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WEEK 6 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: David Olano, Illinois, K - Jr. - Naperville, Ill. - Naperville North,...Perfect 5-for-5 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points to account for 19 points in #22 Illinois' 47-23 road win at Purdue...Most field goals made in a game by a Big Ten player this season and tied the Illinois record for field goals made in a game...Second Illini ever and the first since 1982 to make five field goals in a road game...Last Illinois Special Teams Players of the Week: David Olano (Sept. 29, 2025). - Big Ten Football

(DS#9 K) Jr/2027

K David Olano, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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10/04/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

Luke Altmyer threw for a career-high 390 yards, Hank Beatty had 186 yards receiving and Kaden Feagin added two TD runs to lead No. 22 Illinois past Purdue 43-27 on Saturday. The Fighting Illini (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) used their first conference road win to retain the Cannon Trophy for the first time since last beating its border rival in back-to-back seasons in 2001 and 2002. Altmyer was 19-for-22 passing with a touchdown throw to Beatty, who amassed his yardage on just five receptions including his 62-yard TD catch. Ca'Lil Valentine ran for 92 yards and a touchdown. The Illini finished with 507 total yards.

Ryan Browne went 30 of 50 with 302 yards and one TD pass. He also ran for a score as the Boilermakers (2-3, 0-2) lost their third in a row. Antonio Harris and Devin Mockobee also had TD runs. Michael Jackson III caught 14 of the 17 passes thrown his direction for 94 yards. The Illini took control with a 27-point second quarter that included two David Olano field goals - on the first and last plays of the quarter. All the Boilermakers could muster amid that scoring flurry was a 60-yard TD pass from Browne to Corey Smith to cut the deficit to 24-14 with 1:13 left in the half. Illinois sealed the victory with two more Olano field goals in the second half followed by Feagin's 1-yard plunge with 1:19 left in the third to make it 40-21. Olano finished with five field goals, the most by an Illinois player since October 2001. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/29/25 - David Olano, Jr/2027, Illinois, 5-10, 180 (DS#9 K) + More +

WEEK 5 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: David Olano, Illinois, K - Jr. - Naperville, Ill. - Naperville North,...Kicked a walk-off 41-yard field goal to give No. 23 Illinois a 34-32 win against No. 21 USC...Made all six kicks, with two field goals (45, 41) and four extra points...Made the third game-winning field goal in Illinois history kicked with the Illini trailing as time expired...Last Illinois Special Teams Players of the Week: Hank Beatty (Sept. 1, 2025). - Big Ten Football

(DS#9 K) Jr/2027

K David Olano, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/29/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

WEEK 5 BIG TEN CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luke Altmyer, Illinois, QB - Sr. - Starkville, Miss. - Starkville,...Accounted for four touchdowns and 359 yards of offense in No. 23 Illinois' 34-32 win against No. 21 USC, becoming the first player to have 300+ passing yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing, and a receiving touchdown in a Big Ten game in at least 30 years...Finished with 328 passing yards and completed 20 of his 26 passes, while adding 28 yards on the ground...First player to record a rushing, receiving, and passing touchdown in a Big Ten game since 2011 (Vincent Smith, Michigan vs. Minnesota)...Engineered his national-leading sixth game-winning drive in the final minute or overtime over the last three seasons...Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Aidan Laughery (Dec. 2, 2024). - Big Ten Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/27/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

Luke Altmyer drove Illinois to David Olano's 41-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the No. 23 Illini to a 34-32 victory over No. 21 Southern California on Saturday. Altmyer was 20-for-26 passing for 328 yards, helping Illinois bounce back from last weekend's 63-10 loss at Indiana. He threw for two touchdowns, rushed for another score and caught a TD pass. Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) opened a 31-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Southern California (4-1, 2-1) went ahead for the first time on Jayden Maiava's 16-yard touchdown pass to Makai Lemon with 1:55 left.

The Illini then drove 51 yards in eight plays to set up Olano's winning kick. Maiava was 30 for 43 for 364 yards and two touchdowns - both to Lemon, who caught 11 passes for 151 yards. Waymond Jordan rushed for 94 yards and two TDs for the Trojans. Altmyer threw TD passes to Kaden Feagin and Justin Bowick. He caught a touchdown pass from Hank Beatty. Beatty has passed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, rushed for a TD and scored on a punt return this season. - Illini/AP College Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Illini/AP College Football
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09/23/25 - Xavier Scott, Sr/2026, Illinois, 5-11, 195 (DS#5 CB) + More +

No. 23 Illinois will have to play most of the season without star cornerback Xavier Scott, coach Bret Bielema said Monday. Scott will undergo a procedure on Wednesday for the injury that caused him to miss a 63-10 loss at No. 11 Indiana last weekend, Bielema said. Multiple reports have indicated Scott's injury is to his lower leg. "He will be out the majority of the rest of the year, but there's a chance he could come back at the end," Bielema said. Scott earned first-team Associated Press all-Big Ten honors last season. He finished as one of 15 finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. He intercepted four passes in 2024 and two in 2023. Scott's injury complicates Illinois' hopes of bouncing back from its blowout loss to Indiana as the Ilini (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) prepare to host No. 21 Southern California (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava leads all Bowl Subdivision players in passer rating and has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception. - AP College Football

(DS#5 CB) Sr/2026

CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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09/13/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

Luke Altmyer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and No. 9 Illinois shut out Western Michigan 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.

