IU set for match up with Fighting Illini Saturday

If momentum is everything in college football, IU will be at a severe disadvantage this weekend when it takes on Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.\nIU hits the road for the first time in conference play this weekend after suffering its worst defeat in nearly two seasons last Saturday. The 52-17 loss to Wisconsin was the first time IU has lost by 35 points or more since losing 63-24 to Purdue in 2004. \nThe Hoosiers (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) have spent the week trying to put last Saturday's loss behind them by looking ahead to Illinois and trying to learn from last week's mistakes, players and coaches said.\nIllinois (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten), on the other hand, returns home one week after upsetting Michigan State 23-20 on the road, snapping a nine-game conference losing streak and 12-game losing streak against Division I opponents. \n"Illinois is coming off a big win," IU coach Terry Hoeppner said at a press conference Tuesday. "They have a lot of confidence and are playing at home. Everything is in the here and now for us." \nThe Illini went up to East Lansing, Mich., last week and spoiled Michigan State's homecoming, something IU will be trying to do on the road Saturday. \nIn order to come away with a victory, the IU defense will have to slow down freshman quarterback Juice Williams. Williams propelled Illinois last week, passing for 122 yards and one touchdown and running for 103 yards on 17 carries. \nWilliams took over the starting quarterback job after splitting time with senior Tim Brasic early in the season.\n"(Williams) is a guy that can get out of the pocket, and if he gets out of the pocket he can hurt you," junior cornerback Tracy Porter said after practice Tuesday. "He's not afraid to run and take the hits. You have to deal with his running ability as well as his pocket passing; he has an arm on him."\nIllinois junior wide receiver Jacob Willis has developed into Williams' favorite target. Willis leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns and had three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State. \nThe IU offense -- which has only scored one touchdown in the last two games -- is still trying to find its rhythm with freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis. Since Lewis took over as starter, IU has lost all three of its games and managed only five offensive touchdowns in those contests. Four of those touchdowns came against I-AA opponent Southern Illinois University. \nLast week against Wisconsin, the offense struggled with penalties early. Penalties killed the first drive of the game, leading to an IU punt and all the momentum Wisconsin would need. IU was only able to score in the fourth quarter after many of Wisconsin's starters had been pulled from the game. \n"When it comes game time, we need to play like we do in practice and not make mental errors," junior fullback Josiah Sears said at a press conference Tuesday. "We need to come out ready to play"