Illinois45 @FINAL 19Duke , Week 2, Sep 6, 2025

Illinois outscored Duke 31-6 in the second half after trailing by one at halftime, showcasing strong adjustments and control.

Illinois capitalized on five Duke turnovers, including a muffed punt and a red-zone fumble, turning mistakes into points.

Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while the running game added three scores, with Hank Beatty contributing 128 receiving yards.

After being outgained 240-132 and allowing four sacks in the first half, Illinois rolled to 287 yards and zero sacks allowed after halftime.

Beating a nine-win Duke team on the road boosts Illinois' resume and AP Top 25 standing, setting a positive tone for next week's home game against Western Michigan.

Duke committed five turnovers, including a muffed punt and a red-zone fumble, leading to a minus-6 turnover margin through two games with no takeaways. This directly contributed to Illinois' short-field touchdowns and the game's outcome.

After trailing by just one point at halftime, Duke was outscored 31-6 in the second half. The team's mistakes, including a penalty for duplicate jersey numbers on a punt, allowed Illinois to seize control and dominate.

Mensah threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, both to Andrel Anthony, including a spectacular toe-tap catch before halftime. However, his red-zone fumble was a critical error that stalled a scoring opportunity.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema highlighted Duke's ball security problems from last season, and his team executed perfectly by punching the ball loose. A key forced fumble by Matthew Bailey on a crossing route ended a promising Duke drive.

Duke visits Tulane on Saturday, a reunion for Mensah with his former program. The Blue Devils must drastically reduce turnovers and improve ball security to compete against a solid Tulane team.