Illini Open 2022 Season With 38-6 Thrashing of Wyoming

IlliniGuys.com Staff

August 27, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Chase Brown rushed for 151 yards and scored three touchdowns and transfer quarterback Tommy DeVito passed for 194 yards in his Illini debut as Illinois opened the 2022 season with a 38-6 victory over Wyoming.

The 38 points scored represents the second-most points for a Bret Bielema-coached Illini squad.  Illinois beat Northwestern 47-14 in their season finale last November.  That win over the Wildcats and Saturday's rout marks the first time in 12 years that Illinois recorded consecutive 30-point wins over FBS opponents.  The Illini beat Indiana (43-13) and Purdue (44-10) in October, 2010.

The Illini (1-o) came into the game as a 10-point favorite and looked the part in the first half, scoring on a DeVito to Brown 14-yard touchdown pass just 35 seconds into the game.  After a Wyoming field goal, Brown scored on an 11-yard run with 8:12 left in the second quarter to give Illinois a 14-3 lead.  A Caleb Griffin field goal extended their advantage to 17-3 at halftime.

It was a more productive first half offense than Illinois displayed last year.  After averaging 330 yards per game on offense in 2021, Illinois rolled up 262 yards in the first half.

DeVito was solid in his first start in new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.'s system.  The former Syracuse passer completed 27 of 37 passes with two touchdowns, but more importantly didn't make any mistakes.

Wyoming (0-1) was held to 222 yards and managed to convert just 1-of-12 third downs in the game.

Illinois will hit the road to face Indiana next Friday (7pm CT, FS1).

Podcasts

B1G Media Days, Illini Hoops & More - S4Ep50 - 7.25.25

Listen

IlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini SFs in our Lifetime - #490

Listen

Heat Checks & Hail Marys – Luke Altmyer Poised to Soar Up All-Time Illini QB Rankings & Kofi Part II

Listen

NBA Summer League, Illini Recruiting Update, SEC Media Days & More - S4Ep49 - 7.18.25

Listen

I on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 SGs & Superman Movie Review #489

Listen

Illini in NBA Summer League, New Basketball Hire & Illini Football - S4Ep48 - 7.11.25

Listen

I on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 PGs #488

Listen

Best of Interviews Episode - 7.4.25 - S4Ep47

Listen

Illinois Athletics State of the Union Discussion - #487

Listen

Whitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46

Listen

Zach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485

Listen

Illini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Blitz & House Settlement Implications - 6.13.25 - S4Ep44

Listen

Illini Update Featuring 3-Star Illini WR Commit Kenyon Alston - #484

Listen