CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just a few short years ago, when Illinois played teams like Penn State, Michigan, and Nebraska, fans hoped the game would be close, avoiding a blowout by the third week of the season. The occasional post of "Is it basketball season yet?" Showed their frustrations.
Fans remember the 2018 season: a 24-63 loss to Penn State, a 7-46 loss to Purdue, and a 0-63 loss to Iowa, all at home. Those days of non-competitive teams seem long gone now.
Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema has renewed hope for fans, and it’s clear this isn’t another fleeting success under a new coach. Illinois has become the only team in college football so far to defeat three ranked teams: No. 19 Kansas, No. 22 Nebraska, and most recently, No. 24 Michigan.
This week, Illinois is ranked 20th in the country, with a firm belief they can compete with anyone. The team remains focused on taking it one game at a time and respecting all opponents. With a (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) record, the Illini have entered the College Football Playoff conversation.
The last matchup against Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2022 left a bitter taste for Bielema and Illini fans, as a controversial late-game call cost Illinois the win. On 4th-and-3 with under 50 seconds on the clock, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed a pass to running back Isaiah Gash for eight yards. However, there appeared to be pass interference by tight end Colston Loveland, the missed call that led to Michigan’s game-winning field goal. This time around in 2024, Illinois used the controversy as extra motivation.
"This game [against Michigan] had a lot of things pulling at my heart all week,” Bielema said. “Thank you to my wife, my family, for this moment. This is what I came here for, right? I thought we could build Illinois into something sustainable, and this is a big step in that direction for our fan base to have them get rewarded."
Illinois became bowl-eligible with Saturday’s 21-7 victory over Michigan. The sell-out crowd stayed glued to their seats from the opening kickoff to the final play. With a 6-1 record, don’t be surprised to hear talk that the Illini could make the College Football Playoff. While they are heavy underdogs against the top-ranked Oregon Ducks this week, Illinois should be favored to win the remaining games on their schedule, which could leave them at 10-2.
The Bielema Factor
- CBS Sports covered a football game at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1983.
Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble.
Illinois has been ranked in the AP Poll for six consecutive weeks, the longest stretch since the 2007 Fighting Illini were ranked for six weeks.
Former Moline Maroon Matthew Bailey recorded 11 tackles, along with a forced fumble and an interception.
Illinois flipped tight end Logan Farrell from Arlington Heights, who had committed to North Carolina, to stay home and play for the Illini.
No one expects Illinois to march into Eugene, Oregon, and pull off an upset against the No. 1 Ducks. But rest assured, every coach and player making the trip has a different agenda in mind.
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