Defense Fails in Michigan’s Loss to Illinois

Defense, long a staple at Michigan, has seemingly cost the Wolverines any chance for a national title this season.

Behind the passing of Kurt Kittner and the running of Rocky Harvey, Illinois reeled off four straight second-half touchdowns for a 35-29 upset of the No. 9 Wolverines on Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Wolverines, favored by 24 1/2 points, built a 27-7 lead midway through the third quarter but the Fighting Illini, 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten, reeled off four unanswered touchdowns.

“This is why I came to the Big Ten,” said Kittner, a sophomore who had never been in Michigan Stadium.

“It’s the best conference. To play teams each week like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, we’re trying to get where they are now.”

Kittner threw four touchdown passes--one to Harvey--and Harvey ran 54 yards for an insurance touchdown for the Illini, who had been forced to practice on Sunday after a lackluster loss to Minnesota a week earlier.

“We certainly build our program around a solid defense that plays collectively and hustling,” Coach Lloyd Carr said after the Wolverines’ second consecutive loss. “I didn’t see much of that in the second half. They just ran through us.

“We’re certainly anything but a good defensive team.”

Kittner completed 24 of 33 passes for 280 yards with no interceptions and Harvey rushed 17 times for 106 yards.

Michigan’s Tom Brady was 23 of 38 for 307 yards with two interceptions.

The Wolverines (5-2, 2-2) had two chances to take the game back in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t convert either of them.

The Illini took a 28-27 lead on Kittner’s short pass over the middle, which Harvey turned into a 59-yard touchdown with 2:42 left.

No. 22 Ohio State 20, No. 24 Minnesota 17--Ohio State’s offense sputtered again but special teams came through, lifting the Buckeyes past the Gophers at Minneapolis.

Dan Stultz kicked a 40-yard field goal with 1:15 left and Matt Wilhelm recovered Tyrone Carter’s fumble on the ensuing kickoff as the Buckeyes (5-3, 2-2) avoided their first 1-3 conference start since 1988 and extended their dominance over the Gophers (5-2, 2-2) to 16 consecutive games.

Indiana 38, Iowa 31--Antwaan Randle El threw four touchdown passes and the Hoosiers (4-4, 3-2) stopped the Hawkeyes (1-6, 0-4) on the four-yard line as time expired at Iowa City, Iowa.

Randle El completed 12 of 23 pass attempts for 247 yards.