Illinois running back Josh Ferguson ‘very doubtful’ for Iowa game with

LINE: Iowa -11ABOUT ILLINOIS (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten): While the 4-1 start is nice – especially winning the conference opener against Nebraska, what Cubit is most excited about is how his team is winning close games.

Heading into Week 6 of the college football season, the Hawkeyes are 5-0 Straight Up (SU) and 4-1 Against The Spread (ATS).

Here’s a few of what Illinois did against Nebraska.

On the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes average 209.8 yards in passing and 185.8 yards in rushing.

Gusty, swirling winds and waves of drizzle may have played a part, but the way the Illini have been playing gives every indication the defense had plenty to do with Armstrong’s totals.

-CB Desmond King has been Iowa’s most valuable player on defense in the first five games and was named the Big Ten’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

The last two Fighting Illini games, both victories, have each been decided in the final 10 seconds of regulation by a total of three points.

It’s not the first time Ferguson has dealt with injuries.

There’s defensive end Jihad Ward, a senior who often is double-teamed, on one side, and now there’s 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior Dawuane Smoot on the other.

“It’s a physical team”, Cubit said. Linebackers T.J. Neal and Mason Monheim and safety Clayton Fejedelem are all in the top 15 in tackles in the Big Ten.

It is the first time the Illini (4-1, 1-0) are headed to Kinnick Stadium since they lost there in 2007.

“There’s still a lot more work to do”, Smoot said. “They want to start the game out, control the clock”.

Increasing the defense’s overall strength also has made a difference. This season, those efforts are paying off. Lunt didn’t have a great game statistically against the Cornhuskers, hitting only 23-of-45 passes for 251 yards, but threw two fourth quarter touchdown passes, the last with 10 seconds left to WR Geronimo Allison for the win.

But Illinois shut the drive down at the 11 and Nebraska settled for a field goal. Assuming Illinois is still in the hunt for a tournament bid at this point in the season, this game will be key as far as the “eye test” goes. Coaches said he provides a constant experienced pocket presence.

“Coach Ferentz is making sure we don’t get our heads too high”.