For Throwback Thursday, I had Illinois vs. Indiana in 2023 in my mind. On Nov. 11, 2023, the Illini and the Hoosiers clashed in Champaign in a classic shootout. Without starting quarterback Luke Altmeyer, the Illini were in for a rough game. However, a combined 12 touchdowns for 93 points saw Illinois’ fill in quarterback John Paddock pass for 507 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Ironically, a game full of offensive fireworks started with a punt from both teams. The scoring began midway through the first quarter with a Caleb Griffin field goal followed by an Indiana touchdown. On the last drive of the first quarter, Paddock completed a 67-yard pass to Isaiah Williams, which was followed up by an 8-yard touchdown run from Reggie Love III and a missed extra point by Griffin.
The second quarter saw the most scoring throughout the entire game, starting with an Indiana touchdown to make the score 14-9. Paddock led the Illini down the field for a field goal to make it a two-point game. Indiana went on a run following a Paddock interception which the Hoosiers capitalized on with two straight touchdowns to make it 27-12 after Indiana kicker Chris Freeman’s extra point attempt was blocked. The Illini held in there with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Casey Washington followed by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant.
Indiana would get the ball to start the third quarter, leading 27-26. The third quarter would see the smallest amount of scoring as Jer’Zhan Newton forced a fumble on the first drive of the half. Both teams exchanged punts, and then Paddock found Williams for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Illini a 33-27 lead. With all the momentum in Illinois’ favor, Mac Resetich picked off Indiana quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and the Illini marched down the field with a methodical drive capped off by Love III’s second touchdown of the day, this time from thirty-seven yards out. However, the two point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and the score remained an uncommon one at 39-27.
Indiana answered with a touchdown of their own to make it 39-34 early in the fourth quarter. Paddock and the offense put together the longest drive of the game to take time off the clock. A beautiful, dink-and-dunk, methodical 14 play, 72 yard drive took 7 and a half minutes off the clock and resulted in a field goal to make it an eight point contest. However, Sorsby led the Hoosiers down the field in a clutch drive to tie it up at 42.
In Overtime, the Hoosiers got the ball first and capitalized with a Freeman field goal to go up 45-42. On 3rd and 6, Paddock was under pressure almost instantly, and it seemed like a huge sack was bound to happen. However, he escaped the pressure and delivered a strike to Isaiah Williams on the run for a 21-yard game winning touchdown, and the Illini won 48-45.
It’s always fun to look back on games like this. Going through the box score and seeing Illini legends like Pat Bryant alongside names you haven’t thought of in a few years like Reggie Love III is always fun. Let us know if you’d like this to be a series!