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Illinois Win Finalizes Big 10 Semifinal Matchups

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Illinois Win Finalizes Big 10 Semifinal Matchups

Illinois moves to 2-1 in the Big 10 West standings. @Paked_Media photo.

The Big 10 matchups for the semis are all set even though there's a week to go in the regular season.

Indiana cannot lose their #1 spot in the Big 10 West even if they lose to Purdue (which they are not expected to do). That's because the Hoosiers have the tiebreaker over Illinois. 

Indiana, Head Coach Luke Gross told GRR, has not really put it all together yet. They've moved some players around and at times look like a complete team, but it remains a work in progress.

Meanwhile, Illinois beat Wisconsin 32-12, ledby a player-of-the-game performance from scrumhalf Felipe Brill, to take 2nd in the West and secure a semifinal spot.

"We are beginning to find our feet, getting the right combinations in place and sticking (on occasion!) to the game plan," said Head Coach Martin Russell. It certainly was a good showing the Illini as they beat a vastly improved Wisconsin team that will have to be content with playing for 5th.

Illinois will take on Michigan State in one semifinal while we get a repeat of the last two conference finals in the other semi with Indiana hosting Ohio State.

"Probably like all teams at this stage of the season, we have a number of injuries to contend with and we have a significant gap to make up on MSU, who we lost to earlier in the season," said Russell. "But we intend to be competitive." 

Those two already met this fall, with Indiana winning 40-19.

In the 2nd tier semis, Michigan will host Purdue and Notre Dame will visit Wisconsin. It won't be an easy game for the Badgers as Notre Dame has come closer to hitting it's stride of late.

 

Big 10 East W L T PF PA PD
Michigan State 3 0 0 90 62 28
Ohio State 2 1 0 57 44 13
Michigan 1 2 0 48 73 -25
Notre Dame 0 3 0 57 73 -16
             
Big 10 West W L T PF PA PD
Indiana 2 0 0 59 24 35
Illinois 2 1 0 89 62 27
Wisconsin 1 2 0 57 82 -25
Purdue 0 2 0 41 78 -37