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The Latest Breaking News from Bret Bielema

Illinois finished at the bottom of a worse-than-ever Big Ten West — now that’s saying something

It’s OK that the Illini are missing out on the postseason. Nobody needed to see them play again.

Chicago Sun-Times

‘Hat’ check: Is the Illinois-Northwestern football rivalry ever going to measure up?

As end-of-November college football rivalries go, Illinois-Northwestern just might be the runt of the litter.

Chicago Sun-Times

Big Game Hunting: Illinois, Northwestern get Week 12 shots to lock into bowl position

It can’t be that hard for the Illini to beat Iowa, can it? And why is Purdue favored in Evanston?

Chicago Sun-Times

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Three-Dot Dash: Illinois’ Bret Bielema has a huge decision — Luke Altmyer or John Paddock at QB?

There’s no such thing as having two quarterbacks in mid-November. If you don’t have a QB1 you’re all-in on, you’ve got problems.

Chicago Sun-Times

Is it really so hard to sustain football success at Illinois? Former Illini standouts weigh in

Anyone who has spent more than a little time steeped in Illinois football has been subjected to a drumbeat of doubt.

Chicago Sun-Times

Upon further review, it wasn’t the refs who choked away Illinois’ big lead against Wisconsin

Bret Bielema is deep enough into his third head coaching stop that you’re not wrong for worrying that the needle has started to move in the wrong direction.

Chicago Sun-Times

After a big win at Maryland, Illinois coach Bret Bielema needs more of the same, not excuses

Players are to blame in college football only when coaches are made of teflon, and Bielema hasn’t afforded himself that kind of comfort in three years on the job.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Illinois’ Bielema, Notre Dame’s Freeman high on list of struggling coaches after Week 6

The Illini have gone so far in the wrong direction, it’s fair to ask if the program is in any better condition midway through Bret Bielema’s third season than it was on Lovie Smith’s last day.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois, Nebraska still searching for first Big Ten win

A key matchup to watch on the field: Illinois’ turnover-prone and slow-starting offense against Nebraska’s defense. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown seven interceptions, and the Illini have lost four fumbles.

Chicago Sun-Times

Forde Yard Dash: Struggling Powerhouses Are Running Out of Time

Several giants, from Florida to Nebraska, are in decline to start the season. But which teams can turn things around before it’s too late?

Sports Illustrated

Illinois football has an identity, all right — it’s just not a very flattering one

The Illini, 2-3 after a 44-19 loss at Purdue, are the most disappointing team in what arguably is the worst Big Ten West division ever.

Chicago Sun-Times

Third-quarter flurry leads Purdue to rout of Illinois

Hudson Card threw two touchdown passes, Devin Mockobee and Dylan Downing each had TD runs and Purdue used a 21-point third-quarter to pull away for a 44-19 victory.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois football is an ugly mess … and still good enough to win the Big Ten West

Chances are, it’ll still essentially come down to a round-robin among Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Illini.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois turns Memorial Stadium into the gaffe factory in 30-13 loss to No. 7 Penn State

Woe was anyone who watched the Illini shoot themselves in the foot, and then in the other foot, and then in the same two feet all over again during their Big Ten opener.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Big Game Hunting: Penn State is coming at you, Illini. Are you up to a challenge like this one?

Also: picks for Central Michigan-Notre Dame, Northwestern-Duke, Minnesota-North Carolina, Washington-Michigan State and other Week 3 games.

Chicago Sun-Times

No. 7 Penn State ready for a raucus crowd at Illinois

The Illini are coming off a disappointing loss last week at Kansas. They hope a raucous home crowd can carry them to an upset win.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois’ Bret Bielema talked big coming into the season. Now he’s got big work to do.

Bielema “didn’t come here to go 8-5” again, but, with the Illini off to an unimpressive 1-1 start, we have to ask: Is 8-5 even attainable?

Chicago Sun-Times

Northwestern loses 24-7 to Rutgers — yes, that Rutgers — in first game without Pat Fitzgerald

Everything about this game was strange, starting with a matchup of bottom-of-the-barrel teams taking place in a national CBS telecast on a Sunday.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Caleb Griffin kicks 29-yard FG in closing seconds to lift Illinois over Toledo

Luke Altmyer threw for two touchdowns. Miles Scott returned an interception 48 yards for a score, and the Illini squeezed out the win in a back-and-forth game to start coach Bret Bielema’s third season.

Chicago Sun-Times

Holy Toledo, are the Illini in trouble? And will ‘confident’ Northwestern win at Rutgers?

Big Game Hunting: Week 1 picks for Toledo-Illinois, Northern Illinois-Boston College, Ohio State-Indiana, Northwestern-Rutgers and more.

USA Today Sports Media Group

Ranking the head coaches of the Big Ten for 2023

Ranking the head coaches of the Big Ten:

Chicago Sun-Times

Brothers Josh, James Kreutz ready to bear down and do some damage at Illinois

Josh, the Illini’s starting center, and James, a redshirt freshman linebacker, are the sons of six-time Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz.

Chicago Sun-Times

Luke Altmyer will be Illinois’ starting quarterback

Altmyer transferred to Illinois in January after two seasons at Mississippi, where he started one game and appeared in three others last season.

Chicago Sun-Times

Big 10: on Illinois’ QB decision, Georgia’s three-peat hopes, more Northwestern nonsense

Which name goes on the Illini’s QB1 line will speak volumes.

Chicago Sun-Times

Bret Bielema says Illinois has ‘unfinished business’

Losing four of the final five games last season, including the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State, left a sour taste for the Illini.

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