Western Michigan came close, but Illinois survives, 23-20

Troy Pollard rushed for a career-high 133 yards as the #24 Illinois Fighting Illini needed all three of Derek Dimke’s field goals Saturday to survive against the Western Michigan Broncos, 23-20 and improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1951.

It wasn’t easy. The Illini trailed at the half 13-10 and booing fans recalled the 23-17 loss to the Broncos (2-2) the last time the teams met in 2008.

The Broncos served notice early that this would be a fight. With the Illini up 10-3, Western Michigan struck back with a 76-yard, clock-eating drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal from John Potter that cut the deficit to 10-6.