Sep 7, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Zakhari Franklin (4) runs for a first down as Kansas Jayhawks safety Marvin Grant (4) pursues during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images Kaden Feagin plunged for the go-ahead touchdown with 9:34 left and Illinois forced four turnovers to earn a 23-17 victory over No. 19 Kansas in front of a sellout crowd Saturday night in Champaign, Ill.
Xavier Scott picked off two passes from Jalon Daniels — and returned one for a touchdown — while Luke Altmyer threw for 192 yards and Zakhari Franklin caught nine passes for 99 yards for Illinois (2-0).
Daniels completed 18 of 32 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns but also threw a career-high three interceptions. Devin Neal rushed for 101 yards for the Jayhawks (1-1), who limited the Illini to 149 yards during the first three quarters before surrendering 122 yards and 10 points in the fourth.
Scott intercepted an underthrown Daniels pass on the game’s first possession. After uncovered running back Aidan Laughery dropped a sure touchdown pass on third-and-short, the Illini settled for David Olano’s 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On Kansas’ second drive, the Jayhawks had a touchdown erased by offensive pass interference, but Tabor Allen knotted the score with his first field goal — a 29-yarder that made it 3-3 with 12:39 left in the first half.
Kansas shifted into quick-strike mode late in the first half with a seven-play, 81-yard drive capped by Daniels’ 3-yard strike to Luke Grimm in the back of the end zone. Allen’s extra point gave the Jayhawks a 10-3 lead with 3:32 to go.
Olano booted a 50-yard field goal with 1:05 left to cut the margin to 10-6 with 1:05 left. Kansas tried to hurry for another score before the break, but Scott anticipated a screen on third-and-13, jumped the route and returned Daniels’ pass 30 yards for a pick-six and a 13-10 Illini lead with 36 seconds to go.
The Jayhawks turned to their running backs more in the second half — and they consumed more than eight minutes to march 81 yards for the go-ahead score. Daniels scrambled and found Lawrence Arnold uncovered in the end zone for a 13-yard score and a 17-13 lead with 4:57 left in the third quarter.
Illinois’ offense finally moved in the fourth quarter. Altmyer connected with Pat Bryant for 37 and 28 yards to set up Feagin’s 1-yard blast through right tackle for a 20-17 Illinois edge with 9:34 to play.
Olano added a 43-yard field goal with 58 seconds left, then Scott blitzed and forced Daniels to fumble on the game’s final play as Kansas tried to set up a Hail Mary from Illinois’ 46.
–Field Level Media
