Illinois tops Rutgers, clinches bowl eligibility with 35-13 win

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Luke Altmyer threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 88 yards to lead Illinois to a 35-13 victory over Rutgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, ending the Illini's two-game losing streak and clinching bowl eligibility for a second consecutive season.

Altmyer completed 19 of 31 passes and connected on scoring strikes throughout the game, including a 7-yard touchdown to Kaden Feagin that capped a 12-play, 99-yard drive. Late in the second quarter he scored on a 3-yard run on a trick play, taking a handoff from Feagin in a wildcat formation, faking a handoff and running untouched into the end zone. Hudson Clement had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown as Illinois' offense sustained long drives and seized momentum against a Rutgers defense that struggled to generate stops.

Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finished 25 of 45 for 253 yards and one touchdown, but the Scarlet Knights managed only 59 rushing yards total, averaging 2.2 yards per carry. K.J. Duff caught nine passes for 93 yards and a score, and Ian Strong had six receptions for 85 yards, but Rutgers was unable to produce big plays late in the game. The loss was Rutgers' fifth in six...