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Illinois vs. Indiana 2017: Live Updates, Analysis, Highlights, and Discussion

Follow along with our live blog during today's game!

By sbourbo2
Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the TCR GameThread! The Fighting Illini welcome the Indiana Hoosiers to Champaign this afternoon, and Steve Bourbon will be covering the action for us. Make sure to refresh this page throughout the game for updates and analysis on the Orange and Blue.

To participate in the discussion, you'll need to create a free account with SB Nation. From our homepage, just click 'Sign Up' in the upper right-hand corner and pick a username, password, and enter an email address. Then you'll be free to join the comments section at the bottom!

We'll have a recap up shortly after the game concludes; all post-game discussion should take place there.

1st Quarter

15:00 - Illinois won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

11:16 - The Illini defense bends but doesn't break, forcing Indiana into a punt from the Illini 34-yard line. The punt bounces into the end zone for a touchback. No Cam Thomas this week (concussion) so Jeff George Jr. will be the full-time quarterback today.

10:11 - Illinois goes three and out with a pair of incompletions from George Jr., one of which should have been a pick six, but the Indiana defender dropped the ball that was thrown directly at him.

8:45 - Defensive struggle continues. Indiana punts for the second straight time. Illinois will be backed up inside its own 9-yard line.

6:09 - More good defense/bad offense as Illinois punts. Blake Hayes at least flips field position with a 53-yard boot.

4:04 - Another Indiana punt as the teams boot the ball back and forth to each other.

2:39 - Illinois counters with a punt. First team to score wins?

1:28 - Hey something happened! Jaylen Dunlap picks off Richard Lagow on a poorly placed back-shoulder throw. Illinois has a great chance to get past midfield for the first time today.

End of 1st Quarter: Illinois 0, Indiana 0

2nd Quarter

11:31 - Illinois can't do anything with the turnover and Indiana does nothing with its ensuing possession. The Hoosiers are outgaining the Illini 140-40 so far in this one.

9:29 - Another punt. Hoosiers nearly block the punt but Hayes barely gets it away. IU will start with the ball in Illinois territory.

6:36 - Hoosiers on the move to break the deadline and have first and goal coming up. Illinois' Jamal Milan is injured on the play.

6:30 - Touchdown Indiana. Hoosiers pound the ball between the tackles for a short rushing touchdown. Hoosiers are outgaining Illinois 183-31.

Indiana 7, Illinois 0

3:04 - Illinois doubles its total yards as George Jr. finds Trenard Davis on a gorgeous corner route, but Illinois' drive stalls out near midfield. Indiana to get the ball back with a chance to score before hafltime.

0:48 - The Illini had Indiana stopped on 3rd and 2 at the Illinois 40-yard line but jump offsides on fourth down. Lagow finds Simmie Cobbs on the free play to get inside the 10-yard line and eventually punch it in. Critical mistake that cost Illinois seven points before halftime.

Indiana 14, Illinois 0

0:30 - Three Illinois runs, three Indiana timeouts, zero first downs and the Hoosiers will somehow get the ball back again before halftime.

Halftime: Indiana 14, Illinois 0

Third Quarter

14:54 - One play, one touchdown! After just 72 yards of offense in the entire first half, George Jr. finds Louis Dorsey for a 77-yard touchdown!

Indiana 14, Illinois 7

13:31 - Good start to the second half continues for Illinois, as the Illini defense forces a punt. Can the Illini have a long, sustained drive? Haven't had one yet today.

11:24 - Illinois offense moves in reverse on that drive. George Jr. was sacked twice on the drive -- the 31st and 32nd sacks allowed by the Illinois offense this season, most in the conference. Indiana has the ball near midfield.

9:39 - The Illini defense stops Indiana on fourth and short and Dorsey comes up with an amazing one-handed grab, but is injured on the play. Illinois in Indiana territory.

7:04 - George Jr. takes another sack (that's seven today for Indiana) and Illinois punts.

5:13 - Indiana drives the length of the field but Illinois forces them to a short field goal. It's a two-score game so Illinois is technically still in the game.

Indiana 17, Illinois 7

1:35 - Illinois shows some signs of life on offense, moving across midfield but is forced to punt after Kendrick Foster is stuffed for a loss on third and short.

End of 3rd Quarter: Indiana 17, Illinois 7

4th Quarter

14:00 - Illinois is on the move. Three straight completions, two to Ricky Smalling, have the Illini near the red zone. Injured Indiana defender on the field.

12:59 - Touchdown! Another passing score to the tight end, this time to Caleb Reams and the Illini are within just a field goal. George Jr. faked a handoff up the middle and fired a screen out to Reams and the big fella stiff arms two defenders on his way to the end zone.

Indiana 17, Illinois 14

9:30 - IU forced to punt and backs Illinois back to its 1-yard line. Please no safety or turnovers.

8:54 - George Jr. nearly picked off on a truly terrible throw. Play is ruled an incompletion on the field but is under review.

8:37 - Another throw into coverage on third down results in a punt. A nice return mitigates some of the length of the kick, and IU has the ball near the Illinois 40-yard line.

5:45 - Touchdown Indiana. Hoosiers convert a 4th and 1 to keep the drive alive and complete a touchdown pass to essentially seal this one.

Indiana 24, Illinois 14

5:17 - Fake rally over now too. George Jr. drops the ball, kicks it, Indiana recovers.

FINAL: Indiana 24, Illinois 14