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).
B1G Media Days, Illini Hoops & More - S4Ep50 - 7.25.25
ListenIlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini SFs in our Lifetime - #490
ListenHeat Checks & Hail Marys – Luke Altmyer Poised to Soar Up All-Time Illini QB Rankings & Kofi Part II
ListenNBA Summer League, Illini Recruiting Update, SEC Media Days & More - S4Ep49 - 7.18.25
ListenI on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 SGs & Superman Movie Review #489
ListenIllini in NBA Summer League, New Basketball Hire & Illini Football - S4Ep48 - 7.11.25
ListenI on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 PGs #488
ListenBest of Interviews Episode - 7.4.25 - S4Ep47
ListenIllinois Athletics State of the Union Discussion - #487
ListenWhitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46
ListenZach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486
ListenIllini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485
ListenIllini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45
ListenIllini FB Recruiting Blitz & House Settlement Implications - 6.13.25 - S4Ep44
ListenIllini Update Featuring 3-Star Illini WR Commit Kenyon Alston - #484
Listen