No. 11 Illinois uses big second half to sail past Duke

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th September, 17:42 2025

Sep 6, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Luke Altmyer went 22 of 31 for 296 yards and three touchdowns as No. 11 Illinois pulled away from mistake-prone Duke 45-19 on Saturday afternoon in Durham, N.C.

Altmyer's main target was Hank Beatty, who caught eight passes for 128 yards for the Fighting Illini (2-0). Beatty also had a 25-yard scoring run.

Cole Rusk, Justin Bowick and Collin Dixon had TD receptions while Kaden Feagin and Ca'Lil Valentine added rushing TDs.

Duke's Darian Mensah was 23 of 34 for 334 yards, an interception and two scores to Andrel Anthony. Yet the Blue Devils (1-1) turned the ball over five times, committed very costly penalties and were outscored 31-6 in the second half.

Duke kicker Todd Pelino drilled the first of two 40-yard field goals early in the nonconference matchup.

However, after Duke stopped Illinois on the first two series, the visitors' Tyler Strain recovered a muffed punt at the Duke 18. Feagin soon punched it in from a yard out for a 7-3 lead late in the quarter.

After a drive stalled out due to multiple penalties after Duke had first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, Pelino again connected with 11:08 left in the half.

With five minutes left, Altmyer found Rusk from 8 yards for a 14-6 lead, but Mensah tossed a 62-yard pass to Chase Tyler. However, Mensah was then sacked by Gabe Jacas, and Matthew Bailey recovered his fumble at the Illinois 13.

The ACC school finished the half with Anthony catching a five-yard pass and toe-tapping at the end line to move within 14-13.

In the third, Illinois went up 21-13 on Altmyer's 4-yard strike to Bowick following Feagin's fourth-down conversion. The drive was kept alive by Duke having two players wearing the same number on a punt return.

Kaleb Patterson's fumble recovery set up a 25-yard keeper by Beatty for a 28-13 advantage, but Anthony caught his second TD on a fourth-down pass. However, a two-point try failed to leave it 28-19.

In the fourth, David Olano made a 35-yard kick, Dixon caught a 2-yard TD pass and Valentine went 23 yards in a 17-point Illini quarter.

--Field Level Media

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