Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina Tar Heels take down Illinois Fighting Illini

For the first time since 2011, the Fighting Illini football team played in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL, however, Lovie Smith's squad couldn’t quite get the job done against UNC. With offensive mishaps and a sloppy defensive showing UNC was able to accumulate 462 total yards of offensive; 265 of them via passing in the win.

The first sold out home game since 2011 agains Michigan-Univeristy of Illinois — The first sold out home game since 2011 against Michigan-Univeristy of Illinois

Rough outing fo Illini quarterback

University of Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt had a rough outing despite throwing two touchdowns; the 5th year senior transfer from Oklahoma State went 17-35 through the air for a total of only 127 yards. Lunt fumbled as well with 1:30 left to play in the first quarter on their own 19-yard line.

The fumble would turn out to be a game changer for the Illini as UNC was able to convert on their ensuing possession. However, the Illini also looked undisciplined, as they would commit 19 penalties that combined for a total of 99 yards, add that to six total fumbles. Lovie Smith spoke on the discipline issue after the game, “Discipline really hurt us today, we’re a more disciplined team than that,” said Smith.

Lovie Smith working the sidelines in his second game as the head coach of the Fighting Illini-Univeristy of Illinois

Illinois did get on the board first and they did so quite early. Their sophomore running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, found his way in the end zone on just the third play from scrimmage on a 65-yard run. Illinois would strike again late in the first when Kendrick Foster caught a 15-yard pass from Wes Lunt, from that point on it was all UNC.

Ke'Shawn Vaughn finds the endzone just 85 seconds into the game-University of Illinois

Illinois also lost Caleb Day and Gabe Megginson due to injury in the game. After the game coach Lovie Smith spoke on the loss of both players, “Right now I don’t know the extent. Whenever you don’t finish a game it’s a concern,” said Smith.

North Carolinas quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, had quite a performance, going 19-24 for 265 yards and two touchdowns through the air and two touchdowns on the ground. North Carolina's running back Elijah Hood also carried his weight in the Tar Heel victory. Hood had 26 yards on just 12 carries the entire game that was until he capped the game and the Illini hopes of any comeback with a 62-yard touchdown run to seal the deal for North Carolina. The win brings the Tar Heels now to 1-1 in 2016 and the loss brings the Illini to 1-1 as well.