No. 23 Illinois defeats No. 21 USC 34-28 in Homecoming showdown

The Illinois Fighting Illini football team pulled off a significant 34-point performance against the USC Trojans, highlighted by creative offensive play-calling including a trick play where wide receiver Hank Beatty threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Luke Altmyer. This victory marked a strong bounce-back after a previous heavy loss, with Altmyer delivering an impressive game with multiple touchdowns and over 300 passing yards. Historically, USC leads the series against Illinois, with the last game between the two teams occurring in the 2008 Rose Bowl, and USC holding a dominant record in this matchup. The creativity and innovation in Illinois' offense under coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. have been crucial in turning the team's fortunes, signaling a potential shift away from past disappointments associated with the program. This game also served as a pivotal moment for Illinois to regain respect and improve its reputation within college football, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.