Eight games into his tenure as defensive coordinator at Illinois, Vic Koenning had seemingly transformed the Illini into something formidable, a force that put up a good amount of resistance.

Then came a trip to Michigan last November, and all of the progress appeared to disintegrate as the Wolverines posted 676 total yards and 67 points in a 67-65 triple overtime win in Ann Arbor.

"That game and the Texas Tech game when I was at Kansas State are the two that are mind-boggling, put you in a jar,'' Koenning said. "Hard to explain. Not many guys able to make any plays on defense at all."

In the 2009 game, his K-State defense allowed 739 yards and lost 66-14 in regulation. But those are blips on Koenning's résumé and he again has the Illini clicking as they enter a rematch with visiting Michigan today at 2:30 p.m.

A year later, the Illinois defense appears to be vastly improved over the pre-Michigan unit of 2010. Now, the Illini have to prove it all over again against Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson and a revamped offense that is doing just fine under first-year coach Brady Hoke.

The Illini are in the top 10 nationally in five defensive categories, including sixth in total defense, allowing an average of 280 yards a game. They are third in sacks (3.44 a game), sixth in tackles for loss (8.0), eighth in pass defense (177.2 yards) and ninth in third-down defense (30.8 percent).

In its next two games, Illinois will face the two best offenses on its schedule in Michigan and Wisconsin. Robinson is the biggest concern when it comes to the Wolverines.

Last season, he passed for 305 yards and ran for 62 with three touchdown passes before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with an injury. He enters the game fifth in the Big Ten in rushing with 880 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Illinois linebacker Jonathan Brown played only 10 snaps in last year's game but remembers one thing.

"Chasing Denard Robinson is the thing I remember most,'' he said. "He's a fast guy. The only thing you can do is contain him. If you contain him, he can't get the big plays he likes to get."

The Illini have surprised defensively with the contributions of Brown, a sophomore who is a rising star in the Big Ten, and junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus, the country's sack leader and a possible first-team All-American.

Statistics suggest this game could turn into the opposite of last year's meeting. Dreadful defensively under former coach Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines have improved dramatically with coordinator Greg Mattison, who took the job after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Michigan is 10th in the country in scoring defense, allowing 16.4 points a game. However, the Wolverines have lost two of their last three, falling to Michigan State and Iowa.

Although the offense has changed under Hoke, it has not lost any potency.

"They're a different offense, a different defense, but it's basically the same players,'' Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "For the most part, those receivers are probably as good as we've seen. Offensive line probably the best we've seen."

Meanwhile, the Illinois offense is in a serious funk. and could have trouble if the game becomes a shootout. The Illini haven't scored in the first half of three consecutive games, finishing with seven, 14 and 10 points.

"You always want to get a good start,'' offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. "It's something we've taken great pride in our whole career, wherever we've been. We just haven't got it done the last three weeks."