By IlliniGuys Staff

September 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

DURHAM, N.C. - Luke Altmyer threw for three touchdowns and Illinois turned five Duke turnovers into 28 points as the 11th ranked Illini scored the 45-19 win over the Blue Devils Saturday afternoon.

It was the first big test of the 2025 season for Illinois (2-0) after routing Western Illinois 52-3 in their home opener last week and it's Illinois' first double-digit road victory over a non-conference opponent since beating Syracuse 41-20 in September, 2007.

The Illini trailed 3-0 when Duke's Que'Sean Brown fumbled a punt at his own 18-yard line.  Tyler Strain recovered and five plays later Kaden Feagin dove in from the one-yard line to put Illinois on top 7-3.

After a Duke field goal, Altmyer hit tight end Cole Rusk in the back left corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score and a 14-6 lead. It was Rusk's first touchdown as an Illini after the Murray State transfer missed all of last season due to injury.

The Illinois defense stopped another Duke drive when Gabe Jacas stripped Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah and Matthew Bailey recovered the fumble at the Illini 18-yard line.  But Duke (1-1) forced a punt and Mensah took the Blue Devils 77 yards for their only touchdown of the half, a 5-yard pass to Andrel Anthony and a 14-13 score at halftime.

Illinois managed just 141 yards on offense in the first half, but opened it up after halftime. Altmyer hit Justin Bowick with a four-yard scoring strike to cap off a 75-yard drive to begin the second half. Then after Bailey forced another Duke fumble, the Illini turned that turnover into points when Hank Beatty ran 25 yards on a trick play to put Illinois on top 28-13.

The senior from Rochester, Illinois turned in his second career-best day in as many weeks. After making five catches for 108 yards and a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in the win over the Leathernecks, Beatty grabbed eight passes for 128 yards today.

The Illini defense came up big again early in the fourth quarter when Tanner Heckel intercepted Mensah at the Illinois 11-yard line to shut down another Duke drive.

Altmyer hit Collin Dixon with a one-yard pass for his third touchdown of the day. The senior quarterback ended up completing 22 passes on 31 attempts for 296 yards.

Illinois returns to action next Saturday when they host Western Michigan at Memorial Stadium.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage from Durham and join us for our postgame show on the IlliniGuys You-Tube channel immediately following the game.