The 100th anniversary of the Illinois victory over Michigan football featuring Red Grange was the theme of Saturday's broadcast. CBS turned back the clock with the opening sequence to commemorate the event.
When the pads started popping on the field, Michigan's defense got tested early and hung in there after Illinois jumped out to a 13-0 lead. They took their final drive of the first half the distance and capped it off on fourth and goal from the one-inch line. Kalel Mullings dove over the pile below him for six. Illinois drove into field goal range by the time that half neared, but the attempt was blocked and Michigan football was fortunate to be down only six at intermission.
Illinois came up with the play of the day on fourth down in the first five minutes of the third quarter. They faked a punt that nobody saw coming and the tight end had open space to carry it all the way to the redzone. A few plays later they went up by two scores with a one yard quarterback sneak by Luke Altmeyer. He lost his helmet in the fray, so his backup came in and converted the two-point conversion.
Michigan's offense got the ball inside the 10, but sputtered to find points. Their field goal attempt was blocked, for Dominic Zvada's first miss of the season. Jack Tuttle got the ball back and somehow connected to Colston Loveland on fourth and 18. However, on the next play Tuttle stared down Loveland and didn't see the defender step in the throwing lane for his third turnover of the day. You know the rest.
Here's three of the takeaways from the dubious defeat.
1. Michigan football does not have one trustworthy quarterback
Through two appearances Jack Tuttle has turned the ball over four times. He is just as turnover-prone as Davis Warren is. The fact that the Wolverines don't have one capable quarterback on their roster halfway through the season is unapologetic. Toss in the truths that Tuttle takes too many sacks because he holds on to the ball so long and is wildly inaccurate, makes matters worse.
Someone mentioned Jayden Denegal get a look, but there has been no buzz on him being involved in the race at all.
On the bright side, Tuttle did throw for a season high 208 yards, which is also a career high for him. Colston Loveland was the primary recipient. Freshman Hogan Hansen had a record day as well.
The Illini defense sacked Tuttle five times and held Michigan football to a 10-year low in points. Tuttle had negative yards with his legs because of those takedowns and would have had a second interception, if not for a holding penalty that nullified the turnover.
2. The tone of the season has reverted back to 2020
For the first time since that disastrous covid season, Michigan football is on a losing streak and will not be ranked in the polls. The same "so called" Michigan fans who were chirping back then, are back to the same rhetoric. They are calling for Sherrone Moore's job, Warde Manuel to be fired and an entirely new coaching staff at the flick of a wrist.
Manuel won't do anything drastic immediatley, but changes will have to be made in the offseason when it comes to the assistant coaches and, most importantly, the portal. They are already in the mix for former Indiana receiver, Donovan McCulley, who would arguably be the best pass catcher if he played on the team today.
They also have to have a backup plan for Jadyn Davis, in case the worst scenario happens. Carter Smith won't be ready to contribute. Brandon Justice brings up a fair point in this tweet below. There has been a story floating around that Davis is nowhere ready because of his unorthodox throwing motion.
If Jadyn Davis can’t beat these guys out, I don’t know if he’ll ever be a QB in the Big Ten
— Brandon Justice (@BrandonJustice_) October 19, 2024
Rumblings of a colossal turn of events could be happening in recruiting, but nothing has developed yet. The timing of those rumors seem to be very skeptical with the way this season is trending.
3. Michigan State has a realistic shot at celebrating in the Big House
For those thinking that the battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy is going to be a slam dunk, think again. Michigan State will hang with the Wolverines and may take the trophy back with them to East Lansing like they did four years ago.
The Spartans will be entering hate week playing their best football of the year. Michigan, on the other hand, is on life support. No one knows if we'll ever see Will Johnson in a Michigan football uniform again either. He, along with others have to have a serious discussion about their futures with the season dwindling out of control.
In the 2020 loss, this is where the trajectory of the season changed for Michigan. Everyone thought Michigan football would steam roll the Spartans and they did the opposite as huge underdogs. Michigan State wants nothing more than to do it again at the expense of the home crowd to get the signature win of the Jonathan Smith era.