Michigan football is now on a losing streak for the first time in four years after another disappointing performance Saturday.
No. 22 Michigan (4-3) fell to No. 21 Illinois (6-1), 21-7, for their second straight loss for the first time since 2020. Michigan last played two weeks ago, a loss at Washington in its first road game, and had a week off to reset before squaring off with the Illini. Illinois is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2022.
Illinois forced two fumbles in the first half, leading to 10 points after an opening drive field goal. Michigan put together a scoring drive at the end of the half, capped off with a Kalel Mullings touchdown run to pull within one score, but it was still a rough half for the Wolverines. Illinois started the second half with a touchdown after pulling off a fake punt. Michigan reached the red zone twice in the second half, but had a field goal blocked and a pass picked off at the goal line.
The Wolverines had a third starting quarterback for their seventh game. Head coach Sherrone Moore named seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle the starter this week after he came in and replaced a struggling Alex Orji against Washington. Tuttle finished 20-of-32 for 202 yards with one interception and one fumble lost.
Check out the game recap below.
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That’ll probably do it. Michigan forced another quick punt from Illinois, but the Wolverines offense couldn’t get anything going again. After picking up one first down, Jack Tuttle was sacked on the ensuing first down and proceeded to throw three straight incompletions to give the ball back to the Illini.
The Wolverines just had another back-breaking turnover, this time on an interception in the red zone. One play after converting a critical fourth-and-18 on a deep shot down the sideline to Colston Loveland, Tuttle threw it directly to Illinois’ Matthew Bailey, who had a near pick-6 taken off the board in the first half. Michigan converted a third-and-13 along with the long fourth down in another long drive, but came away empty for the second straight trip to the red zone.
A second kick was blocked, and this time it went against the Wolverines.
Michigan put together an eight-minute drive slowly marching down the field after Illinois’ touchdown, but came away with no points after getting stopped inside the 10 and the Illini blocking the ensuing Zvada kick. Holder Tommy Doman seemed to have trouble with the snap, and Zvada launched a line drive directly into the line. Michigan once again had success on the ground, but Jack Tuttle was sacked on third-and-goal to end the drive.
Michigan did not start the second half well.
The Wolverines went three-and-out on the first possession after Jack Tuttle was sacked on third down, and Illinois took over at its own 45 after a 36-yard punt from Tommy Doman. Illinois seemingly was about to punt it right back to the Wolverines, but Bre Bielema dialed up a fake punt with a direct snap to Tanner Arkin, who gained 36 yards down inside Michigan’s 10-yard line. Illinois ran the ball in from there with Altmyer getting the final carry on a quarterback sneak from the 1. Illinois kept the offense on the field and Altmyer hit Zakhari Franklin in the back of the end zone to put the Illini up 14.
Illinois was in position to push the lead back out to two possessions at the break but safety Makari Paige got a hand on the kick to block it. It is the second straight game Michigan has blocked a kick and it keeps the deficit at six despite all of Michigan’s first-half mistakes.
The Wolverines are on the board.
Michigan put together a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took over six minutes off the game clock and ended with Mullings diving over a pile of bodies into the end zone. Mullings nearly scored on the same play on third-and-goal but got stuffed on the line and the call stood after a video review. Jack Tuttle completed all three passes on the drive, but it was mainly Mullings, who had eight carries, who was responsible for getting Michigan on the scoreboard.
Michigan’s defense couldn’t get another stop on a short field after the turnover. Altmyer hit Zakhari Franklin for a first down then scrambled for one to reach scoring range, then he picked up another first down with his legs to reach the end zone. He then found his tight end, Arkin, on a corner route on a perfectly lofted pass to the back pylon to beat Michigan’s safeties.
Cornerback Will Johnson has not been on the field for the Wolverines’ defense.
The wheels are falling off for the Wolverines. Michigan seemingly threw a pick-6 after Jack Tuttle hit Illinois’ safety in the chest like he was the intended target, but a defensive holding penalty briefly saved them. But, Tuttle fired an incomplete pass and Donovan Edwards had the ball punched loose on the next play on an off-tackle run and the Illini recovered at their own 46.
Illinois quickly moved into the red zone with a first down run and a pass interference call against Aamir Hall on a fade route, but Michigan’s defense stood tall from there and forced two incompletions, and got off the field. David Olano hit the chip shot field goal to double the Illini’s lead.
The bad start for Michigan’s offense continues. Jack Tuttle tried to step up and escape pressure by scrambling to his left but Gabe Jacas punched the ball loose from behind and the Illini jumped all over the loose ball. Illinois’ offense took over at Michigan’s 38-yard line in a good position to add to their lead.
Illinois seemed poised to score after reaching the doorstep of the red zone, but the Wolverines came up with a tackle for loss on fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs. Josaiah Stewart and Jaishawn Barham got into the backfield to pull down Josh McCray short of the line. Illinois reached scoring position after Aamir Hall committed pass interference on third down to wipe a potential stop off the board.
Michigan’s offense has gained 40 yards on 12 plays in the first quarter. The Wolverines do not look any better with Jack Tuttle, who has completed three of six passes for 11 yards.
Illinois got the opening kickoff and put a field goal on the board after a seven-play, 46-yard drive. Aidan Laughery got loose for a 29-yard gain into Michigan territory for Illinois’ second first down, but Michigan’s defense forced an incompletion on third-and-3 to get off the field. David Olano hit the 47-yard field goal for the early lead.
Michigan is coming off a bye and enters the pivotal matchup against Illinois needing a win to keep the chance of a fourth straight College Football Playoff appearance alive in the expanded 12-team era.
Michigan officially named Tuttle the starting quarterback after he went 10-for-18 for 98 yards with one touchdown and two turnovers after he entered in the second quarter. But the offense still focuses on the running back tandem of Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, who have powered a rushing attack averaging 191.3 yards per game.
Illinois is coming off an overtime thriller, 50-49, against Purdue to move to 5-1 on the year and 2-1 in the conference. Bret Bielema’s squad has two wins over top-25 teams this season, with the only loss coming on the road to Penn State. Illinois has had success through the air, averaging 250 yards per game with quarterback Luke Altmyer, and a defense that had a strong start to the year before the Purdue game.
Illinois will honor the 100th anniversary of Red Grange running for six touchdowns against the Wolverines in the opening game in Memorial Stadium. The Illini are wearing throwback uniforms to honor the 1924 squad, complete with helmets designed to look like leather.
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CBS Sports’ A-team will call the game, with longtime TV partners Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson covering from the booth at Memorial Stadium, with Jenny Dell reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options to view Michigan vs. Illinois include Paramount+, CBS’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan is a desperate team and there’s no way to fake that; but there’s also no faking what this game means to the Illini. For a mediocre program, on an anniversary weekend, to have a chance to slay the reigning champs and make a statement on national TV? Tuttle will help U-M play complementary football, but the moment means more to Illinois. The pick: Illinois 23, U-M 20.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Michigan: Out: S Rod Moore (ACL), DB Ja’Den McBurrows (undisclosed), Questionable: S Jaden Mangham (undisclosed), LB Micah Pollard (undisclosed), edge Derrick Moore (undisclosed), CB Aamir Hall (undisclosed), RB Jordan Marshall (lower body), LB Jimmy Rolder, RB Bryson Kuzdzal, RB Leon Franklin, OL Dominick Giudice and OL Myles Hinton.
Illinois (players who missed Week 7): WR Ashton Hollins, RB Kaden Faegin, LB Daniel Brown and OL Magnus Møller.
The weather is set for 71 degrees and sunny at kickoff, with 6 mph winds in Champaign, Illinois.
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.
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