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Michigan football was completely broken by a 21-7 drubbing of Illinois

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Michigan football was completely broken by a 21-7 drubbing of Illinois

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For Michigan football, a bye week should be “now or never.”

The reigning national champions preached the week before the game at No. 21 Illinois Urgency and not panic. The coaches made personnel changes along the offensive line, worked out a new game plan around a new starting quarterback and had some key players return to defense.

Yes, about that.

Instead of a rejuvenated unit, the No. 22 Wolverines looked an awful lot like the group whose 27-game Big Ten winning streak was snapped a few weeks ago in Seattle. The defense continued to allow big plays and commit penalties. Special teams failed to turn the field over and missed a field goal. The running game wasn't enough: Kalel Mullings was great again with 19 carries for 87 yards and the only score, but Donovan Edwards lost a fumble in the first half.

The No. 22 Wolverines lost for the third time this season, 21-7, at No. 21 Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Michigan, in Year 1 under head coach Sherrone Moore, will almost certainly fall out of the top 25 college football rankings for the first time in 54 weeks and miss the College Football Playoff for the first time in four seasons.

The Wolverines committed three turnovers, two of them by an erratic Jack Tuttle in his first start at Michigan, and lost All-American cornerback Will Johnson to a foot injury in the first quarter. Tuttle finished the game 20-for-32 for 208 yards – helped by some poor timing – and a fourth-quarter interception, and Kalel Mullings rushed for 87 yards and a score on 19 carries.

INSIDER: Michigan football may not win another game this season

The passing game once again failed to generate anything, allowing five sacks – the most Michigan has allowed in the last six years – and the pass defense couldn't come up with timely stops.

Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) quarterback Luke Altmyer was just 9 of 18 for 80 yards and a touchdown, but the Illini rushed for 187 yards and then stormed down the field in their first home win since October. 12, 1991 (10-7 over Ohio State) in front of a sellout crowd of 60,670 – the 77th sellout at Memorial Stadium – on its 100th anniversary.

The Wolverines (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) have now lost more times in the last 42 days than in the previous 1,042 days and will have to try to get off the mat for a rivalry game Saturday when they host rival Michigan State at Michigan Stadium (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) in Ann Arbor.

REACTION: Michigan football was criticized by CBS analysts and fans for a “pathetic” performance against Illinois

The Illinois special teams trick blows away Michigan

Michigan had momentum early in the second half. The Wolverines gained 72 yards on 12 plays on their final drive of the first half, and Mullings scored a one-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to six yards.

Just when it looked like Illinois would put nine points in the game by halftime, Makari Paige blocked a field goal. The Wolverines got the ball early in the second half, but after two short rushes by Mullings, TeRah Edwards knocked down Greg Crippen in the third and sacked Tuttle.

Michigan's defense appeared to have a timely stop on Illinois' ensuing possession, but Bret Bielema parried the perfectly timed fake that went to Tanner Akin, who kept the ball up the middle for 37 yards. Five plays later, Altmyer scored to take a 21-7 lead.

Even then, not all hope was lost. Michigan managed its second solid performance on three possessions, but on third-and-3, Tuttle was sacked, leading to what looked like an automatic Dominic Zvada field goal. Incorrect. It was blocked by Ezekiel Holmes to keep UM down by 14.

Still, Michigan didn't give up. The defense came to a stop and caught Tuttle and Co. getting the ball back on their own with 13:22 left. Facing fourth-and-18 from the Illinois 44, Tuttle even found Loveland on a 29-yard strike to keep the drive alive, but was intercepted by Matt Bailey on the next pass attempt.

A sloppy start dooms Michigan against Illinois

It also didn't help that the Wolverines started as poorly as possible on offense. After the Illini dominated the field and scored a field goal on their first possession, Kirk Campbell's unit went three-and-out on their first possession, recording two incompletions and gaining just two yards.

After the two teams traded punts, Michigan's defense made a key play on Illinois' next possession when Josiah Stewart and Jaishawn Barham combined for a tackle for loss on fourth-and-1 to hold off the Illini at the UM 21.

But here too the offensive would stall. On third-and-7 in UM territory, Tuttle dodged the rush, tucked the ball and ran, only to be stripped by Gabe Jacas and lose a fumble for the second time in as many games. But once again the defense would stand firm.

Illinois made it to the Michigan 8-yard line, but Derrick Moore scored on a sack on third down, forcing another field goal late in the first quarter, giving the team a 6-0 lead.

Tuttle appeared to throw an interception on the first play of the next drive that was returned to the goal line, but UM was temporarily saved when an Illini defender was called out for holding on the play.

UM had new life, only for Donovan Edwards to fumble two plays later and return it to Illinois, which put together a seven-play, 51-yard drive and ended it when Luke Altmyer found Tanner Arkin on a two-yard touchdown pass at 13 :0 take the lead.

Then Michigan finally did something on offense. The Wolverines opted to ride their workhorse Mullings on four consecutive runs, accumulating a total of 24 yards and opening up the passing game that allowed Tuttle to find Loveland on consecutive passes for a 26-yard gain and then a screen Playing Semaj Morgan, who gained eight yards.

UM would have Mullings lead four of the next five plays, including a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down and a score to get Michigan on the field. The Wolverines then maintained the momentum until halftime when Makari Paige scored a field goal attempt on the final play of the second quarter.

Make “Hail” your favorite Michigan Wolverines podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.

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