CHAMPAIGN — A sold-out Memorial Stadium for the first time since way back in 2016. A packed student section and an “Orange Out” in the seats. A ranked opponent in town.
One last giant play by defensive back Xavier Scott, because it just plain had to be him. A field-rushing by the fans amid a celebration by Illinois — yes, Illinois — in the end. Is this what college football that matters is supposed to look like? Illinois upset No.
19 Kansas 23-17 on a Saturday night that just might change some things around here. For the Illini (2-0), it was the first win against a ranked, non-conference opponent since 2011. More important, it was the start — one can only believe — of repelling the struggles that have followed the Illini and coach Bret Bielema ever since their surprising 7-1 start in 2022.
When it comes to getting better and staying better, Illini football has displayed the turning radius of a slow-going ocean freighter through the years. It has been only a bit more encouraging on Bielema’s watch. But when Scott followed up his pair of game-changing interceptions by sacking Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels on the final play of the game, it had a powerful effect.
Fifteen years ago, now-Kansas coach Lance Leipold was the king of Division III at UW-Whitewater, in the middle of an incredible flurry of six national championships. Bielema was a much bigger deal, though, the hotshot coach at big-boy Wisconsin. But Bielema was very good to Leipold, making memorable .