CHAMPAIGN — He didn't pitch a fit on the sidelines. Or throw his helmet. Or pout on the bench.
Removed from a game for the first time this season, Juice Williams put his teammate hat on and tried to help buddy Eddie McGee.
"I trust the coaches' decision," Williams said. "They make their decisions based on their belief that it's best for the team. No matter what, I'm in their corner. They've been in my corner all this time. They know what's best for this program.
"There were some things going on out there that we could have handled better."
Why did the coaches make the switch?
"Just like we did last year, just trying to let Juice settle down," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "It's the same thing we did last year."
Illinois made the quarterback switch with 11:55 left in the game. Trailing 30-13, the Illini coaches were looking for an offensive spark.
McGee did move the team on his second drive, the Illini going from their own 25 to the Ohio State 33. The drive ended on a fourth-down incompletion with 4:25 left.
McGee returned for the start of the next series, but had to go to the sidelines when he reaggravated a toe injury. Williams finished the drive by throwing a 24-yard touchdown to Chris Duvalt with 42 seconds left.
Williams finished 17 of 26 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He ran nine times for 48 yards. But the stats that matter most are his two turnovers, a fumble in the first quarter that led to an Ohio State score and an interception in the second quarter that led to another Buckeye touchdown.
Saturday's loss was the latest piece of a difficult season for Williams. Williams is piling up big personal numbers, his 240 yards Saturday moving him to fifth on the school's single-season total offense list. But the losses overwhelm any personal satisfaction.
"It's so frustrating because you're so close every time. You're right there," Williams said. "Whether it's communication problems, guys on a different page, a drop here, an interception there. It's one of those things that it's hard to get out of. We've got to find a way to do so."
It's also been a hard season for Williams physically.
"I'm nicked everywhere," Williams said. "It's been a long year. Usually on Sundays, it's rough getting out of bed. But I go to church."
McGee hit 3 of 7 passes for 49 yards. He had nine carries for 21 yards.
The turf toe will limit his mobility, McGee said, but he'll be ready to go against Northwestern.
"It's nothing to play on it," McGee said.
McGee enjoyed being on the field Saturday with the outcome still in doubt.
"It felt good that the coaches thought I could bring us back," McGee said.
McGee, who has played receiver this season, is ready for anything against Northwestern.
"I might play center," he said.