The inability to make big scoring plays has been one of the main problems for Illinois (2-3 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten) this season.
Quarterback Tim Brasic’s 25-yard scramble against San Jose State is the longest touchdown run and Brasic’s 13-yard touchdown pass to E.B. Halsey is the longest via air. The longest non-scoring plays have been a 32-yard scramble by Brasic in Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Iowa and a 52-yard Brasic-to-Pierre Thomas pass in the 35-20 loss at California.
In the second quarter against Iowa, starting at their own 7-yard line, the Illini put together a school-record 20-play drive to the Iowa 4 but came up empty. Brasic threw incompletions on second and third down and Jason Reda missed a 21-yard field goal.
After getting a touchdown or field goal on all 18 of their red-zone opportunities the first four games, the Illini were 1-for-3 inside the 20 at Iowa.
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Next: Sat. at Indiana, 11 a.m., WBBM-Ch. 2