Well, that was close.
Illinois finally woke up in the second half and put up points in a 31-24 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday. To say it was ugly for stretches would be an understatement. The home fans booing their team at halftime tells you all you need to know. Let's start with the bright spots.
The Good
Jake Hansen: When Lovie Smith and Hardy Nickerson waxed hyperbolic regarding Jake Hansen's skill set, many took it as coach speak bluster. Well, we saw exactly what they were raving about on Saturday.