The backfield took a bigger hit. Cam Edwards still shows up as questionable on the injury list, but Pat Fitzgerald has said the Connecticut transfer will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury. Michigan State already couldn't run the ball. Over the 3-game skid the Spartans have scored 10, 13 and 3 points, and at Wisconsin, per WJR, they never put together a single sustained drive. Now the top back is gone too.
Illinois at least has a passing game that keeps scoring. Collin Dixon caught his 8th touchdown of the season against Purdue, and the Illini split the yardage almost evenly in that one, 225 passing and 120 rushing, on 345 total. The trouble was the start. Illinois didn't score in the 1st quarter, trailed 13-7 at the half, and its 10 fourth-quarter points only made it close. Ismael Kante led the defense with 10 tackles in a game where Purdue matched the Illini yard for yard.
Southern Illinois48-10
Illinois isn't healthy either, and the damage is concentrated at tight end. G. Smith, B. Thurman and T. Hollinger are all done for the year, which leaves very little at the position. Receiver A. Perry is out after shoulder surgery, and running back J. Forster (knee) and receiver N. Rankin (leg) were both listed questionable going into the Purdue game. Whether those 2 are available in East Lansing goes a long way toward what Illinois can run besides throwing to Dixon.
So it's a defense that just gave up 24 to Purdue against an offense that has scored 26 points in its last 3 games combined. The forecast won't help either team as an excuse: 80 degrees, mostly sunny, 9 mph wind and no rain. Michigan State has home field and a week to settle on a quarterback. Illinois has the more reliable offense. Somebody leaves at 1-2 in the league, and the other team's season starts to look very long.