The Illini, meanwhile, were a complete mess. A couple of late hits, including a targeting penalty on Derrick Smith that got the Illini safety ejected, showed what an undisciplined team is capable of under a coach with nothing to lose. After punter Blake Hayes rambled for 20 yards on a fake punt on fourth-and-10 in the second quarter with the Illini trailing only 7-3, another drive stalled. Smith inexplicably called for a 53-yard field-goal attempt McCourt had no chance of making on a rainy, windy day.
Continue Reading: Column: Northwestern proved the skeptics wrong all season — and now must do it all over again against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game
