By IlliniGuys Staff

September 26, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - David Olano kicked a 41-yard field goal with no time left to cap off a wild 4th quarter and give #23 Illinois a 34-32 victory over No. 21 USC on Homecoming weekend Saturday afternoon.

The final play capped off a crazy 4th quarter that saw 992 yards of total offense betwen the two and the Illini (4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten) squander a 14-point lead as USC rallied with a pair of touchdowns from Jayden Maiava to Makai Lemon. The two also connected on a two-point conversion in the final period as the Trojans - which hadn't trailed in the second half all season - erased a 31-17 deficit to lead to take a 32-31 advantage with 1:55 remaining.

Illinois could have scored a convincing double-digit win, but lost two fumbles near the goal line. Junior running back Kaden Feagin was stripped at the goal line as the Illini were driving late in the second quarter, attempting to build on a 14-7 lead. The Trojans took advantage and turned the mistake into a 21-yard field goal and a 14-10 halftime score.

Then on another Illinois drive in the 4th quarter, sophomore running back Ca'Lil Valentine had the ball punched away just short of a touchdown that would have extended the Illini's 31-25 lead. USC recovered in the end zone and its offensive drove 80 yards for the go-ahead score.

Luke Altmyer was spectacular in delivering his 7th career game-winning drive in the 4th quarter. The senior quarterback guided the Illini 51 yards on eight plays in under two minutes to set up Olano's decisive kick. He became the first Illinois quarterback since Kurt Kittner in 1999 to pass for, run for, and catch a touchdown in the same game.

After Leon Lowery forced a Waymond Jordan fumble picked up by Jaheim Clarke on the opening drive, Altmyer dented the scoreboard first with a 12-yard touchdown scamper around the right side. USC matched with a touchdown of its own before Hank Beatty, a former high school quarterback, threw a scoring strike to Altmyer from three yards out on a "Philly Special" reverse play made famous by a Philadelphia Eagle trick play in the Super Bowl for a 14-7 lead.

Altmyer then took the air in the game's most dramatic play. Taking advantage of a linebacker blitz, the veteran tossed a screen pass to Feagin, who sprinted 64 yards up the sideline for a 3rd quarter touchdown. Altmyer later connected with Justin Bowick from 25 yards out to put Illinois on top 31-17 with 14:34 left in the game.

He finished with 20 completions on 26 attempts for 328 yards. Altmyer on the year has thrown for 1,183 yards with 11 touchdowns and has yet to be intercepted through five games.

Beatty finished with six catches for 81 yards while Collin Dixon grabbed four passes for 90 yards. Feagin led the team in rushing with 60 yards on 14 carries.

Illinois' 502 yards on offense was the program's largest total in a regulation game against a Power 5 opponent since rolling up 510 yards in a 55-34 loss at Nebraska in November, 2018.

Illinois also took advantage of USC penalties. The Trojans were flagged eight times for 69 yards, including a 15-yard pass interference penalty on the Illini's game-winning drive.

For USC (4-1, 2-1), Maiava went 30 of 43 for 364 yards and suffered a Dylan Rosiek interception along with the two scoring tosses to Lemon, who caught a career-high 11 passes for 151 yards.

Illinois now travels to Purdue next Saturday (11am CDT, Big Ten Network), where they haven't won since 2019.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage from Gies Memorial Stadium.