Broc Lowry threw for 78 yards and ran for 40 yards for the Broncos (0-3), who had 204 total yards. Illinois led 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 only TD of the half was a 6-yard pass from Altmyer to Beatty in the second quarter, his first scoring catch of the season. Illinois' leading receiver had scored a TD on a punt return in the Illini's opener vs. Western Illinois. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/06/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns and No. 11 Illinois capitalized on a series of mistakes by Duke to beat the Blue Devils 45-19 on Saturday for a road win against a power-conference opponent. Kaden Feagin, Hank Beatty and Ca'Lil Valentine ran for scores, while Beatty also had a huge receiving day with eight catches for 128 yards for the Fighting Illini (2-0). Illinois led by just one at halftime but asserted itself from there and outscored Duke 31-6 in what turned into a dominating finish. The key, though was Illinois' opportunism in pouncing on every Duke mistake when the game was close - and boy, there were plenty.

Duke (1-1) committed five turnovers, notably a muffed punt deep in its own end to set up a short field on Illinois' first touchdown and Darian Mensah losing a red-zone fumble in the first half. The miscues also included a penalty for having two players in the game wearing a No. 8 jersey as Illinois punted on a three-and-out to open the second half. That led to a first down on a drive the Illini would ultimately take to the end zone, with Altmyer's 4-yard scoring throw to Justin Bowick for a 21-13 lead that ultimately proved to be merely the start of Illinois' surge. Mensah threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns for Duke. Both went to Andrel Anthony, including a spectacular grab in the back of the end zone with Anthony getting his right toe down barely inbounds 8 seconds before halftime to make it 14-13. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/01/25 - Hank Beatty, Sr/2026, Illinois, 5-10, 185 (DS#64 WR) + More +

WEEK 1 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hank Beatty, Illinois, WR - Sr. - Rochester, Ill. - Rochester,...Broke Illinois' 102-year-old single-game punt return yardage record, totaling 133 yards on four punt returns to break Red Grange's record set in 1923 (125 yards)...Highlighting Beatty's punt returns was a 69-yard TD in the third quarter, Illinois' first punt return touchdown since 2013...The 69-yard score was Illinois' longest punt return touchdown since Christian Morton (80 yards) vs. Indiana (11/4/2000)...Also added five receptions for 108 yards, his first career 100-yard receiving game...Last Illinois Special Teams Players of the Week: Fabrizio Pinton (Oct. 10, 2022) - Big Ten Football

(DS#64 WR) Sr/2026

WR Hank Beatty, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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08/29/25 - Hank Beatty, Sr/2026, Illinois, 5-10, 185 (DS#64 WR) + More +

Hank Beatty returned a punt 69 yards for a third-quarter touchdown and broke Red Grange's 102-year-old Illinois record for yards on punt returns to help the No. 12 Illini rout Western Illinois 52-3 on Friday night to open the season. Beatty had four returns for 133 yards to break Grange's mark of 125 set against Nebraska on Oct. 6, 1923. The TD return was the Illini's first since D'Angelo Bailey did it against Ohio State in 2013.

Beatty also led Illinois in receiving with 108 yards on five catches, with a 59-yarder for a touchdown. Luke Altmyer was 17 of 21 with three touchdowns passes in an interception-free performance. Aidan Laughery ran for 109 yards on nine carries and two TDs. Chris Irvin was 14 of 29 for 134 yards for Western Illinois. Antonio Chadha made a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Illini led 31-0 at halftime, with Altmyer throwing all three of his TD passes - two to Justin Bowick in his first game at Illinois since transferring from Ball State. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#64 WR) Sr/2026

WR Hank Beatty, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/10/24 - Xavier Scott, Sr/2026, Illinois, 5-11, 195 (DS#5 CB) + More +

WEEK 2 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Xavier Scott, Illinois, DB - Jr. - Riviera Beach, Fla. - Dwyer,...Forced three turnovers in Illinois' 23-17 win over #19 Kansas...Only player in the nation to force three turnovers in a single game this season...Collected two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble, 1.0 sack and eight solo tackles to lead Illinois to its highest ranked nonconference win since 1995...Had a game-changing pick-six with :36 seconds left in the first half to give Illinois a 13-10 lead entering halftime...Recorded the game-ending strip-sack forced fumble on the final play to secure the win...Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Seth Coleman (Oct. 16, 2023). - Big Ten Football

