CHAMPAIGN -- The Illinois defense has pitched one shutout and could have easily had a second, giving up just three points.
Yes, it is a small sample size: three games, just one quarter of the season. But so far, so good for Aaron Henry's group.
The unit is ranked fifth nationally in points allowed, a measly 7.3 points per game. That is only third in the "defense-win-championships" Big Ten.
Two priorities for all defenses: preventing points and forcing turnovers. In the second category, Illinois stands 14th nationally. Coupled with an offense that has turned the ball over one time and you see strong reasons the team has climbed to No. 9 in The Associated Press Top 25.
Even better, there is room for the defense to grow as injured players return to duty and backups asked to step in add valuable game experience.
Improvement will be needed in next four games, three against ranked teams: Indiana (Saturday), Southern California (Sept. 27) and Ohio State (Oct. 11). The Oct. 4 trip to Purdue is supposed to be the breather, but the Boilermakers just missed upsetting 10-win Illinois in 2024 with a coach on the way out the door.
Following the plan
Besides just the heightened talent level, why is the defense working at Illinois?
"Three games in a row, the situations we prepared for, the situations we've put our players in to go out and have success, they've done that on a consistent level," second-year linebackers coach Archie McDaniel said Wednesday. "When you look at everything holistically, we've stayed consistent with our execution up to this point in the season."
There are challenges for every defense, including Illinois' unit. At the top of his list: avoiding missed tackles. Where a 4-yard gain turns into a 60-yard nightmare.
"Anytime you miss one tackle, you say you need to tackle better," McDaniel said. "That's one thing that's big for me on defense, just continuing to tackle, continuing to make sure our football IQ situationally grows."
The 38-0 blanking of Western Michigan on Saturday was the first Illinois shutout since a 45-0 decision against Eastern Illinois in the 2024 opener. Putting a donut on the board is positive for any defense.
"I celebrate it all and just try to find the things that we can do to improve," McDaniel said.
His players were aware they hadn't given up a point late in the game.
"Of course, the main goal is to win, but I'd be naive to say the stats don't matter," linebacker Malachi Hood said. "At the end of the year, everybody looks at the stats and the team that has best stats and the best averages, those are usually the best teams."
Against Western Michigan, the backups were determined to keep the same standards as the starters.
From a player's perspective, why is the defense working?
"I think our coaches are putting us in great opportunities," Hood said. "They're calling the calls at the right times, and we trust them."
Offering his expertise
Illinois coach Bret Bielema played defense at Iowa and has coached it at every stop since, including three years in the NFL.
"The thing about Coach B. is he's constantly pushing us to be better in ways that he sees that we may not see as coaches," McDaniel said. "The way he can help grow you as a player, as a coach, things holistically as a program, I think it's second to none."
Hood and the rest of the players like having a head coach with a defensive background.
"It's huge," Hood said. "Just the little tips. A few weeks ago, we were putting in a pressure and Coach B. happened to be walking past the drill. He gave me a little tip that I would have never thought of. It was something somebody who had never played that side of the ball wouldn't notice."