Illinois stuns No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23 on last-second FG

plan was for Wisconsin to roll into a showdown with Ohio State next week unbeaten, with a defense putting up historic numbers and a Heisman Trophy contender at running back. Illiis h or plans. James McCourt kicked a 39-yard field as time expired and Illini pulled off biggest upset of college football season, kcking off . 6 Wisconsin 24-23 on Saturday.

“Our program, we needed to get a signature win. I was just hoping today was day, and day came,” said Illini coach Lovie Smith, former Chicago Bears coach who entered game 11-31 overall and 4-26 in Big Ten since taking over Illiis in 2016.

“Against . 6 team in country, we played m toe-to-toe,” Smith said. “We saw so much fight. We learned an awful lot about ourselves. We’re pumped up. One of best wins we can possibly have at this st in our program.”

Tony ams picked off a pass by Jack Coan for Illini (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were 30 ½-point underdogs, at midfield with 2:33 remaining that set up winning drive.

Dre Brown’s tackle-breaking 13-yard run got Illiis (3-4, 1-3) to Wisconsin 25 with 34 seconds left and n Illini set up McCourt to attempt a winner. junior kicker was down middle with field goal to give Smith most significant victory for Illiis in years.

“ matter if it’s an extra point or a game-winner you kind of have to take approach that every kick is same because if you take a different approach you might get thrown off or something might be a little different,” said McCourt, who missed a 40-yard attempt in first quarter.

Fans rushed field when it was over and “Jump Around” — a signature song at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stium — blared through speakers at Memorial Stium. “It was amazing,” ams said. “It was an amazing feeling.”

After first six weeks of college football season produced few surprises at top of rankings, re have w been major upsets in consecutive weeks. Last week it was n-. 3 Georgia losing at home to South Carolina in double overtime. Wisconsin becomes second-highest ranked team to lose to an unranked foe this season. This was even more stunning.

Bgers h t trailed this season, allowing only 29 points with four shutouts in six games. Illiis lost to Eastern Michigan earlier this season and has t even been bowl eligible since 2014. Inste, Bgers (6-1, 4-1) blew a nine-point le in final 9:46 of fourth quarter on Saturday.

Illiis beat a ranked team for first time since 2011 and kcked off a ranked Big Ten team for first time since 2007 when Illini beat . 1 Ohio State in vember on ir way to a Rose Bowl appearance. last time Illiis beat a ranked Big Ten team at home was October 2007, a 31-26 victory against . 5 Wisconsin.

Heisman contender Jonathan Taylor rushed 28 times for 132 yards and one touchdown for Wisconsin, but he also lost a fumble in Illiis territory in fourth quarter to help fuel comeback.

“We h two drives late in game that ended in turvers,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. “It’s always hard to win on ro, and that me it even harder. We just have to move on and learn from this.”

Coan was 24 of 32 passing for 264 yards and a touchdown, but his second turver of season came at a crucial time. He sailed a pass on third-and-5 that ams grabbed to give Illiis a short field against . 1 defense in nation.

Illiis h cut Wisconsin’s le to 20-14 late in third quarter on a 43-yard touchdown run by Reggie Corbin. Wisconsin h opportunities to p its le but settled for a field goal after a first-and-goal from 3 and n Taylor fumbled at Illiis 25.

After fumble, Illini ripped off a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Brandon Peters’ 29-yard pass to Josh Imatorbhebhe to make it 23-21 with 5:53 left.

Wisconsin: Put aside College Football Playoff implications. Bgers’ loss also twists Big Ten West race, with . 20 Minnesota, . 23 Iowa and Wisconsin all yet to play each or.

Illiis: Illini pulled stunner despite losing top receiver Ricky Smalling (right leg) early in game and star defensive end Oluwole Betiku (undisclosed injury) early in second half. Betiku ranks fourth in nation in sacks