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Illinois head coach Lovie Smith looks at the scoreboard during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign
Bradley Leeb/Associated Press

Illini Drop Homecoming Game To Minnesota, 40-17

A pair of early Illinois turnovers and a short punt gave Minnesota the ball at the Illinois 49-, 20- and 9-yard lines, and the Gophers turned each into a touchdown on the way to a 40-17 win. The turnovers, Illinois coach Lovie Smith said, swung the game hard and early for Minnesota. "It's hard to win the football game when you start like that," Smith said. "Those turnovers put us in a hole."

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