Luke Altmyer throws two TD passes, Illinois hands Maryland 6th straight loss, 24-6

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns to Hudson Clement and rushed for 62 yards Saturday as Illinois defeated Maryland 24-6, handing the Terrapins their sixth straight loss.

Clement caught three passes for 72 yards for the Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten). Kaden Feagin rushed for 81 yards and a TD and Ca'Lil Valentine ran for 64 yards.

Malik Washington was 25 of 46 through the air for 238 yards for Maryland (4-6, 1-6), which won its first four games before going on its losing streak. DeJuan Williams caught eight passes for 50 yards and rushed for 43 yards.

Maryland’s Jalen Huskey made a diving interception of an Altmyer pass with 11 seconds to go in the first half.

That gave the Terrapins eight straight games with a pick, and it was their Big Ten-leading 18th interception of the season. It was only the fifth interception of the season for Altmyer.

Takeaways

Maryland: Coach Michael Locksley’s hot seat just got hotter with his team's lackluster loss to Illinois. New Maryland athletics director Jim Smith is taking a long look at the school’s football program, and what he sees is a coach who has never had a winning record in the Big Ten in his seven years in charge of the team. Among this season’s issues are an ineffective rushing attack (55 yards on the ground vs. Illinois) and a defense that has allowed nearly 30 points per game in conference play.

Illinois: The Illini have won two straight since back-to-back losses to No. 1 Ohio State and Washington dashed their College Football Playoff chances. With games coming up against Wisconsin and Northwestern, a four-game winning streak to end the regular season and a 9-3 record to take to a bowl game is a reachable goal. Illinois tied the program record for victories last season when it finished 10-3.