Final score: Cal 35 Illinois 20

Brief recap: This was not the performance Illinois wanted for its first bowl game since 2014. The defense played well at times, but the offense failed to convert long drives into points throughout the game. The Illini racked up 426 yards of offense, but were unable to get into the end zone. Ten penalties for 89 yards, a costly second half interception and the inability to stop Cal quarterback Chase Garbers were huge aspects in this game. Despite a struggling first half, Illinois was able to stay within one possession, trailing 21-13. Most of the second half, Illinois was in striking distance, trailing 28-13 most of the way. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bears put together a 12-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that made the score 35-13. That score ended up being enough to be the deciding factor in the contest.

Key moment: Trailing 35-20 with the football, Illinois was driving with a chance to cut the lead to one possession midway through the fourth quarter. But on the second play of the drive from the Cal 30-yard line, Brandon Peters threw an interception to Jaylinn Hawkins, putting the Illini in a tough position the rest of the way.

Key stat: Illinois needed to play a clean game to win the gae goal loime, and instead it committed 10 penalties for 89 yards. When offense was hard to come by, the Illini continued to step on their own two feet and hinder their ability to hit the end zone.

Key player: Garbers was huge for the Bears, completing 22-of-31 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for one touchdown in the win. It was a truly outstanding performance for the Cal quarterback.

What it means: It was a season full of streaks for Illinois. It won the first two games, dropped four-straight games, then bounced back by winning the next four contests. To close the year, though, the Illini dropped their final three games to Iowa, Northwestern and Cal. Even though the season didn’t end on a positive note, this program still made significant progress throughout the season and proved that Lovie Smith has the team heading in the right direction. Next season, consistency will be key in Champaign.