IlliniGuys.com beat writer Matthew Stevens assesses the categories and overall aspect of the No. 9 Illini’s 38-0 win over Western Michigan.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 14, 2025

Run Offense

You going to see this message a lot folks, but this becomes a first half, second half situation with this grade. Illinois had just 47 yards on 15 carries in the first half with just one rush of 10 yards or more. In the second half, Illinois totaled 115 yards on 22 carries with three rushes of 10 yards or more. The tempo and lack of substitution patterns in the final 30 minutes helps the run game as much as it does the pass game for Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. With the tempo in full effect, Western Michigan was finding it harder to get lined up and run fit properly and therefore, Kaden Feagin can finish with a 100-yard performance in 20 carries. This grade also probably needs to be somewhat assessed on a curve due to the idea that Aidan Laughery (ankle) was rule inactive late in the week, but Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said Laughery is expected to be fully cleared for contact as Illinois (3-0) prepares for a trip this week at Indiana.

Grade: C

Pass Offense

Western Michigan’s blitz scheme was bothering Illinois’ pass protection plan throughout the entire first half, but Luke Altmyer came away from Saturday with no turnovers and 196 passing yards with two touchdown passes. Illinois may have found something coming out of the halftime break with the tempo plan that took Altmyer back to his days at Ole Miss running a simplified version of the offense being handed to him as an underclassman by then-offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin. One wrinkle to the pass game is without the services of Laughery, Kaden Feagin got involved as a receiver in the pass game more than he’d participated in the last two years under Lunney Jr.

Grade: B-minus

Run Defense

The quarterback run game of Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry played tricks on the eyes of the Illinois defensive front and middle linebackers for the final two drives of the first half. Other than that, Illinois was never in any danger of losing leverage or containment in its run fits and the Illinois middle linebacker combinations (Kenenna Odeluga, Malachi Hood and Jojo Hayden) combined for four tackles for loss as the Illini finished with nine tackles for a loss in the shutout.

Grade: A-minus

Pass Defense

It’s a close race for the worst passing attack that Illinois will see this season between the two non-conference directional schools on their schedule. Western Illinois finished with 134 passing yards with some of those coming in garbage time of the fourth quarter. Western Michigan (0-3) finished with 91 yards through the air and one completed pass for 10 yards or more. The Illinois pass rush also managed to win a lot of battles on the outside to get to three sacks and several quarterback hurries. When Illinois made it 17-0 after its first offensive drive of the second half, it became bluntly obvious that WMU was never going to be able to get back into this game throwing the football.

Grade: A

Special Teams

Here’s a fun fact: David Olano has still not allowed a single kickoff to be returned yet this season. Not one. Olano did add a 28-yard field goal to get the scoring started Saturday night. Illinois punter Keelan Crimmins found success later in the game as he has actually come into this contest without a lot of game reps with this Illini unit. Hank Beatty remains dangerous as a punt returner as WMU intentionally punted short, out of bounds to limit his chances at a big return. He finished with 19 yards on two returns.

Grade: A

Play-Calling/Game Management

In the post-game media conference, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said right hand was “still numb” from punching the whiteboard during the halftime chat with the players and coaches following the first 30 minutes of action. Bielema said he needed to be frank and honest with his assessment of Lunney Jr.’s scheme and play-calling in the first half. Following the 38-0 result, Bielema said he’s “choosing to take a glass is half full approach” to how Lunney and the rest of the Illini coaching staff reacted to the final 30 minutes of action. Illinois is dominating the second halves of games right now and have a week to figure out how to iron out issues in the first 30 minutes before they head to Bloomington, but Saturday was another game where Illinois left the stadium without a turnover.

Grade: C-plus

Overall

Here is the drastically different juxtaposition of evaluating Illinois football in 2025. It’s just hard to imagine an Illinois squad being led by then-head coach Ron Zook, Tim Beckman or Lovie Smith playing below average for a large portion of a game, regardless of whether the opponent was from the Mid-American Conference or a higher caliber Big Ten Conference and envisioning a 38-point shutout win being the result. The gap, not in talent but just in overall responsible play and maturity between a Bielema-led Illini program and a Group of Six Conference opponent seems so wide that it’s hard to imagine what it might take for Illinois to look inferior to a non-power conference opponent again. What happened in Bielema’s first season with a home loss to Texas-San Antonio just doesn’t seem likely in the near future.

Sure, maybe the common opinion coming out of Saturday is: If they play like this next weekend in Bloomington, they’ll lose and lose big. Here’s the thing about that. The opponent this weekend wasn’t Indiana, the venue wasn’t Memorial Stadium in Bloomington and Illinois may be getting healthier veteran bodies back for that crucial matchup. Folks, it becomes a cliche for a reason, but this is why when you’re dealing with 18–24-year-old athletes, you don’t concern yourself with how the win looked so much as how many you’ve strung together in a row. Illinois now has won seven in a row for the first time since 2001. Saturday, especially the final 30 minutes, was a grand success.

Grade: A-minus