Latest Bret Bielema News
No. 22 Illinois beats No. 24 Michigan 21-7 for its first win over the Wolverines since 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for a touchdown and ran for another, leading No. 22 Illinois to a 21-7 victory over No. 24 Michigan on Saturday. The Illini wore 1924 throwback uniforms to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Red Grange’s six-touchdown performance...
No. 22 Illinois eyes 1st ranked-vs-ranked win at home since 1991 against No. 24 Michigan
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Michigan and Illinois will try to get back on track Saturday in the first ranked-vs-ranked game at Memorial Stadium since 2000. No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) had a school-record 27-game Big Ten winning streak snapped Oct. 5 at Washington when it lost...
No. 23 Illinois outlasts Purdue 50-49 in overtime on sack on 2-point conversion
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime to Pat Bryant, and Dylan Rosiek sacked Purdue's Ryan Browne on a 2-point conversion attempt to give No. 23 Illinois a 50-49 victory Saturday. Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) had lost four straight and seven...
Back at home, No. 23 Illinois faces nemesis Purdue and former defensive coordinator
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois hasn’t played a home game in a month. Road games at then-No. 22-Nebraska and then-No. 9 Penn State and a bye week left Memorial Stadium silent since Sept. 14. The Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) will return home Saturday to face rival...
Big Ten has become a landing zone for transfer quarterbacks
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Bret Bielema was at the forefront of the graduate transfer game in 2011 when the NCAA passed a new rule that allowed athletes in all sports to transfer and gain immediate eligibility without a waiver as long as they were enrolled in graduate school. Needing...
No. 9 Nittany Lions looking to keep momentum going against No. 19 Illinois
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Reminders of Penn State’s last unbeaten season have been all over Happy Valley this week, serving as inspiration for Drew Allar and his teammates. The 1994 team will be honored when the No. 9 Nittany Lions host No. 19 Illinois on Saturday, ...
No. 19 Illini out to knock off another ranked team when it visits No. 9 Penn St. in top Big Ten game
Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: Game of the week No. 19 Illinois (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at No. 9 Penn State (3-0, 0-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC) This is the best of Bret Bielema's four Illinois teams, and it's motivated to knock off a...
Luke Altmyer throws 4 TD passes, leads No. 24 Illinois to 31-24 OT win over No. 22 Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for four touchdowns, including a short toss to Pat Bryant in overtime, to give No. 24 Illinois a 31-24 win over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night. The Illini (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) have beaten two ranked opponents in the same season for the first...
No. 22 Nebraska hosts No. 24 Illinois in a Big Ten opener matching unbeaten teams
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Let the games begin, for real. That's coach Matt Rhule's attitude as No. 22 Nebraska enters its game against No. 24 Illinois on Friday night. “Now the season starts, this is the first game in the Big Ten for us and we’ll find out where we...
Pat Bryant catches 2 TDs, Ethan Moczulski kicks a school-record field goal as Illinois beats CMU
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both to Pat Bryant, to lead Illinois to a 30-9 win over Central Michigan on Saturday. Bryant had seven catches for 102 yards and Zakhari Franklin caught five passes for 66 yards. Josh McCray...
