Watch: Illinois stuns Rutgers, scores TD with 4 seconds left

Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant. Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Watch: Illinois stuns Rutgers, scores improbable game-winning TD with 4 seconds left

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Nov 23, 2024 4:51 PM ET

Sometimes trying to ice the kicker backfires, and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights found that out the hard way in a 38-31 loss to Illinois on Saturday.

With Rutgers clinging to a one-point lead and 14 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, Illinois lined up for a potential game-winning 58-yard field-goal attempt into the wind.

Just as Illinois snapped the ball, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano called a timeout in an effort to ice Illinois kicker David Olano. The kick, which did not count because of the timeout, badly missed.

Upon seeing how poorly the field-goal attempt went, Illinois decided to put its offense back on the field for a 4th-and-13 play.

It not only worked, but it resulted in a game-winning touchdown with four seconds to play in regulation.

Have a look.

PAT BRYANT HOUSE CALL

He scores on fourth down with 4 second left for @Illinifootball ‼️#B1GFootball on Peacock pic.twitter.com/7VmxZztAqw
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 23, 2024

That is quarterback Luke Altmeyer finding Pat Bryant for a 40-yard touchdown to win the game.

Bryant finished the game with 197 yards on seven catches.

That win lifts Illinois to an 8-3 record and gives the Illini eight wins in a season for just the fourth time since the 2000 season.

You should still expect your defense to be able to make a stop on 4th-and-13, but Schiano is probably going to have a lot of regret after that outcome. A 58-yard kick is difficult under any circumstances, especially for a college kicker into the wind (as this kick was). Sometimes you just have to trust that they might miss it and not try to overthink it.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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