Luke Altmyer’s 4 TD passes help Illinois become bowl-eligible again with a 35-13 win over Rutgers

CHAMPAIGN — Luke Altmyer threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 88 yards to lead Illinois to a 35-13 victory Saturday over Rutgers.

Altmyer completed 19 of 31 passes as the Illini (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak and became bowl-eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11.

Hudson Clement caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in the West Virginia transfer’s best game for the Illini.

Rutgers (4-5, 1-5) lost for the fifth time in six games.

Athan Kaliakmanis was 25 of 45 for 253 yards and a touchdown for the Scarlet Knights. K.J. Duff caught nine passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, and Ian Strong had six receptions for 85 yards.

Altmyer’s 3-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter came on a trick play on fourth down. He took a handoff from Kaden Feagin, who was lined up in the wildcat formation, faked a handoff and ran untouched into the end zone.

Illinois’ first touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Altmyer to Feagin, was at the end of a 12-play, 99-yard drive that took more than six minutes.

How a trio of small-town, central Illinois players became key forces in the Illini offense

The takeaway

Rutgers: Kaliakmanis came in with more passing yards than any other Big Ten quarterback but he couldn’t get untracked. He was inaccurate on several throws. The 6-foot-6 Duff had 241 receiving yards last week in a walk-off win over Purdue, but he didn’t have any big plays against the Illini.

Illinois: The Illini defense had a bounce-back game after giving up 76 points the last two games in losses to No. 1 Ohio State and Washington. Rutgers had just 59 rushing yards, averaging 2.2 per carry.

Up next

Rutgers: Home vs. Maryland on Nov. 8.

Illinois: Home vs. Maryland on Nov. 15 after a bye week.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/01/illinois-rutgers-luke-altmyer/