage. Illinois’ losses the past two weeks have put a damper on bowl prospects. Yes, Illinois is still assured of a bowl bid, however, it will not be a quality foe the Orange & Blue were set to play just a few weeks ago. The payout for the various bowl games differs considerably.
• Northwestern (1-9, 1-6) could do Illinois a favor Saturday, Nov. 19 with an 11 a.m. game at Purdue. Given Illinois’ slim prospects at Michigan, the Illini will take any and all favors.
After a season-opening victory over Nebraska, Northwestern has lost nine straight games. In the Saturday, Nov. 12 loss, 31-3, at Minnesota, the Wildcats were soundly beaten.
• If only it carried more importance! That’s the story surrounding Northern Illinois’ 24-17 victory at Western Michigan Wednesday of last week. A road victory in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) is always nice, however, Northern Illinois, (3-7 and 2-4) will not play in postseason. Both Northern Illinois MAC victories have been on the road. The other victory was at Eastern Michigan.
Northern Illinois was set to be host to Miami (Ohio) in a MAC game Wednesday this week.