Lansing Sun

Michigan State faced a challenging game against Illinois, as noted by head coach Jonathan Smith. "First, congrats to Illinois. Played really well, they executed well, it's a good football team," Smith remarked after the game. He pointed out that third-down efficiency was a crucial factor, with Michigan State only converting 2-of-15 attempts.

Smith acknowledged that the absence of players Charles Brantley and Malik Spencer was felt but expressed doubts about their availability moving forward. Addressing offensive line issues, he stated, "He (Aidan Chiles) was getting pressured too much... There are times where I think we are holding the ball a little bit."

The head coach highlighted the need for improvement in offensive strategies: "It starts on the scheme side... making sure that all five are on the same page." He also commented on receiver performance: "Quality of opponent keeps getting better... It's not every snap we're not separating fast."

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema celebrated his team's performance and season achievements at Memorial Stadium. "I'm super excited to have this season here at home end the way it did," he said. Bielema praised senior players and fans for their support throughout the season.

Reflecting on individual contributions, Bielema mentioned Terah Edwards stepping up as captain after Dylan Rosiek's injury and highlighted Kenenna Odeluga's return from injury with a significant impact on defense.

Bielema outlined his team's focus on preparation and execution: "I gave the team three goals on Sunday; the first was to prepare a plan, the second was to practice the plan and the third was to play the plan." He emphasized complementary football as key to their success.

In terms of running backs' performance, Bielema commended Josh McCray and Aidan Laughrey for their efforts while acknowledging Thad Ward's role in managing them effectively.