Illinois 20, Maryland 17: Moczulski's field goal with two seconds left decides it

Illinois left SECU Stadium with a 20-17 win on Saturday because E. Moczulski made the last kick of the night. His field goal with two seconds left broke a 17-17 tie and gave the Illini a third straight win, moving them to 5-3.

For Maryland, it was another one-score loss in a run that has now reached six games. The Terrapins are 2-6.

How it was won

Maryland scored first. Malik Washington ran in from 8 yards at 7:05 of the first quarter, and S. O'Haire's kick made it 7-0.

Illinois answered just before halftime. Katin Houser found B. Trimble for a 16-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the second quarter, and the teams went to the break tied at 7.

The Terrapins took the lead back early in the third. DeJuan Williams ran 18 yards for a score at 11:10, putting Maryland up 14-7. Moczulski cut it to 14-10 with a 45-yard field goal at 7:49.

The biggest single play came on the first snap of note in the fourth. Javari Barnett broke a 64-yard touchdown run at 14:50, giving Illinois its first lead at 17-14. Barnett finished with 80 yards on six carries, so most of his night came on that one run.

O'Haire tied it at 17 with a 46-yard field goal at 10:16. Neither side scored again until Moczulski's winner with 0:02 on the clock.

The box score leaned Illinois. The Illini out-gained Maryland 407 to 288, including 184 to 98 on the ground, and had 20 first downs to 17. Houser went 18 of 32 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Collin Dixon caught six passes for 103 yards, and Hudson Clement added five for 49. Aidan Laughery carried 14 times for 46 yards.

Maryland kept it close on third down, converting 6 of 14 against Illinois' 4 of 11, and held the ball slightly longer, 30:14 to 29:46. Washington completed 19 of 29 for 190 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and added 25 yards and a score on five carries. Williams had 57 yards on 19 carries. Chris Durr Jr. led the receivers with six catches for 58 yards; Kaleb Webb had three for 46.

Turnovers tilted slightly toward Illinois, which gave the ball away once to Maryland's two.

Against the number

Illinois closed as a 3-point favourite and won by exactly 3, so the spread was a push. Anyone holding Illinois on the moneyline at -142 was paid; Maryland closed at +120.

The total closed at 54.5, and the teams combined for 37 points. That is a comfortable under, never seriously threatened given the 7-7 halftime score. Full closing prices are on the game page.

What's next

Illinois hosts Nebraska on Friday, November 6, on Fox. The Illini have won three in a row, a stretch that includes a 38-37 win at Michigan State and a 21-10 win over Oregon.

Maryland travels to Purdue on Saturday, November 7, on BTN. The Terrapins have not won since beating UConn 38-14, and three of their last four losses have been decided by seven points or fewer.