Luke Altmyer threw for one touchdown and ran for another, helping No. 22 Illinois secure a 21-7 win over No. 24 Michigan on Saturday.
The Illini wore throwback uniforms from 1924 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Red Grange’s six-touchdown game against Michigan, which was also the day Memorial Stadium was dedicated.
In the second quarter, Tanner Arkin caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer, and in the third quarter, he ran 36 yards on a fake punt to set up Altmyer’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) defeated Michigan for the first time since 2009, ending a six-game losing streak against the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2).
Defending national champion Michigan scored its lowest points since 2014 and has lost two games in a row for the first time since 2020.
Jabe Jacas recorded 13 tackles, including six solo and 2.5 of the Illini’s five sacks on Jack Tuttle, and he forced a fumble. Altmyer completed 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards and rushed for 48 yards on 10 carries.
“This is what I came here for,” said fourth-year Illinois coach Bret Bielema. “I’ve heard so many times about things we haven’t done here. Leave the past in the past. Let’s move forward.”
“For the first time, I felt like we had a home-field advantage today. I want today to be the standard. We had a crowd that affected the game.”
A sellout crowd of 60,670 attended the stadium rededication and celebration of Grange and Illinois’ 39-14 victory over the previously unbeaten Wolverines in 1924. Grange, known as the “Galloping Ghost,” scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of that game.
To honor him and his teammates, the Illini of 2024 wore uniforms that reflected the style of that time, complete with helmets that looked like leather helmets.
