Quan Martin secured the big 26-14 home win for No. 24 Illinois over Minnesota in Week 7.

On 2nd-and-9 from the Minnesota 39-yard line, Athan Kaliakmanis’ pass was intended for wide receiver Michael Brown-Stephens at the slot, but Martin’s one-on-one coverage was highly efficient as he picked off Kaliakmanis to seal the game.

Martin accounted for 2 total tackles and the game-sealing interception. He was a part of a Fighting Illini defense that held Minnesota to only 180 total yards of offense with only 38 yards coming from the passing game.

Illinois has won 6 games in a season for the first time since the 2019 season, this was also the first time the Fighting Illini have gone to a postseason bowl game. Illinois has not finished a season at .500% or more since 2011.

Illinois is now 11-8 under second-year head coach Bret Bielema.