Recent History: Michigan vs. Illinois

Michigan squares off against Illinois this week in what should be another tune up contest before the two-game gauntlet of Penn State and Notre Dame.

Both recent and overall series results against the Fighting Illini are quite favorable for the Wolverines, who lead the overall series 70-23-2 and have won 10-of-12 matchups dating back to 2000.

The teams don’t play all that often, however, with the programs playing just once in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure and four times since 2010. Michigan won all four of those games, which came after two straight losses to Illinois.

Here’s a look at the four most recent meetings between teams:

2016: Michigan 41, Illinois 8 in Ann Arbor

Michigan dominated Illinois in the lone recent meeting between schools. U-M racked up 561 yards compared to Illinois’ 172 and didn’t allow a score until the fourth quarter.

Wilton Speight threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and Karan Higdon ran for more than 100 yards and a score, despite getting fewer carries than De’Veon Smith and Ty Issac.

Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. only completed four passes.

2012: Michigan 45, Illinois 0 in Ann Arbor

Another game, another outing where Michigan totaled more than 500 yards and held Illinois to just 134. This one was the Denard Robinson show. He had 159 yards and two touchdowns passing and added 128 yards and two scores rushing.

U-M had 353 yards on the ground as a team. Defensively, the Wolverines limited Illinois to just 29 yards passing.

2011: Michigan 31, Illinois 14 in Champaign

A much closer game than 2012 or 2016, this Illinois team was actually 6-4 at this point in the season. Robinson got banged up in this one and was replaced by Devin Gardner, but the team relied on running back Fitzgerald Toussaint. He rushed 27 times for 192 yards and a touchdown.

Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase went 16-for-31 and 170 yards with a pick. He also ran the ball 16 times, but was only able to gain 14 yards.

2010: Michigan 67, Illinois 65 in Ann Arbor

Now this is a game most Michigans fans will remember.

The two teams combined for 1,237 yards in this triple overtime thriller, although it might not have needed overtime if Michigan hadn’t turned the ball over five times.

Robinson and Tate Forcier combined to complete 22-of-39 passes for 428 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Michael Shaw scored three times on the ground.

It was also a monster game for receiver Roy Roundtree, who caught nine passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

On the Illinois side, Scheelhaase was spectacular, throwing for 211 yards and three scores while running for 101 yards and a touchdown. He was helped out on the ground by Mikel Leshoure, who ran the ball 24 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns.

Michigan won the game after Illinois failed to convert on a two-point conversion in the third overtime.