Who is Luke Altmyer? Meet the Illinois QB that dismantled USC and has led Illini football back to relevance

David Suggs

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Who is Luke Altmyer? Meet the Illinois QB that dismantled USC and has led Illini football back to relevance image

Anonymity has followed Illinois football for most of the last two decades. Once a stalwart in the world of college football, the Illini have struggled to field a winning team as of late, posting just one double-digit win campaign since 2001.

The season is still young, but the Illini look well-positioned to land another in 2025. If they do, one player will receive much of the credit for the achievement: quarterback Luke Altmyer.

The fifth-year talent didn't enter the 2025 season as a household name. Recent displays have made it harder for him to avoid attention.

With that, here's what you need to know about Altmyer, the standout who has helped power Illinois' resurgence.

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Luke Altmyer stats against USC

  • Comp.: 20-27 (74.1%)
  • Pass yards: 328
  • Pass TD: 2
  • INT: 0
  • Rush yards: 25
  • Rush TD: 1
  • Catches: 1
  • Receiving TD: 1

Altmyer enjoyed a breakout showing against the Trojans, combining for more than 350 yards of total offense. He was efficient inside the pocket, finding his target on 74 percent of his throws and breaching the end zone on two occasions.

He conjured spells with his feet, too, collecting 25 yards on five carries. He opened Illinois' scoring with a 12-yard scamper in the first quarter.

Altmyer even showed off his hands, corralling a lofted Hank Beatty pass out the sky for a receiving score. Predictably, it was the first receiving touchdown of his career.

Altmyer leveled up his production as the game wore on. The Illini QB found pay dirt on back-to-back drives in the third and fourth quarters. Both scores were eye-catching; the first saw Kaden Feagin turn a dump-off into a 64-yard highlight while the second featured a sumptuous arrow to Justin Bowick.

Altmyer's exploits left USC befuddled. He wasn't the only reason that Illinois claimed a momentous win over its Big Ten rival. But he certainly played a central role. And after spearheading the Illini's game-winning drive, he was the name on the lips of many viewers.

Where is Luke Altmyer from?

Altmyer hails from Starkville, Mississippi. He starred at Starkville High School — A.J. Brown's alma mater — tallying 5,523 yards and 63 touchdowns across three seasons with the Yellow Jackets.

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Altmyer's displays at Starkville earned him four-star billing, per 247 Sports. He fielded offers from Alabama, Florida State and LSU, among others, but opted to stay close to home, enrolling at Ole Miss.

Why did Luke Altmyer transfer from Ole Miss to Illinois?

Altmyer spent two seasons in Oxford before setting sail for Champaign. He wasn't the only highly touted hurler on the roster; as a freshman, he served as Matt Corral's understudy, while his sophomore year was marked by playing behind Jaxson Dart. Altmyer briefly ascended to the top of the Rebels' QB depth chart, but an injury set the stage for Dart to take the reins of Lane Kiffin's offense once more. He wouldn't relinquish them, starting 12 games as a sophomore.

Dart held a vice grip on the starting role at Ole Miss, so Altmyer looked elsewhere. He was enticed by the opportunity to play for Illini head coach Bret Bielema. Tommy DeVito's departure ahead of the 2023 season also opened up a vacancy under center in Champaign.

Altmyer was summarily rewarded for his decision, earning the starting role in 2023. He hasn't let go of it since.

Is Luke Altmyer an NFL prospect?

Altmyer is a fringe prospect at the moment, drawing interest as a Day 3 candidate. NFL Mock Draft Database — a catalog that tracks college players' draft positions in various mock drafts — only has Altmyer listed on two mocks.

If he can continue to produce performances like he did on Saturday, perhaps his reputation — and draft prospects — could grow in the weeks to come.

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.