CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — No. 9 Illinois football has gotten off to a hot start this season, outscoring opponents 135-22 en route to an undefeated record through its first three games.
While the offense has looked good so far, this whopping point differential is largely due to the performance of the Illini players on the other side of the ball.
In their last game out, this defensive unit forced its first shutout of the season, effectively shutting down Western Michigan.
When looking ahead to their next test of the season in the No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers, however, according to linebackers coach Archie McDaniels, the defense is going to have its hands full.
“They got talent all over the freaking place,” McDaniels said. “They’re very well coached and, you know, and they do a great job of having answers to all the looks you give them.”
Just like the Illini, the Hoosiers are coming into Saturday night’s game with an undefeated record.
Their offense, led by junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza, has put up an average of 52 points this season.
Through three games, Mendoza has tallied 708 yards and nine touchdowns through the air and added two more touchdowns on the ground.
Looking ahead to Saturday night’s game, Illini linebacker Alec Bryant spoke on the opposing QB.
“He’s a good quarterback, he’s been around the game,” Bryant said. “He transferred schools, so you know, he’s seen a lot of different looks.”
In his first season with Indiana after transferring away from Cal, Mendoza has played clean football as well, only getting sacked once and not throwing a single interception.
Despite this lack of mistakes, linebacker Malachi Hood says that doesn’t change the way they’re preparing for the matchup.
“It doesn’t impact our preparation at all,” Hood said. “Obviously, the goal is to create mayhem, create turnovers, create chaos, but at the end of the day, you know, we want to win the game.”
In terms of going out and winning that game, it would be big for the Illini.
Starting Big Ten play with a ranked opponent, on the road and in front of a sold-out crowd isn’t going to be easy, but a win would certainly set Illinois up for success down the road.
“Conference play, those are the big ones you really get up for,” Hood said.“Every opponent’s obviously important, but right now we’re focused on this one, so to go out there and get the dub would be huge for catapulting us into the rest of the season.”
