COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Caleb Griffin kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Illinois its first Big Ten victory of the season, a 27-24 upset of Maryland on Saturday.
Luke Altmyer threw two touchdown passes and then guided the Illini (3-4, 1-3) into field-goal range after Maryland’s Jack Howes tied it with a 48-yard kick with 1 minute, 31 seconds remaining. After connecting on the winning field goal, Griffin took off running toward the other end of the field and slid on his stomach in celebration.
Seth Coleman had three sacks for Illinois.
Kaden Feagin ran for a touchdown for the Illini, who reached the end zone on both sides of halftime to take the lead. Maryland (5-2, 2-2) was coming off its first loss of the season. The Terrapins acquitted themselves well for much of that game at Ohio State, but they followed it with a performance as dreary as the gray sky on a drizzly day.
Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns and caught a pass on a trick play, but the Terps had a hard time sustaining drives against a solid Illinois defensive front.
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Illinois led 24-14 before Maryland’s Antwain Littleton II ran for a 4-yard touchdown as time expired in the third quarter.
Maryland led 14-7 in the second quarter when receiver Kaden Prather fumbled the ball away at the Illinois 27. The Illini then drove for the tying touchdown with the help of a couple of big Terrapins penalties. On fourth-and-1 from the 2, Illinois lined up as if to attempt a short field goal, but after Maryland took a timeout, the offense came back on the field.
Feagin ran for a touchdown to even the score at 14 with 9 seconds left in the half.
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Maryland tried an onside kick to open the third quarter and it didn’t work. The Illini marched 59 yards and took the lead on a 15-yard scoring pass from Altmyer to Isaiah Williams.
Illinois opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 44-yard touchdown strike from Altmyer to Pat Bryant. Maryland answered with touchdown passes from Tagovailoa to Sean Greeley and Prather.
Illinois: The Illini host Wisconsin on Saturday.
Maryland: The Terps have a week off followed by a trip to play Northwestern on Oct. 28.