It doesn't get much more important for head coach Ron Zook than this week's game at Indiana.

There is no bowl game at stake for the Illini, little hope of a winning season.

However, what is on the line may be Illinois' last realistic chance to win a game between now and the regular-season finale Nov. 19 vs. Northwestern.

After lining up at Indiana, the Illini get an open date before facing Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue. It does not look promising.

The Hoosiers will be extremely difficult to beat on the road. Hoeppner's team lost its first game of the year at Wisconsin last Saturday and they appear to be much improved over the team that the Illini edged 26-22. Indiana's QB-WR combination of Blake Powers to James Hardy will have to be controlled if Illinois has a chance of registering the road upset. The two combined for seven receptions, 157 yards and two TDs in 41-24 loss to Wisconsin.

Illinois will try to counter with the cool demeanor of QB Tim Brasic and his ability to throw a well-timed pass to RB E.B. Halsey and WR Kendrick Jones. Brasic has been a very solid asset for Zook through the team's first five games. He does not get rattled in the pocket and reads coverages well.

It may be hard for the Illini to get its ground game going this week. Indiana may have gotten beaten by the Badgers, but they allowed Brian Calhoun just 101 yards on 26 carries. Calhoun has excellent acceleration and fine instincts and by slowing him down significantly, the Indiana front seven has shown it will be difficult to penetrate the rest of the way.

That won't stop Zook from employing Halsey and Pierre Thomas this week on a regular basis. Those two have combined for 484 yards this season and the X-factor could be speedy freshman Rashard Mendenhall, who has seen spot duty so far this year. If Mendenhall can bust loose with a couple of big plays early, the Illini could be in position to record a road victory.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The offense has been quite ordinary through the first five games, as the Illini rank 62nd nationally in total offense, 47th in rushing and 72nd in scoring with an average of 22.8 ppg. Tim Brasic is coming off a game in which he completed 32-of-44 passes, but he does not do enough with his wide receivers. Kendrick Jones and DaJuan Warren have combined for 24 receptions and one touchdown -- and that's simply not good enough.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The problems on this side of the ball seem unfixable. The defense is back at the level of 2003 and '04 after opening with positive performances against Rutgers and San Jose State. The Illini are giving up an average of 36 points (109th) and 468.8 yards (112th). They are especially soft up front and have a nearly impossible time generating a pass rush or slowing down the interior run.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There are a few little things we have to tweak, and he'll be fine," Zook said. "I told him, 'You don't just become a bad kicker in a week. People will be calling for your hide. Just forget it. You've got my vote." -- Illinois head coach Ron Zook on PK Jason Reda, who missed three FG attempts in the 35-7 loss to Iowa last week

THIS WEEK'S GAME: at Indiana, Oct. 8 -- This game is hugely important to both teams. The Illini may not have a legitimate chance to win until their regular-season finale vs. Northwestern after this. The Hoosiers got off to a 3-0 start, but were beaten at Wisconsin in their Big Ten opener. The chances for a solid first season for Terry Hoeppner will probably vanish if Indiana can't beat Illinois at home.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Pierre Thomas -- Despite the pedestrian nature of the Illinois offense, Thomas is a big-play performer with 323 yards, three TDs and 5.3 averages per carry. The Indiana run defense is quite stout, so he needs to come up with his best game.

QB Tim Brasic -- With 208 yards through five games, Brasic is 308 yards from the all-time rushing career record by an Illinois quarterback (516 by Fred Custardo, 1963-65). The record for a single season is 297 by Rick Weiss in 1978. So far this season, Brasic has run for three touchdowns and has three rushes of 25 yards or better.

SS Kevin Mitchell -- He has shown the ability to diagnose plays and make tackles -- which is no small feat at Illinois. Mitchell has a team-high 33 tackles and also has two TFL and one pass defensed.

PK Jason Reda -- He was 8-of-9 on FG attempts prior to the loss at Iowa, but missed all three of his attempts against the Hawkeyes. Head coach Ron Zook has been trying to rebuild his confidence this week.

ROSTER REPORT: Offensive lineman J.J. Simmons (knee) and defensive back Morris Virgil (shoulder) are questionable for against Indiana. Simmons did not tear his ACL against Iowa and Zook said he could play if Simmons' rehab goes well. Expect Virgil to play against the Hoosiers. Zook said he could have gone against Iowa, but that he wanted to be cautious so that he could be available the rest of the season.