PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Reggie Corbin continues to make big plays. He carried nine times for 100 yards against Wisconsin, the bulk of the yardage coming on an 80-yard touchdown run. It was the junior’s second career 100-yard game. The first came on Oct. 6 in a win over Rutgers, when Corbin ran for 137 yards on 11 carries, including a 73-yard TD romp. His 80-yard run was the longest by an Illinois player since Rashard Mendenhall’s 86-yarder at Northwestern on Nov. 18, 2006. Corbin could be extra motivated this week playing in his home state of Maryland and because he is also trying to atone for two fumbles against the Badgers.
–S Stanley Green, a junior, came up with a career-high 16 tackles in last week’s loss to Wisconsin. He also intercepted a pass from Alex Hornibrook, returning it 49 yards to set up a last-play 52-yard field goal in the first half.
–PK Chase McLaughlin is having one of the best seasons in the country for a kicker — at least from distance. His 52-yarder against Wisconsin was his fourth field goal of 50-plus yards this season, the most in the same season in school history and tied for the most in the nation with San Diego State’s John Baron II. McLaughlin is 11-of-16 on field goal attempts this year.
SERIES HISTORY: This is the first meeting between Illinois and Maryland.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I know Tre Watson is a good football player. He’s smart, he knows the game, he’s played a lot of football. I know as a defense, Maryland is playing good defensive football, and I know Tre is one of the leaders there. I think we know what we’re going to see from him and that is good play.” — Illinois coach Lovie Smith on Maryland LB Tre Watson, a former player for the Illini. Watson has four interceptions this season.