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Katin Houser passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns, and East Carolina opened American Conference play with a 28-6 victory over defending league champion Army on Thursday night. East Carolina (3-2, 1-0 American) has won nine of the 10 meetings with Army, with a road setback last season. Houser threw for two touchdowns and ran for another - all in the first quarter for a 21-0 lead. Anthony Smith had a catch of 40 yards or more on ECU's opening two drives, the second giving the Pirates a 14-0 lead. Houser connected with Jayvontay Conner for a 20-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the first quarter. ECU's touchdown in the second half came when backup holder Kyler Pearson ran for a 32-yard touchdown on a fake field goal to cap the scoring.

Noah Short rushed for 127 yards on just 11 carries for Army (1-3, 0-2), which gained for over 100 yards on the ground for the 34th straight game. Quarterback Dewayne Coleman added 51 yards rushing, including a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Army had just five first downs and 128 total yards in the first half. It was the first time the Black Knights had been shutout in the first half since 2023 against LSU. Last season, Army defeated East Carolina 45-28 behind quarterback Bryson Daily's six touchdowns (five rushing, one passing), marking the first six-touchdown game by a Black Knight since 1916. - East Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rJr/2027

QB Katin Houser, Illinois
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
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09/23/25 - Xavier Scott, rSr/2027, Illinois, 5-11, 195 (DS#6 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#6 CB) rSr/2027

CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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09/14/25 - Katin Houser, rJr/2027, Illinois, 6-3, 225 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Katin Houser had 293 passing yards and two touchdowns as East Carolina routed Coastal Carolina, 38-0 on Saturday night. The Pirates (2-1) have allowed three points across their last two games under first-year defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge. ECU's defense had five sacks and nine tackles for loss. A 17-0 lead through three quarters became a blowout in the fourth, with two straight Coastal turnovers that became three straight touchdown drives and brought the clock under four minutes.

The Chanticleers (1-2) had five turnovers on the night, with 14 total points off turnovers for the Pirates. Parker Jenkins, Mike Wright Jr., and TJ Engleman Jr. each had over 30 rushing yards and scored a touchdown. London Montgomery led with 59 yards on 15 carries. Anthony Smith hauled in 11 receptions for 136 yards, and Yannick Smith had two touchdown grabs. Tad Hudson was 19-for-39 with 172 yards and two interceptions for the Chanticleers. The two teams had only met once before, a 53-29 ECU victory in 2022. - East Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rJr/2027

QB Katin Houser, Illinois
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
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09/13/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-1, 210 (DS#11 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#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/06/25 - Katin Houser, rJr/2027, Illinois, 6-3, 225 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Katin Houser threw for two touchdowns, London Montgomery ran for two scores and East Carolina overwhelmed FCS-member Campbell 56-3 on Saturday. Houser completed 25 of 35 passes, connecting with Desirrio Riles for the game's first score on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Later, he threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Brock Spalding. Montgomery was one of four Pirates (1-1) ball carriers to score as he crashed in from the 1-and 2-yard lines. Parker Jenkins scored from 17 yards out, Marlon Gunn Jr. from the 4 and DeJuan Lacy from the 4. Saturday's contest was the sixth since the teams first met in 1933. ECU's win knotted the series at 3-3. After four games in the 1930's the two teams last met in 2022 with ECU earning a 49-10 win. - East Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rJr/2027

QB Katin Houser, Illinois
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
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09/06/25 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-1, 210 (DS#11 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#11 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, 178 (DS#78 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#78 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, 178 (DS#78 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#78 WR) Sr/2026

WR Hank Beatty, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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09/10/24 - Xavier Scott, rSr/2027, Illinois, 5-11, 195 (DS#6 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#6 CB) rSr/2027

CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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08/30/24 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-1, 210 (DS#11 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#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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12/27/23 - Josh Gesky, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-5, 329 (DS#43 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#43 OG) rSr/2026

OG Josh Gesky, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/27/23 - Julian Pearl, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-6, 312 (DS#26 OT) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: Julian Pearl,...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#26 OT) rSr/2024

OT Julian Pearl, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/27/23 - Isaiah Adams, Sr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 315 (DS#6 OG) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: Isaiah Adams,...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#6 OG) Sr/2024

OG Isaiah Adams, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/27/23 - Caleb Griffin, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-3, 226 (DS#17 K) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: K Caleb Griffin,...Griffin was the first kicker in Illinois history to have two game-winning field goals (final minute) in a single season. He hit game-winners against Maryland and Toledo, while going 14-for-19 (73.7%) on field goals. He was 13-for-15 on field goals inside of 50 yards. - Illinois Football

(DS#17 K) rSr/2024

K Caleb Griffin, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/27/23 - Isaiah Williams, rJr/2024, Illinois, 5-09, 182 (DS#34 WR) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: KR Isaiah Williams,...Williams averaged 11.6 yards per punt return, tied for the second-best average in the Big Ten. - Illinois Football

(DS#34 WR) rJr/2024

WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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