Illini all but disappear from polls

The national pollsters' three-week infatuation with Illinois all but ended with Saturday's nationally televised 27-17 home loss to Michigan.

While the Wolverines jumped to No. 20 in the Bowl Championship Standings and Penn State checked in at No. 25, the Illini (5-3) received no votes from the Associated Press, 1 25th-place vote from the USA Today coaches poll and 5 points from the Harris Interactive panel.

Illinois coach Ron Zook understands what the nation saw from his crew.

"We kind of did some things we hadn't done," Zook said. "We made some mistakes … some dumb penalties that we hadn't really done. It's part of experience. It's part of growing up. It all goes hand in hand."

Hudson stays? It sounds like Ron Zook plans to stick with junior Kyle Hudson as his punt returner, despite his muffed fair catch that transformed the Michigan game late.

"You always evaluate that, but it's more how Kyle handles it than how I handle it," Zook said Sunday. "I went in and saw Kyle last night and said, 'Kyle, it's like striking out.'

"Well, maybe it's a little worse than that, but you want to go in and swing again."

Hudson doubles as Illinois' center fielder during the spring. He batted .351 last season, second-best on the team, and struck out just 21 times in 199 plate appearances.

Introducing … If anyone thinks Ball State is a pushover from the Mid-American Conference, check out true sophomore quarterback Nate Davis' numbers. The Bellaire, Ohio, native has completed 166 of 294 passes for 2,286 yards, 20 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions.

He has thrown at least 30 times in every game this year for the Cardinals (5-3), who already own 3 road wins this year and nearly earned a fourth at Nebraska.

"I've had a couple scouts tell me he's the best in the Midwest," said Illinois coach Ron Zook.

Injury update: Junior defensive end Derek Walker (Glenbard East) earned a hurry on Chad Henne's first quarter interception, but he left later with a sprained ankle. Ron Zook expects him available for Saturday's game against Ball State.

Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui didn't play after tweaking his back during warmups. That left former center Mike Nabolotny and walk-on Tom Sullivan as Illinois' only tight ends for the Michigan game.

He said it: Ron Zook asked reporters to stop harping on Illinois' quarterback situation, then clouded the issue by suggesting redshirt freshman backup Eddie McGee will get more time as he improves:

"I'm not going to tell you or anybody else what we're going to do," Zook said.