The Chips get ready to serve as a Homecoming opponent for an Illini squad fresh off a Top 25 upset.
Head coach Jim McElwain and the rest of the Central Michigan crew were, understandably, disappointed with their shocker 52-16 loss to FIU in Miami last Saturday.
McElwain, in his signature fashion, played the situation light, chuckling as he talked about “giving ‘em 39 points” or opined about how his advice to spot starter quarterback Joe Labas would be to remember what color jersey Central wears. The main point— from McElwain et al— was that they had to focus what’s ahead.
“You’ve gotta bring that pain and frustration into somebody’s house,” running back Marion Lukes said when asked about how CMU would approach Illinois coming off such a loss.
It’s in that light of introspection the Chippewas (1-1) get ready to face the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0), who are fresh off an upset win over the #19 Kansas Jayhawks.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at noon Eastern time
- Location: Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois
- Viewing options: The game will be available exclusively Peacock. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play) and Michael Robinson (color) will provide the commentary.
- Radio options: Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and Brock Gutierrez (color) will provide the CMU call for WUPS-FM 98.5.
- Gambling considerations: Illinois is a 19.5-point favorite on Homecoming, with an over/under of 49.5, per DraftKings.
- All-time series: First-ever meeting
Getting to know the Illini
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Brett Bielma is all about the run game; he likes to establish the run on offense and then stop the run on defense and force teams into making mistakes in the passing game. Illinois is built to do just that in his fourth season, and this group is set to try and make noise in an expanded 18-team conference after winning three-plus games in Big Ten play over three-straight years for the first time since 1993-95.
Let’s focus on the defense first, as this was the unit which came up major in last week’s upset over #19 Kansas. The Illini as a unit have plucked five interceptions and recovered three total fumbles in just two games (both joint-second in the NCAA), while also leading the NCAA in turnovers gained (eight) and turnover margin per game. They’re also 35th in the NCAA in total defense (257.5 yards allowed per game) and have given up just two opposing touchdowns to EIU and Kansas.
The major key in the cog has been defensive back Xavier Scott, who caused three turnovers (two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery) and scored on a 30-yard pick-six vs. Kansas. Fellow defensive back Miles Scott also has two interceptions on the season to lead the Illini to go along with 10 tackles. Former Ohio Bobcat Torrie Cox Jr. will also feature in the secondary, with an interception and four tackles.
Butkus Award watch-lister Dylan Rosick leads all Ilini with 11 tackles from the linebacker spot, while FSU grad transfer defensive lineman Dennis Briggs Jr. has collected 10 tackles and a TFL. (Five other players have also collected a single TFL, all holding the joint lead on the team.) Surprisingly, there has been just two sacks over the two games Illinois has played so far, with Joe Barna (four tackles) and Xavier Scott accounting for both.
Offensively, this team is built along the line and in the backfield. The Illini boasts 96 games of starting experience, with Josh Kreutz, Zy Crisler, and Josh Gesky all returning from 2023 while former Grambling Tiger Melvin Priestly and former first-team all-Mountain West OL J.C Davis slot in alongside. Pristley is the highlight prospect after transferring up from the HBCU level, ranked by Pro Football Focus as the seventh-best overall offensive lineman in the country and third-best tackle overall.
At running back, Illinois makes use of two youngsters in true sophomore Kaden Feagin (32 carries, 148 yards, two TDs in 2024) and true freshman Ca’lil Valentine (12 rush, 43 yards), a former four-star prospect from Chandler (AZ) HS.
The passing game is built around Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer. The Starkville, Mississippi native had an intriguing debut season in Champaign, finishing 2023 with 1,883 yards on 175-of-210 passing for 13 scores and 10 INTs while also showing a previously-unseen scramble ability with 94 rushes for 282 net yards and three touchdowns.
This year, he’ll have UTSA transfer Zakhari Franklin as a top target. The former Roadrunner was electric in his old stop, leading the FBS in receptions (266), receiving yards (3386), and receiving touchdowns (38) prior to his transfer. He posted eight catches for 99 yards in the Kansas victory last week. Fellow receiver Pat Bryant has eight catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. No other receiver has more than 21 yards or three receptions.
Getting to know the Chippewas
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Physicality has been the emphasis in the offseason for Central and has been on the mind of McElwain heading into their game against Illinois.
As part of that effort, Central has put a lot of work into running the ball. McElwain expressed disappointment in collecting 113 yards on 24 carries against CCSU, and the Chippewas responded in Miami, collecting 193 non-sack yards on 40 carries. The return of Marion Lukes (10 carries, 34 yards) certainly helped bring back needed depth in the rotation, even if CMU ultimately did not score a touchdown. CMU gained about 4.5 yards per carry on the FIU defense and hope Lukes, as well as Myles Bailey (17 carries, 122 yards, two TDs) and Nahree Biggins (11 carries, 51 yards) can help chew clock and establish the pace of play at the line of scrimmage.
Passing the ball, however, is going to be a bit of a mystery. Joe Labas (38-of-63 passing for 493 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions) is in line for his third start, as there is no indication about the severity of Bert Emanuel Jr.’s injury suffered late in fall camp. Labas tossed an incredible five interceptions— each of increasing ridicule— last week and will now face an even tougher assignment with the ball-hawking Illini secondary lining up on the other side.
The passing offense depends on the speedy Stephan Bracey Jr. (five catches, 75 yards) on short routes to collect yards after catch and Chris Parker (six catches, 100 yards, one TD) to get behind the secondary, with Gavin Harris (five catches, 50 yards, TD) recently finding a role in the offense as well from the tight end spot.
Defensively, the team relies on a versatile secondary capable of both man coverage concepts and disciplined run matching.
Donte Kent plays a hybrid back position and is the most pro-ready player on Central’s roster. The all-MAC first team defensive back was the team’s third-leading tackler in 2023 (58 total) and had seven pass break-ups. It’ll be interesting if Illinois tries to throw away from him and target true freshman Jaion Jackson (five tackles, one pass break-up in 2024) instead. Elijah Rikard (team-leading 14 tackles) and Caleb Spann (four tackles, tackle-for-loss, pass break-up) will be seen more on rushing downs at the safety spot, while Iowa transfer Brenden Deasfernandes and Da’Raun McKinney will get looks on passing downs.
Linebackers are where the majority of the defensive stats are logged, with four of the top five tacklers on the team coming from the middle of the defense. Jordan Kwiatkowski has been the most notable of the bunch, with 10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a pass break-up, with Dakota Cochran (11) and Justin Whiteside (10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, sack) also eclipsing 10+ tackles.
Jonah Pace is the lone bright spot on the defensive line so far in 2024, with 3.5 TFLs and a solo sack. No other D-lineman has more than 1.5 TFLs or a half-sack through two games so far.
Considering how uneven the passing offense has been, Central may have to rely on the tried-and-true upset method of chewing clock and being effective with conversions and in the red zone in order to have a chance. They have the horses to do that in the run game, but they’ll need to be creative in the pass game to have a chance against Illinois’ defense.
For Central to match up to Illinois’ offense, they’ll need to find a lot of wins (or even just hold serve) on the line of scrimmage to allow their linebackers to make plays in the run game, then hope to get under the passing offense’s skin with their defensive back rotations.
Either way, Illinois is the superior team on paper, and it’s hard to see where Central can find an opening to take advantage of.