In a thrilling game that came down to the final seconds, Illinois emerged victorious over Rutgers with a game-winning touchdown pass. With just four seconds left on the clock, quarterback Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a 40-yard catch-and-run touchdown, securing a 38-31 win for No. 24 ranked Illinois.
The game was filled with back-and-forth action, with three lead changes in the final three minutes of play. Both teams fought hard until the very end, making it one of the most entertaining games of the season.
Illinois, who now stands at 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten, was down 31-30 in the fourth quarter when they sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a 58-yard field goal attempt. However, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano called for a timeout right before the kick, which ultimately proved to be a game-changing decision.
After the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema made a gutsy call to send his offense back onto the field. And it paid off. Altmyer connected with Bryant on an in-cut on the left side, and he sprinted across the field untouched for the game-winning touchdown.
But the drama didn’t end there. Rutgers had one final chance to tie or potentially win the game, but their desperation attempt on the final kickoff return resulted in a safety for Illinois. The Scarlet Knights threw the ball out of bounds in the end zone as players tried to pass it around in hopes of a miracle touchdown.
Altmyer finished the game with 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant was his favorite target, finishing with seven receptions for an impressive 197 yards.
It was a day to remember for Altmyer, as he not only led his team to victory with his arm, but also with his legs. He scored a 30-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, putting Illinois in front with just over three minutes left to play. He then completed a two-point conversion to Josh McCray, making it 30-24.
But Rutgers was not to be counted out just yet. They responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to running back Kyle Manangai. With just 1:08 remaining, the Scarlet Knights tied the game at 31-31, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
Kaliakmanis had an impressive performance as well, going 18 for 36 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Monangai, on the other hand, had a career-high 28 carries for 122 yards.
The start of the second half was delayed due to a scrum between the two teams, but no punches were thrown and both schools were penalized. Monangai had a standout day for Rutgers, becoming the third player in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards. He joins the ranks of Ray Rice and Terrell Willis as one of the most accomplished running backs in Rutgers history.
For Illinois, this win keeps them in contention for their first nine-win season since 2007. It also puts them in a good position for a prestigious bowl game this season. On the other hand, Rutgers was just seconds away from their first three-game conference winning streak since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
Next week, Illinois will face off against Northwestern while Rutgers will take on Michigan State. Both teams will look to build off of this thrilling game and end their season strong.
Despite the game’s intense moments, it was a positive and inspiring match for both teams. Both Illinois and Rutgers showed determination, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude until the very end. As fans, we can only hope for more exciting games like this in the future.
