CHAMPAIGN — Luke Altmyer drove Illinois to David Olano’s 41-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the No. 23 Illini to a 34-32 victory over No. 21 USC on Saturday.
Altmyer was 20-for-26 for 328 yards, helping Illinois bounce back from last weekend’s 63-10 loss at Indiana. He threw for two touchdowns, rushed for another score and caught a TD pass.
Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) opened a 31-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. But USC (4-1, 2-1) went ahead for the first time on Jayden Maiava’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Makai Lemon with 1:55 left.
The Illini then drove 51 yards in eight plays to set up Olano’s winning kick.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema was confident Altmyer would respond after USC grabbed the lead.
“I turned around and looked at Luke before our final drive. He gave me a head nod. That’s all I needed to see,” Bielema said.
Olano said he wasn’t nervous before the final play.
“It was a dream come true, but it was just another kick,” he said. “Something we work on all the time. I know I kicked the winning field goal, but it’s the guys in the locker room who really won the game.”
USC coach Lincoln Riley was happy about his team’s late rally, but not much else.
“We showed a lot of fight coming back to take the lead, but the reality is we squandered too many opportunities on both sides of the ball,” he said.
More Top Picks Best Ventless Portable Air Conditioner
Maiava was 30-for-43 for 364 yards and two touchdowns — both to Lemon, who caught 11 passes for 151 yards. Waymond Jordan rushed for 94 yards and two TDs for the Trojans.
Altmyer threw TD passes to Kaden Feagin and Justin Bowick. He caught a touchdown pass from Hank Beatty.
Beatty has passed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, rushed for a TD and scored on a punt return this season.
The takeaway
USC: The Trojans had not played a ranked team until facing Illinois. Their fourth-quarter comeback may be enough to keep them ranked.
Illinois: After falling 14 places in the AP poll following their embarrassing loss to the Hoosiers, the Illini are poised to move back up with the victory against the previously undefeated Trojans.
History made
The Illini had never defeated USC in Champaign before Saturday. They had dropped six straight, including a 55-3 loss in 1996, the last time the teams met at Gies Memorial Stadium.
Rare interception
Maiava threw his first interception this season when Dylan Rosiek picked him off in the third quarter. Altmyer still hasn’t had an interception this year. Each QB has 11 touchdown passes.
Better numbers
Illinois rushed for 2 yards and allowed seven sacks against Indiana. The Illini had 171 rushing yards and 502 total yards against USC. They allowed only one sack.
Up next
- Illinois: The Illini travel to Purdue on Saturday.
- USC: Following a bye week, the Trojans host Michigan on Oct. 11.