Where it had allowed four touchdowns all season, none relevant to outcomes, it allowed three to Illinois on plays of 29 yards or more, all relevant to the outcome. It missed a 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter. It couldn’t score a touchdown from first down at the 3-yard line with 10 minutes left. Its great running back, Jonathan Taylor, lunged for further yardage with 7:12 left, while linebacker Jake Hansen’s hand looped over Taylor’s shoulder and down near the ball, shoving it loose. Its first-year starting quarterback, Jack Coan, with one interception all season, managed to match that total on one leaping play by cornerback Tony Adams with 2:32 left. Losing on the road is common, losing on the road before 37,363 in a 60,670-seater less common.