No decision has been made yet by Illinois head coach Lovie Smith on his less-than-ideal quarterback situation heading into what might well be a must-win game for the Fighting Illini this weekend against a hungry Minnesota team.

It appears to be a battle between Coran Taylor and Matt Robinson. Brandon Peters still out after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Quarterback Isaiah Williams is also out due to contact tracing. Robinson started last weekend’s game against Purdue but suffered an ankle injury early, pushing Taylor under center for the remainder of the contest.

Smith wouldn’t say who would start this weekend against Minnesota, playing coy with his quarterback decision.

In their 45-7 loss at Wisconsin in the season opener, Illinois started Peters at quarterback. It was a rough afternoon for Peters, who went 8-of-19 for 87 yards in what was an overall ineffectual day for the offense.

It has been a difficult start to the season for 0-2 Illinois, with the blowout loss to No. 10 Wisconsin followed by a 31-24 loss at home to Purdue the next week. Now with Minnesota on Saturday followed by an improved Rutgers the week after, it is time for Illinois to get a win or watch the season slip away.

Smith, in his fifth year at Illinois, took the program to a bowl game last year but has yet to have a winning season with the program.

In Minnesota, the Illini are facing an equally desperate team. The Golden Gophers are 0-2 and out of the polls following an ugly loss to Michigan and a tight road loss this past Friday at Maryland.