Illinois FB futility by the numbers

Hey O&B gang,

Illinois has played 109 games in the 2000s. Here’s where Saturday’s 30-0 loss at Ohio State ranks in various categories according to my handy-dandy spreadsheet:

Zero points:
--First time in 39 games (Rutgers in 2006), which also means it’s the first time in Juice Williams’ 37 consecutive starts. It’s Illinois’ third shutout this decade.

Fewest points in back-to-back games against FBS teams:
--5 against Purdue/Ohio State in Nov. 2005
--9 vs. Missouri/Ohio State in Sept. 2009.
--13 vs. Minnesota/Iowa in Oct. 2004.

Fewest total yards this decade:
--126 at Rutgers on 9/9/06.
--160 at No. 12 Ohio State on 11/5/05.
--170 at No. 13 Ohio State on 9/26/09.
--191 at No. 22 Purdue on 10/4/03.
--206 at No. 20 Wisconsin on 10/2/04.

Fewest passing yards this decade:
--60 at Rutgers on 9/9/06.
--65 at Northwestern on 11/18/06.
--88 at No. 13 Ohio State on 9/26/09.
--92 at No. 12 Ohio State on 11/5/05.
--95 vs. Purdue on 11/11/06.

Turnover margin:
Illinois lost the turnover battle against an FBS team for the sixth time in seven games. If you think it’s a trend for Ron Zook teams to lose the turnover battle, you’re right. The Illini have committed 34 more turnovers than they’ve forced during the 51-game Zook era. Here’s the team’s record under the following conditions:

Won the turnover battle: 8-4.
Broke even: 5-6.
Lost the turnover battle: 6-22.

As a point of comparison, here’s what it looked like under Ron Turner from 2000-04 when the Illini were minus-36 in 58 games. Turns out turnovers are a program scourge no matter who’s in charge:

Won the turnover battle: 12-2.
Broke even: 5-3.
Lost the turnover battle: 7-29.

Just for fun, let’s look at the defense’s best performances in the 2000s:

Fewest total yards allowed
--152 vs. Western Illinois on 9/8/07 (W)
--184 at Penn State on 10/21/06 (L)
--204 at UCLA on 9/13/03 (L)
--223 vs. Missouri on 8/30/03 (L)
--224 vs. No. 1 Ohio State on 11/04/06 (L)
--231 vs. San Jose State on 9/10/05 (W)
--238 vs. Ohio on 10/14/06 (L)
--240 at No. 20 Purdue on 11/3/01 (W)
--250 at San Diego State on 9/9/00 (W)
--259 at Michigan State on 9/30/06 (W)

Kind of scary to think Illinois lost half of these games. I suppose Illini fans aren’t too surprised.

LW