Miles Scott, seniors ascend amid blistering snow storm

CHAMPAIGN — Mother Nature’s Champaign snowglobe grip fastened on Saturday night, shaking it with all her fury.

It made snow pile up on Gies Memorial Stadium, it made the winds howl, and temperatures drop. It culminated in a less-than-picture-perfect Senior Night for the Illinois football program. If this game were to be played, nay, if this game were to be won, Illinois would have to do it in the thick of the elements.

None was to be excused. Not even the likes of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, who was nearly clipped by a plowing tractor as he walked on the field and called it a unique gameday experience.

Caught beneath the snow swirled a struggling Illinois offense that couldn’t produce at the levels it’s accustomed to.

Much to the chagrin of the Illini faithful, the fate of the game would rest in the hands of Illinois’ defense. A unit that consistently frayed under the season’s biggest moments, and featured defensive coordinator Aaron Henry, who deliriously explained his lack of care for outside noise earlier in the week.

After allowing 35.6 points on the road in 2025, allowing 30-plus points in four of its games in 2025, and all of its failures, it was the seniors who took charge on Saturday night, 20-13.

Miles Scott’s big night

It’s a week-to-week game. Last Saturday in Madison, Scott held his head low postgame, his face eroding in disappointment. On Saturday night, Scott couldn’t help but smile. He couldn’t contain his smile from the big game he had just had.

Two interceptions in the fourth quarter, including the dagger that just about sealed the deal for Illinois in the middle of the fourth quarter, allowing Illinois to go up a full one score, 20-13.

When he first grazed the halls of the Smith Center in Champaign back in 2021, he came with every expectation of playing wide receiver, even with the uphill climb that was being a walk-on in a Big Ten program.

Bielema had his doubts about him playing at wideout. But he knew he had something special in Scott. Soon after, Bielema offered Scott a full scholarship coupled with a plan to switch positions to safety. A couple of years later, he became a captain, and in 2025, after a turbulent year, Scott notched two interceptions in critical moments against Northwestern in his final regular-season game in Champaign.

He also peppered in four total tackles and two pass breakups against the Wildcats.

Gabe Jacas’ historic impact

The star who could’ve left after last season clinched a 10-plus sack season on Saturday night. Gabe Jacas finished his fairytale career with a fairytale night, throwing himself into the snowy hill sporting a Lincoln Hat.

Who can blame him? After all, he had just topped his Illinois career by ending his season with 11 sacks, as the leader in the Big Ten. He ended his regular season by cashing in two sacks, likely ending his Illinois career in the top five of the Illinois sack leaderboard.

On Saturday, Jacas also chipped in 2.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.

A fitting (potential) end to the Torrie Cox saga

When Torrie Cox Jr. played his first game as an Illini, he snatched an interception against Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley. The opening game of the season in 2024 and his first big moment in Champaign.

When arriving in Champaign, Cox was listed at 5-foot-9. There was hype, but a slight doubt that Cox would be able to hold up in the Big Ten. Throughout his Illinois, he proved those doubters wrong.

Throughout two seasons, he proved durable and consistently played well in coverage. While there were certainly times, including on Saturday night, when he was caught on his heels. Or made a costly mistake against Northwestern for DPI, the coaching staff’s trust in Cox never wavered.

On Saturday night, when Illinois searched for answers inside the early parts of the game, Cox gave Illinois life, providing the offense with a possession that would later give Illinois a lead.

Senior Malichi Hood also got in for a forced fumble that would be recovered by the Illini.

While Saturday night was indeed senior night, it’s not always guaranteed you’ll get world-shattering performances, but Illinois and a swell of these seniors gave Illinois plenty to propel Illinois to an 8-4 record.