This was supposed to be a game where basically the winner would have an inside line on a great season. While this game wouldn’t necessarily be the toughest either would have, the fact that the week 1 match up was as tough as you could look for as a non-conference game where both teams had a chance to win, this was certainly on many sportscaster’s minds this week.

After I watched it, I have one thing to say–Wow.

I knew Missouri was good, I knew that Chase Daniel potentially had a wonderful chance at the Heisman Trophy. What I didn’t realize is how easy they would make it look against an Illinois defense that actually is pretty decent. With Daniel mixing it up and Derrick Washington bursting for several big gains and touchdowns, the Tigers may well have the best offense in the country.

Back off, USC fans. Take a chill pill, Ohio State. Stand down, SEC fans.

Not to take too much away from Illinois, who basically was hit with a Tyson-like punch in the first half, but like Rocky Balboa, kept on getting up regardless of the homeruns that Missouri kept doing. The Tigers also have a pretty darn good defense overall, and Illinois put 42 on them–and really should have had 49. Juice Williams, despite a terrible start where he looked like an erratic John Elway bulleting passes past wide open receivers, regained his composure to have what was and may be his best game ever as a QB. Sure, he threw two late INTs, but this kid has got some mad game. He definitely is majorly improved over last year.It also didn’t hurt that Will Judson, who had only six receptions in his career, had one of the best receiving games in the Big Ten for week 1, save the entire country. With 5 catches for 178 and 2 scores, he definitely is one to watch.

Note to Ron Zook–lose the option. Williams obvious gain of muscle has slowed him a little bit, and while Daniel Dufrene had a very good game overall and answered a lot of question marks about Illinois running game, he’s not a typical option back. It’s obvious this team should be a north-south power I team and utilize Williams’ arm if he can keep it under control.

Yes, Illinois lost, and Missouri covered. But it wasn’t all bad news–for a team like Illinois that reeled in the blowout loss to USC, playing a team like Missouri that could well be in the BCS National Championship game this year, it showed heart, chemistry, and just ran into a buzzsaw. I don’t even think Ohio State would have a chance against these guys–and the thing is, even the announcers didn’t think Missouri was playing the best it could.

I’ll say it again….Wow.