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Sep. 3—CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois football team plays six times in 2024 against opponents it met last season.
How did the first round go for Bret Bielema’s guys? Not so good. The Illini were 1-5 against Kansas, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern last year.
The lone win came against the Gophers in Minneapolis and that one would have been a loss if not for John Paddock’s late-game heroics.
Next up, the opener on the replay list: Kansas. The No. 22 Jayhawks visit Memorial Stadium on Saturday night for the first time since 1968.
Bielema doesn’t want a repeat of that outcome, with Kansas blowing the doors off Illinois 47-7. Future Bears quarterback Bobby Douglass and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back John Riggins were the stars for Pepper Rodgers’ team.
The current Jayhawks start the week as a touchdown favorite. Looking at the other five rematches, Illinois figures to be the underdog in the first three. Oddsmakers will give an edge to Nebraska and Penn State at home.
In the final three rematches, Illinois will be either favored or the games will be considered a tossup.
Why should Illinois fans care? Well, the 1-5 record in those games cost the team a bowl bid in 2023. If Illinois can reverse one or two of the results, it puts itself in a better postseason position.
I agree with what former Illini All-American Martin O’Donnell said on WDWS’ “Monday Morning Quarterback.” Earning a bowl bid is the top priority in 2024 for Illinois, which has not gone bowling in consecutive seasons since 2010-11. That’s a run that has to end if Bielema is to ever achieve the consistent success he and his fan base crave.
Extra challenging
Kansas didn’t just beat Illinois in 2023. For most of the game, the Jayhawks dominated. Kansas led 34-7 before two late Illinois scores made the final more respectable. But the game felt like a blowout win for the home team.
Bielema had a feeling.
“When they asked us to move to Friday night, I wasn’t a big fan of it,” Bielema said. “I knew that…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-asmussen-first-dont-succeed-144700295.html
Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Publish date : 2024-09-03 14:47:00
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