Minnesota looked defunct in their 26-14 loss to Illinois. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is now 9-0 versus Minnesota and remains at the top of the Big Ten West.

Illinois was in control for most of the game. Their offense possessed the ball for a staggering 40 minutes and ran more than twice the amount of plays (86) as Minnesota (42). Illinois running back Chase Brown was involved in 44 of those plays.

Both teams entered Saturday’s game with defenses statistically ranked in the top five, but only Illinois acted the part. Minnesota totaled 38 passing yards and 142 rushing yards while giving up 252 and 220, respectively.

Illinois used Brown’s star power to get the ball rolling. He was involved in five of Illinois’ nine plays on the first drive, the last being a 40-yard touchdown catch off a wheel route. His early usage and effectiveness foreshadowed a long day for the Gophers’ defense.

The Gophers’ offense trotted out on the field, looking to respond to the early deficit. The drive started slow but picked up after a 19-yard gain by trusty running back Mohamed Ibrahim. In the next play, Illinois safety Kendall Smith intercepted quarterback Tanner Morgan on an arid pass to Michael Brown-Stephens.

Near the end of the first quarter, quarterback Tommy DeVito marched his offense into Gopher territory after completing three of four passes for 34 yards.

It was fourth down and six, and the Gophers had called their second timeout in hopes of forcing Illinois to kick their potential field goal into the wind. But instead of kicking it, Bielema decided to keep his offense on the field. 

DeVito maintained his hot hand and completed a seven-yard pass to receiver Isaiah Williams, thwarting P.J. Fleck’s strategy. Illinois would come away with a field goal a few plays later.

The Gophers answered by conducting their best offensive drive of the day. It started with Ibrahim finding the cutback lane and sprinting upfield for 44 yards. Morgan capped it off with a touchdown run from 9 yards away.

On the post-halftime kick-off, Minnesota return man Quentin Redding brought the Gophers’ offense to the Illinois four-yard line after a 92-yard return and a horsecollar penalty. Ibrahim did what he did best and scored with ease, putting Minnesota ahead of Illinois by one.

However, the Gophers would not enjoy this lead for long. Brown and DeVito demolished the Gophers’ defense by repeatedly making big plays on the ground and through the air. The two took the offense back to the red zone, where DeVito carried it in for six points and reclaimed the lead.

Minnesota did not keep the scoring rally going on the ensuing drive. All game, their offensive line had been rendered powerless against Illinois’ defensive front, but it wasn’t until the third quarter that the front’s production began physically changing the game.

Illinois freshman defensive end Gabe Jacas singlehandedly disrupted the Gophers’ game plan twice in the quarter: once through a sack on a third down conversion attempt, which forced a punt, and another when his punch aimed for the ball missed and connected with Morgan’s head.

Morgan had to be carted off the field with a towel over his head. Sophomore Athan Kalikmanis came in to replace him for the remainder of the game.

According to Fleck, Morgan was transported to a local medical center for assessment of what was deemed an upper-body injury. Morgan’s status for practice or next week’s game is currently unknown.

Minnesota looked ready to give up in the fourth quarter without their starting quarterback. On defense, Brown continued to gash the defense with his persistent running style. On offense, Kalikmanis threw back-to-back interceptions on the final two drives, finalizing the team’s excruciating performance.

Next week, Gophers football will face 5-1 Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. It will be Minnesota’s second week in a row on the road playing a ranked team during their homecoming week.