Grades are in: Washington shines, but special teams blunders cost Illini shot at bowl game

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What happened

John Paddock nearly had one more miracle left in the tank, connecting with Casey Washington on an 80-yard touchdown with under one minute to play Saturday against Northwestern. And there's an argument to be made that the Illini should have gotten a second crack at the necessary two-point conversion on a fairly blatant hold. But they didn't. Bigger picture? Don't let consecutive turnovers on special teams become touchdowns. Then a comeback wouldn't have been necessary.

What it means

This is it for the 2023 edition of Illinois football. While there will be 5-7 teams that make a bowl game — and Illini coach Bret Bielema would certainly say "yes" to that opportunity — that doesn't seem like it will be an option. The more likely outcome is Illinois failing to make consecutive bowl games ... again. That's the type of program-level inconsistency Bielema said he came to Champaign to end after he got the job in December 2020. So far, that's a mission that has yet to be accomplished.

What's next

The transfer portal opens Dec. 4, and Illinois will have to be active. Johnny Newton, Keith Randolph Jr., Julian Pearl and Isaiah Adams won't be back in 2024, so landing ready-to-play linemen in the portal is a necessity. The other clear offseason goal revolves around making whatever name, image and likeness offers possible to keep Isaiah Williams and Seth Coleman from deciding the NFL draft is their next step and any number of other starters out of the portal. It will be a critical month.

What was said

"Extremely frustrating. I told our guys in the locker room, whether it's the last game of the year or the first game of the year, more games are lost than won. We just lost that game by handing it to them. Twenty-four of their points were scored off turnovers. That's a formula that doesn't work. ... We were 5-3 in games decided by one score. This one, Wisconsin and Iowa really swung our season from being bowl eligible to being home in December."

— Illinois coach Bret Bielema

The grades are in: Special-teams blunders costly to Illini

Player of the Game: Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington

The rare game MVP from the losing team, but try and argue the point that Washington isn't deserving after catching nine passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Can't do it. The only thing better than his 73-yard reception that set up a 1-yard touchdown catch from John Paddock with 7 minutes, 17 seconds remaining in Saturday's game was Washington's 80-yard touchdown catch with 55 seconds to play. And if he wasn't held on the ensuing two-point conversion ...

OFFENSE

Illinois: B-

Northwestern: B-

The combination of Paddock to Washington should have been enough. Paddock threw a pair of interceptions, but completed 24 of 34 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. All to Washington, of course, who ended his time at Illinois with the best performance of his career. But it wasn't enough, as the Ben Bryant-led Wildcats did just enough offensively to come out on top for the rivalry win.

DEFENSE

Illinois: D

Northwestern: D

Johnny Newton played like the All-American and first-round draft pick he will be with two sacks and a third wiped out, of course, by an Illinois penalty. The Illinois secondary played like they were in high school a year ago at this time ... because they mostly were. Injuries meant dipping into the third string at cornerback, and Northwestern went at those young defensive backs.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Illinois: F

Northwestern: B

A muffed punt by Isaiah Williams and a fumbled kick return by Kenari Wilcher were the difference Saturday. Illinois had just taken a fourth-quarter lead and gotten a stop before Northwestern turned consecutive special teams mistakes into 14 points. The Wildcats ultimately won by two points. As good as Caleb Griffin was for Illinois, having to settle for three field goals took needed points off the board.

COACHING

Illinois: C

Northwestern: C+

Northwestern's David Braun has a real case to be Big Ten Coach of the Year. His decision not to kick a field goal with just under 90 seconds to play, take a delay-of-game penalty instead and punt nearly backfired. Illinois' issue was execution, where responsibility lies with both players and coaches. That the defensive issues on Saturday were all too familiar has to be a concern.

OVERALL

Illinois: D+

Northwestern: C+

This was supposed to be another bowl season for Illinois after last year's breakthrough eight-win campaign. Maybe even a shot at an elusive Big Ten West title given the chaos of that division. The Illini simply added to it, and with their season on the line, couldn't come through in the final moments of a close game. There were three such losses this season, and all of them came in the final five games.