The Illinois Fighting Illini were walloped 41-14 by Minnesota on Saturday in Champaign. And there was one drive that really, really summarized things for the Illinois offense.
Trailing 28-7 in the third quarter, Lovie Smith’s squad had 1st-and-goal at the Minnesota 10-yard line. Fighting Illini quarterback Cordan Taylor ran for no gain.
On 1st-and-goal at the Minnesota 10-yard line, Illinois QB Coran Taylor runs for no gain. pic.twitter.com/y7IOVTwG8c
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) November 7, 2020
On 2nd-and-goal, Illinois was called for tripping, which is a 15-yard personal foul. That moved the ball back to the 25-yard line.
On 2nd-and-goal at the Minnesota 10-yard line, Illinois is called for a personal foul (tripping). That moves the ball back to the 25. pic.twitter.com/aVHpXVp0yh
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) November 7, 2020
So it was still 2nd-and-goal, and then Taylor fumbled the ball all the way back to the 48-yard line for a loss for 23 yards.
So it's still 2nd-and-goal, but at the 25.
Well, then Coran Taylor fumbles, and the ball goes all the way back to the 48 for a loss of 23 yards. pic.twitter.com/Yu2WvtmzlV
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) November 7, 2020
On 3rd-and-goal, Taylor threw an incompletion that was almost intercepted.
Now it's 3rd-and-goal at the 48. Coran Taylor throws a pass that is nearly picked off, but ultimately falls incomplete. pic.twitter.com/5x19IWi6N8
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) November 7, 2020
That left Illinois with no choice but to punt on 4th-and-goal at the 48-yard line.
And on 4th-and-goal at the 48-yard line, Illinois has to punt. pic.twitter.com/HI1kqaRneF
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) November 7, 2020
And that’s how a goal-line situation turns into a punt! Not quite as wild as Louisiana Tech being left with a 3rd-and-93 in 2017, but still crazy.
