CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns and Illinois used a 29-point second quarter to blow by Miami of Ohio 50-14 on Saturday.
The senior quarterback had all five touchdown throws for Illinois (3-1) by halftime. He finished 19 of 24 for 278 yards with one interception.
Illinois took a 36-0 lead into halftime on Scheelhaase's 45-yard touchdown pass to Matt LaCosse with just over five minutes left in the second quarter.
The Illini got their third win of the season early after finishing 2-10 a year ago and closing with nine-straight losses.
Miami lost its third-straight game to a BCS school after falling to Cincinnati last weekend and Kentucky two weeks ago.
The RedHawks were down 43-0 before they scored a point.
Quarterback Austin Boucher finished 7 of 13 for 95 yards and a touchdown. Fellow signal-caller Austin Gearing carried the ball 16 times for 81 yards.
