Iowa picks off No. 18 Illinois

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Illinois quarterback Eddie McGee scanned the field and spotted an open receiver in the end zone.

What he didn’t see was Iowa’s Brett Greenwood, who happily cradled McGee’s game-ending blunder. Greenwood intercepted McGee’s pass at the goal line with 1:12 left and the Hawkeyes upset No. 18 Illinois, 10-6, on Saturday, ending the Illini’s five-game winning streak.

Jake Christensen threw for 182 yards and a touchdown and Albert Young added 99 yards rushing for the Hawkeyes (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten). Iowa broke an eight-game losing streak in Big Ten play and knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time since 2005.

Trailing, 10-6, with 2:28 left, McGee -- in relief of Isiah “Juice” Williams -- found freshman Arrelious Benn for completions of 28 and 24 yards that put Illinois on the Iowa 12.

But under pressure, McGee threw a pass that hit Greenwood in the numbers, sealing Iowa’s fifth straight win over Illinois.

“He tried to force it in there,” Illinois Coach Ron Zook said of McGee, who came in after Williams fumbled early in the fourth quarter. “He led him too far.”

The Hawkeyes held the Illini (5-2, 3-1) to 24 points below their season average, slowing down their dangerous option game and star running back Rashard Mendenhall. Iowa held Illinois, the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing attack, to 137 yards on 35 attempts.

Mendenhall had just 67 yards on 15 carries, his lowest output since the Illini’s season-opening loss to Missouri.

The Hawkeyes needed this one. Iowa had looked awful in losses to Indiana and Penn State the previous two weeks, and though its offense again failed to put up points, the defense came through with one of its best efforts of the season.

“It’s been a tough period for our football team certainly, and we’re just getting tremendous leadership from guys that are very visible,” said Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz, whose team broke a four-game losing streak. “I think our guys can feel good about things.”