Illinois realizes that stopping a two-game losing streak amounts to corralling opponents more effectively.

The Fighting Illini are yielding an average of 39.6 points per game in Big Ten play entering Saturday afternoon's matchup against Rutgers in Champaign, Ill.

Illinois (5-3, 2-3) has hovered around that average in successive losses to No. 1 Ohio State and Washington, allowing 76 combined points while continuing habits that defensive coordinator Aaron Henry deemed "unacceptable."

"Our players, our staff, we're going to continue to work tirelessly to get the product that you guys expect and we expect on the field," Henry said. "We know what it's like to play really good defense around here, and we've just got to get back to that brand of football."

Illinois was ranked No. 23 and still

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