By IlliniGuys Staff

September 7, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Miles and Xavier Scott combined for three interceptions and the Illinois defense shut down Kansas in the fourth quarter to allow the Illini to score the 23-17 upset over the 19th ranked Jayhawks Saturday night.

Sophomore Kaden Feagin scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 9:34 remaining to put Illinois up for good at 20-17. David Olano later added his third field goal of the night for the final margin.

The win came before a capacity crowd of 60,670 and gives Illinois (2-0) their first home win over a non-conference ranked team since beating then-22nd ranked Arizona State 17-14 in September, 2011.

Xavier Scott gave the Illini their first touchdown of the night when he picked off Kansas QB Jalon Daniels for the second time and returned it 29 yards for the score to put Illinois on top 13-10 with 34 seconds left in the first half.

That was the halftime score, which held until Daniels took Kansas (1-1) on a 14-play, 81-yard drive that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence Arnold to put the Jayhawks ahead 17-13 in the 3rd quarter.

The Illinois offense was stagnant in the third period, managing just one first down and only 19 yards. But they found new life in the final quarter. Quarterback Luke Altmyer connected with Patrick Bryant twice for 37 and 38 yards and made an 18-yard scramble in between to set up Feagin's score. Altmyer finished 16-of-25 for 192 yards.

Meanwhile, the Illinois defense locked down, allowing the Jayhawks only two first downs and just 41 yards and no points in the final 15 minutes.

The win gives Illinois its first 2-0 start since 2019 and puts the team in position to go 3-0 for the first time since the 2011 season, when they started 6-0 under coach Ron Zook.

The Illini return to action next Saturday when Central Michigan visits for Homecoming Weekend.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete post-game coverage.