(DS#5 CB) Sr/2026

CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/03/24 - Ethan Hampton, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-3, 230 (DS#53 QB) + More +

WEEK 1 MAC FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ethan Hampton, NIU, QB, Jr.-R, Elburn, Ill. (Aurora Christian),...In his first start since October 8, 2022 versus Toledo, Ethan Hampton completed 18 of 20 passes for a career high 328 yards and five touchdowns. Hampton's passing efficiency rating of 310.3 broke NIU's single game record, previously held by College Football Hall of Famer George Bork, who had a rating of 261.3 versus UW-Whitewater on Sept. 14, 1963. Following Saturday games, Hampton's ESPN QBR of 98.1 ranked third in the country, his completion percentage (90.0) is second and he is tied for first in passing touchdowns in the NCAA Statistics. Hampton's five TD passes - to five different receivers - tied for the sixth-most in NIU history and are the most by a Huskie QB in a game since Nov. 1, 2011 when Chandler Harnish threw six TD passes versus Toledo. In less than three quarters of action, Hampton posted the first 300-yard passing game in NIU's last 30 games, since November 3, 2021 when Rocky Lombardi threw for a school record 532 yards against Kent State. - MAC Football

(DS#53 QB) rSr/2026

QB Ethan Hampton, Illinois
News Source: MAC Football
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08/31/24 - Ethan Hampton, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-3, 230 (DS#53 QB) + More +

Ethan Hampton threw four of his five touchdown passes in the first half as Northern Illinois rode a 28-point second quarter to a 54-14 victory over Western Illinois in the season opener Saturday. After holding Western Illinois to a three-and-out on the game's opening possession, Hampton needed just two plays to get the Huskies into the end zone. After Antario Brown ran 23 yards on first down, Hampton fired a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dane Partridge. The point-after kick was missed. Antonio Chadha got the Leathernecks on the scoreboard with a 44-yard field goal to close out the first quarter.

Hampton hit Cam Thompson for an 11-yard TD to open the scoring in the second period. Trayvon Rudolph broke for a 60-yard scoring run and Hampton followed with an 11-yard TD toss to Keyshaun Pipkin. Hampton hit Rudolph for a 43-yard score to in the final minute. Hampton opened the second half with a 60-yard scoring strike to Grayson Barnes. Jaylen Poe scored on a 7-yard run late in the third, but Mayo Bola blocked Kanon Woodill's kick and Fredrik Greenhoward scooped up the loose ball and scored for a defensive PAT. - AP College Football

(DS#53 QB) rSr/2026

QB Ethan Hampton, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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08/30/24 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 215 (DS#13 QB) + More +

Luke Altmyer threw for 213 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Illinois past Eastern Illinois 45-0 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. Altmyer spread the wealth while completing 19 of 24 passes. Eleven receivers caught passes, three for touchdowns. Pat Bryant had two TDs, giving him 11 for his career. Malik Elzy and Tanner Arkin also caught TD passes. Kaden Feagin led Illinois' rushing attack with 16 carries for 108 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game. He ran for a touchdown and so did Josh McCray. Aidan Laughery ran for 79 yards on 10 carries. Illinois scored on all five of its trips into the red zone, outgained Eastern Illinois 486-196, and had 27 first downs to the Panthers' nine.

Four Eastern Illinois turnovers were turned into 24 points by the Illini. Miles Scott caused a fumble and had an interception. It was 31-0 at halftime. Eastern Illinois had a promising opening drive, but Scott forced a fumble by running back Jay Pearson and Seth Coleman recovered on the Illini 23. That turned out to be the Panthers' deepest penetration into Illinois territory until late in the third quarter, when Dylan Rosiek chased down Eastern Illinois receiver DeAirious Smith after a pass completion, Smith fumbled, and Kaleb Patterson recovered on the Illini 13. Altmyer threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bryant following Coleman's fumble recovery. That came on the play after an Altmyer-to-Zakhari Franklin touchdown pass was ruled incomplete and confirmed by video review after a challenge by Illinois. - AP College Football

(DS#13 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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12/27/23 - Josh Gesky, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-4, 335 (DS#45 OG) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: Josh Gesky,...Illinois' starting five offensive linemen were all named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. It is the second career honor for Isaiah Adams, who landed on the All-Big Ten Third Team (media) last season, and Zy Crisler, who was also an honorable mention honoree a year ago. - Illinois Football

(DS#45 OG) rSr/2026

OG Josh Gesky, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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