How to Watch Illinois at Michigan State
Game Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
TV Channel: FS1
Online Streaming: FOXSportsGO
Odds: ILL -2.5, O/U 48.5
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Bret Bielema (6th season)
- 9-4 in 2025, 5-4 in conference
Last Game: Purdue 24, Illinois 17
Michigan State Spartans (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Head coach: Pat Fitzgerald (1st season)
Last Game: Wisconsin 31, MSU 3
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
- MSU leads the all-time series 27-20-2.
Nov. 16, 2024: Illinois 38, MSU 16
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On a day that looked to honor its seniors, Illinois Football’s oldest and most experienced players flourished, spearheading the way in a 38-16 Senior Day victory over Michigan State.
Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) is now two wins away from being close
to its first nine-win season since 2007, while the Spartans (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) will fight for bowl eligibility to close out the year.
There wasn’t much sun out for Senior Day but early on, the Illinois offense heated up the field on what was a cold, overcast fall November afternoon. They found the endzone on two of their first three drives but ended up punting on four of their next six drives.
Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. was good in spurts, but his offense had five drives end only putting up four plays.
Bret Bielema has long been known to prioritize aspects of the game that might be viewed as more tertiary. Field position, time of possession and the line of scrimmage battle are all things the fourth-year Illinois head coach has valued, and his game plan on Saturday showed that, too.
In the first half, the visitors had just six plays in Illinois territory, with nearly five fewer minutes in time of possession. While the running game was nearly dead even thanks to the quick feet of sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles, Luke Altmyer’s arm was productive to start the afternoon, slinging the pigskin for 145 yards in the first half.
Senior wideout Pat Bryant hauled in a 57-yard touchdown grab on Illinois’ second drive of the afternoon. Receiving compatriot Zakhari Franklin, also playing in the last home game of his career, also found the board, hauling in a four-yard toe-tapping TD grab that was sure to capture the attention of NFL scouts.
