Oct. 7—CHAMPAIGN — On Nov. 10, 2007, where were you?
My answer is easy: at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, watching unranked Illinois shock the top-ranked Buckeyes at the “Horseshoe.”
So, what was Bret Bielema up to that day?
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“Whoever we played that day was my sole intention,” the Illinois coach said Monday at his weekly press conference.
Turns out, it was No. 13 Michigan. Bielema and unranked Wisconsin hosted the Wolverines that day and scored a 37-21 victory. The next week, like Illinois, Wisconsin moved into the Top 25.
“Obviously, I know it’s a big game,” Bielema said about the last Illinois win against No. 1. “Juice (Williams) reached out to us. I know Juice is going to be here, and he was a huge part of it. Got a couple coaches that were a part of that.”
A history of Illinois wins in the Ohio State series exist, though most of them in the last three decades came at Columbus.
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“This has always been something that’s been a really big game,” Bielema said. “You play Ohio State, it’s a really good opportunity to see where you stand in college football. They have held up their end of the bargain, and hopefully, we’re starting to hold up ours.”
Beating the current No. 1 Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), even at home, is considered a long shot. Illinois (5-1, 2-1) enters as a 141/2-point underdog ahead of the 11 a.m. kick on Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Ohio State is the reigning national champion that reloaded after the bulk of the starters moved on to the NFL
“I’ve got of respect for Ryan (Day) and his staff,” Bielema said. “They’re playing at very high level on defense. It’s a very explosive offense.”
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The Buckeyes are No. 1 for a reason, Bielema said.
“I don’t know if we’ve ever played a game yet where we put it all together for four quarters,” Bielema said. “No better time than this week.”
Bielema knows what it is like to beat No. 1 Ohio State. His 2010 Badgers upset the Buckeyes 31-18 at Camp Randall Stadium.
The earlier success gives him another talking point with his current team.
“We definitely are going through a process,” he said. “We have a way of doing things that is very guided. I actually referenced that team to this group back in fall camp. These moments don’t just happen. They are created over a long time.”
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Getting better
Illinois starting center Josh Kreutz didn’t play in the 43-27 win at Purdue on Saturday because of injury.
“I thought he was right on the verge of it (playing) last week, but Friday, he did not feel good enough and I didn’t want to put him in that position because I knew he wanted to be back for this one,” Bielema said. “I think we’ll know more toward the end of the week. If he doesn’t, it’s next man up — just like every other position.”
Running back Aidan Laughery was projected to play at Purdue, but did not.
“He practiced really good Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday he literally tweaked it a little bit,” Bielema said. “When he went to run Saturday, it wasn’t there. I think both those guys will play. I just don’t know if it’s going to be quite, quite there.”
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Big foot
Illinois kicker David Olano, who hit five field goals at Purude on Saturday, was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in a row.
“That hasn’t been done here in a long time, let alone in the conference,” Bielema said. “David has just become such a confident young man in what he does, how he does it.”
The last Illinois specialist to win the award in consecutive weeks was kicker Neil Rackers in 1999.
Olano is working this year with a new holder and snapper.
“He’s just an exceptional player,” Bielema said.
The Illinois coach wants Olano rewarded with consideration for the Lou Groza Award, which goes to the nation’s top kicker.
“Sometimes at Illinois, it takes a long time for people to buy in to what we’re doing here,” Bielema said.
