Illinois QB Altmyer to return against No

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Elder WriterNov 15, 2023, 10:08 AM ET

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  • College football reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.Illinois quarterback

Luke Altmyer will return and start Saturday at No. 16 Iowa, coach Bret Bielema stated Wednesday.Bielema told SiriusXM Big 10 radio that Altmyer, who suffered

a head injury Nov. 4 at Minnesota, went through the concussion procedure and was cleared Tuesday.John Paddock changed Altmyer against Minnesota and led the game-winning touchdown drive in the last minute. Paddock, a transfer from Ball State, set a Memorial Arena record last week when he passed for 507 lawns and 4 goals in a 48-45 overtime win over Indiana.”He was our beginning quarterback before he left [the Minnesota video game], which’s where I see it now,”Bielema told hosts Matt Schick and Anthony Herron. “The best part that we have is if there’s any part of that gets gray, we have a guy who has actually proven he can play and do some good ideas. Super excited about both of those guys.”Bielema said Altmyer, a transfer from Ole Miss, was almost cleared for Indiana but held out as a preventative measure. Altmyer has 1,883 passing lawns with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the Illini this season, while completing 64.8 percent of his efforts. He has 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions in his previous six games.” He had done a really good task, we had won some games on the road, and it was really starting to come around with him,”Bielema said. “However I will tell you our guys have remarkable faith in both of them, and however the cards play out on Saturday, it will be fun to enjoy. When you’re playing Iowa, anything can take place, and you need great bodies playing great football everywhere. “Illinois(5-5)is seeking its very first three-game win streak given that a six-game surge last season.