Jim Turpin gets fired up in his latest blog entry. Read it here.

Review

Every game has a defining moment when the outcome is established. Here is the play from Saturday's Illinois-Michigan State game:

THE SITUATION

The game is scoreless in the first quarter and Michigan State has just started its first drive of the game. Illinois had won the coin toss and made a curious decision, choosing to defer until the second half instead of getting new starting quarterback Eddie McGee on the field right away. While McGee waits to go in, Michigan State quarterback Keith Nichol plays in place of starter Kirk Cousins, who is on the sidelines with an ankle injury suffered against Michigan.

THE PLAY

On his first pass, Nichol looked nervous, firing incomplete toward backup tight end Brian Linthicum. On second down, running back Glenn Winston gains 2 yards. Winston would later leave the game with a serious knee injury. The Spartans face a third and 8 at their own 40. If they fail to convert, Illinois gains a big momentum boost and McGee gets on the field quickly.

THE RESULT

Nichol drops back and looks toward the sideline for receiver Mark Dell. The junior grabs the pass and races 23 yards to the Illinois 35. Instead of being forced to punt, the Michigan State drive continues. A pair of runs by Larry Caper and a pass interference call against Illini cornerback Tavon Wilson moves the ball to the Illinois 7. Winston does the rest, gaining 5 yards on one play and 2 more for the touchdown. Brett Swenson's extra point gives the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 11:37 to go in the first quarter.

THE OUTCOME

Michigan State, which scores a touchdown on its next drive, never trails. Though their offense is held without any points in the second half, the Spartans score on an interception return to take a 24-0 lead. They cruise to their second victory in a row and hand Illinois its seventh consecutive loss against a Division I-A school.

THE RECORD (1-4)

Missouri 37 Illinois 9

Illinois 45 Illinois State 17

Ohio State 30 Illinois 0

Penn State 35 Illinois 17

Michigan State 24 Illinois 14

Saturday at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Purdue

Oct. 31 vs. Michigan, 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Minnesota

Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern

Nov. 27 at Cincinnati

Dec. 5 vs. Fresno State, 11:30 a.m.

PREVIEW

Illinois travels to Bloomington for a night game against Indiana. A quick read on the Hoosiers:

LAST GAME

Two weeks after nearly pulling off an upset at Michigan, the next road trip didn't go so well. Virginia, which earlier lost at home to Division I-AA William & Mary, took a 30-0 halftime lead and rolled to a 47-7 victory. The win might actually help save the job of Virginia coach Al Groh. The Cavaliers gained 536 yards of offense and held the Hoosiers to 272. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell hit 22 of 33 passes for 177 yards and an interception.

WHO TO WATCH

Keep an eye on No. 57, defensive end Jammie Kirlew. He is among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He tried against Virginia, with three tackles behind the line. But the Floridian needs some help from his buddies on defense and from the Indiana offense, which wasn't effective against Virginia. The Illini will need more than one guy to keep Kirlew away from the starting quarterback, whoever that might be.

WHERE TO WATCH

It's back to the Big Ten Network, which also did the Illinois-Michigan State game. Wayne Larrivee won't be doing the game again. Instead, it will be Matt Devlin handling the play-by-play, with former Iowa defensive lineman Anthony Herron serving as analyst and Rebecca Haarlow working the sidelines.

REASON TO WATCH

Of the games remaining on the schedule, this is Illinois' best chance to win. The Hoosiers are struggling and won't have a giant homefield advantage. Plus, don't you want to see what Ron Zook does with his QBs? He has ruled out musical chairs, so the guess here is that he goes back to Juice Williams as the starter.

BY THE NUMBERS

Of all Big Ten opponents, Illinois has done the best against the Hoosiers. It isn't even close. The Illini have won 67 percent of their games against the Hoosiers. Despite the overall dominance, Ron Zook is 2-2 against the Hoosiers. Ron Turner lost three times to Indiana in eight tries. John Mackovic and Lou Tepper never lost to Indiana.

THE RECORD (3-3)

Indiana 19 Eastern Kentucky 13

Indiana 23 Western Michigan 19

Indiana 38 Akron 21

Michigan 36 Indiana 33

Ohio State 33 Indiana 14

Virginia 47 Indiana 7

Saturday vs. Illinois

Oct. 24 at Northwestern

Oct. 31 at Iowa

Nov. 7 vs. Wisconsin

Nov. 14 at Penn State

Nov. 21 vs. Purdue