IOWA CITY, Iowa, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- No. 14 Iowa tuned up for a key Big Ten Conference contest next Saturday with a convincing 41-10 out of last-place Illinois.
Fred Russell ran for 91 yards and Nathan Chandler completed passes to eight different receivers for 246 yards as Iowa (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) handed Illinois (1-9, 0-6) an eighth straight loss.
Russell carried 14 times and has 1,007 yards, joining Sedrick Shaw (1994-96) and Ladell Betts (2000-01) as the only Hawkeyes to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
Chandler completed 16-of-23 passes and rested most of the fourth quarter for Iowa, which visits 17th-ranked Purdue next week.
Illinois (1-9, 0-6) was outgained, 505-265, and lost two of four fumbles, including one by running back Dustin Ward that safety Bob Sanders returned two yards for a touchdown to make it 27-0 with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
