No. 12 Illinois and star QB Luke Altmyer are ready to enter uncharted territory
The Illini flew under the radar on their way to a 10-win season last year — their first since 2001 — and they return 18 starters including star quarterback Luke Altmyer.
Tag: Bret Bielema
No. 7 Penn State defense gets five takeaways and pulls away from Illinois in 30-13 victory
Cam Miller, Abdul Carter, Daequan Dixon and Johnny Hardy had interceptions and No. 7 Penn State took advantage of five Illinois turnovers to beat the Illini 30-13.
Caleb Griffin kicks 29-yard FG in closing seconds to give Illinois 30-28 win over Toledo
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.
Illinois to face Mississippi State in ReliaQuest Bowl Jan. 2
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini football team is headed to Florida. The team announced Sunday afternoon that it has accepted an invitation to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 2. They’ll face the Mississippi State Bulldogs from the SEC. Both teams finished with 8-4 regular season records. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema
Illinois defense shuts down Iowa 9-6
CHAMPAIGN — On back-to-back possessions in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game against Iowa, Illinois muffed a punt at their own 35-yard line and fumbled on their own five-yard line. Iowa could only score a total of three points off those two turnovers. An Illinois defense that head coach Bret Bielema calls “the best
Illinois football tops Chattanooga 31-0 for its best start since 2015
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini football team dominated every aspect of the game against Chattanooga Thursday night in a 31-0 win at Memorial Stadium. The Illinois offense totaled just over 500 yards, while the defense shut-out the Mocs, who were previously 3-0. Head coach Bret Bielema spoke well of the defensive effort after the game. “You
Brown’s three touchdowns lead Illini over Wyoming in football opener
CHAMPAIGN – Chase Brown picked up where he left off last season, rushing for 151 yards and scoring three touchdowns, as Illinois wore down the Wyoming Cowboys 38-6 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday. Brown ran for 1,005 yards a season ago, and looked every bit the part of the team’s leading
DeVito will start at quarterback in the season opener against Wyoming
CHAMPAIGN — The 133rd season of Illini football kicks off Saturday afternoon in Champaign. Illinois hosts the Wyoming Cowboys in a game that will feature a lot of fresh faces on both sides of the field. Head coach Bret Bielema revealed Thursday that his starting quarterback will be Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito, who won the
Illini football coach Bret Bielema will miss the Iowa game after testing positive for COVID-19
CHAMPAIGN — University of Illinois football coach Bret Bielema has tested positive for COVID-19, the program announced on Tuesday. Bielema will miss this Saturday’s game at Iowa, where he played football in college, per team COVID protocols to help limit spread of the virus. In a statement, Bielema says he developed “mild symptoms” on Monday
Bielema Introduced As New U Of I Football Coach
CHAMPAIGN — Two days after hiring Bret Bielema as new head football coach, the University of Illinois introduced him at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon. Listen to Bret Bielema’s introductory news conference here. Bielema says one of his top priorities will be keeping the top high school football players in the state from going
Illinois Hires Bielema As New Football Coach
CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois is turning to former Arkansas and Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema to lead its football program. Athletic director Josh Whitman announced Bielema’s hiring Saturday morning. He replaces Lovie Smith, who was fired Sunday after compiling a 17-39 record in five seasons. Bielema enjoyed his greatest success as coach at Wisconsin