The Gophers have been preaching the need to play complementary football all season long.

Midway Saturday’s fourth quarter against Illinois, Minnesota’s defense and offense synced into harmony. They soon fell back to contrasting ways and lost 27-26 to the Illini at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Cody Lindenberg’s forced fumble and Justin Walley’s recovery gave the U great field position at the Illini 34-yard line. Athan Kaliakmanis then hit Daniel Jackson on a 31-yard touchdown.

On the next drive, Tyler Nubin intercepted Luke Altmyer, but Minnesota’s offense couldn’t ice the game and punted to Illinois. The Illini converted on fourth and 11 and then Altmyer hit Isaiah Williams on a 47-yard touchdown with less than a minute left.

The Gophers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) failed to clinch bowl eligibitly against Illinois (4-5, 2-4). The U loss resembled the 21-point lead it coughed up in an overtime loss to Northwestern in September.

Illini coach Bret Bielema is a perfect 10-0 against Minnesota, including 6-0 at Wisconsin more than a decade ago.

The U entered Saturday in a four-way tie atop the Big Ten West, with each team at 3-2 in conference play. But before the U kicked off Saturday, two of those teams fell: Wisconsin lost 20-14 to Indiana and Nebraska list 20-17 to Michigan State.

The U couldn’t take advantage.

In the third quarter, the U’s offense and defense were also contrasting.

Minnesota’s offense mustered 12 total yards in the third quarter and couldn’t take more advantage of a drive starting at Illinois’ 12-yard line.

After Jah Joyner’s strip sack and Chris Collins recovery, Minnesota had to settle for a 34-yard field goal and a 20-14 lead.

It wasn’t only on the offense. Linebacker Devon Williams and cornerback Justin Walley couldn’t get off blocks and safety Nubin took a poor angle which allowed Illini running back Kegan Feagin to rumble free on a 54-yard touchdown reception to take a 21-20 lead inn the third quarter.

The Gophers led 17-14 at the half after they spent most of the opening 30 minutes chasing the Illini.

Minnesota decided to settle for a 36-yard field goal with 1:20 left in the half to take their first lead of the game.

Sean Tyler fumbled the opening kickoff and Illinois took advantage of a poor coverage drop by Williams. Altmyer found an open Tip Reiman for a  15-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

Minnesota’s offense scored on its first opening drive of the season, with Elijah Spencer catching his first touchdown pass as a Gopher.

The Gophers’ defense had another coverage bust on the next drive, which allowed Isaiah Willams to catch a 9-yard touchdown and re-extend the Illini lead to 14-7.

The U passing game answered again with Brevyn Spann-Ford catching his first touchdown of the season. The sixth-year senior catch a ball over the middle and broke a tackle inside the 5-yard line to score.

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