When Bret Bielema was in contract negotiations with Illinois before formally accepting the coaching job, someone thought it necessary to point out to him, “You know, we aren’t just trying to win six games and get to a bowl around here.”
Six? Nearly five years later, Bielema scoffs at the memory.
“I mean, I [was] trying to win 10,” he said.
Last season, his fourth at Illinois, he got the Illini there with a record of 10-3. Now, with the current Illini at 7-3, the school is a win away from tying its record for wins over a two-year period — 18. The last time 18 happened? Just a little hop, skip and jump back in time to 1902 and 1903, but you probably knew that already.
No. 21 Illinois (-7½) at Wisconsin (6:30 p.m., BTN, 890-AM) also is a chance for the Illini to secure consecutive eight-win seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990. Winning at least nine back-to-back would be a first, period. The Illini already know they’re going to a second straight bowl game for the first time since 2010 and 2011.
Have I mentioned Illinois’ football history has been slightly less than exquisite? You know, just in case it clears anything up.
As for Bielema and all this history making, he isn’t spending any time imparting the details to his players.
“Two, three years ago, I might have said some things, like when we were trying to get to a bowl game, get to six wins,” he said. “Now, it’s more of just, ‘Let’s focus on the now.’ I knew starting November what we could accomplish if we did what we needed to do.”
What they need to do Saturday is take whatever excitement exists at Camp Randall Stadium at night and shut it right down. The Badgers (3-7) — statistically, the second-worst offensive team in the country — are going to miss out on bowl season for the second year in a row, the first time that has happened in Madison since a bowl-less stretch from 1985 to 1992.
By the way, am I the only one here who covered the Badgers as a student journalist from 1988 to 1990, when they won a total of — no, it’s not a misprint — four games? No one should be so jaded at such a tender age.
But when coach Barry Alvarez got the Badgers going and they tied for the Big Ten title and won the Rose Bowl in 1993, it began a stretch of 29 winning seasons in 31 years. Bielema took the wheel from Alvarez in 2006 and won 68 games in seven seasons. The good times rolled on after he left for Arkansas, deeply offending many up north.
One could point to Oct. 1, 2022 as a day when Wisconsin and Illinois took opposite turns. The Badgers, favored by a touchdown, waltzed into Camp Randall on a 20-4-1 streak against Bielema’s new school. Instead, the Illini pummeled them 34-10 for their first win in Madison in 20 years.
It’s still kind of crazy to see the Illini favored by a touchdown-plus on the road against the Badgers. But the gap between these teams is real and only growing.
How good are the Illini? Well, they’re not a College Football Playoff team. But they do have a shot at 10 wins again, and — averaging 32.2 points per game — they’re in range of the school scoring record (32.5 in 2010). They have too much offense to blow this one.
As for the Badgers? If you see a UW student journalist with a glazed look in his or her eyes, give the poor kid a hug for me.
Illini, 30-13.
Week 13 picks
All games are Saturday.
Minnesota (+3½) at Northwestern (11 a.m., BTN, 720-AM): For crying out loud, ’Cats, even the Pirates occasionally win at Wrigley Field. Is this when purple finally reigns at the ol’ ballpark? Yep. Six wins and bowl eligibility it is, 23-17.
No. 22 Missouri (+7½) at No. 8 Oklahoma (11 a.m., ABC 7): Mizzou’s Ahmad Hardy is coming off a halfway decent game against Mississippi State in which he rushed for, oh, gosh, let’s see, 300 yards — not to mention three touchdowns — but the Sooners won at Alabama last week and have a playoff spot to protect. Both these defenses are topnotch. OU, 23-13.
Syracuse (35½) at No. 9 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC 5, Peacock, 780-AM): Some are whispering that the Irish still have some convincing to do with the playoff committee. Do the words “over by halftime” mean anything to you? Irish, 45-7.
No. 15 USC (+9½) at No. 7 Oregon (2:30 p.m., CBS 2): Fun fact: These schools used to be together in an entirely different conference called the Pac-something-or-other. Who knew? They meet as Big Ten foes for the first time. Ducks, 34-24.
My favorite favorite: Duke (-6½) at North Carolina (2:30 p.m., ACC Network): The Tar Heels seem to have located a faint pulse, but they still can’t score and will struggle against an aggressive defense. Bill Belichick doesn’t coach basketball, too, does he? Take the Blue Devils.
My favorite underdog: UCLA (+10½) vs. Washington (9:30 p.m., NBC 5): It might be the Bruins’ final home game at the Rose Bowl. Whether it is or it isn’t, the Huskies were total no-shows in their last two road games.
Last week: 6-1 straight-up, 3-4 against the spread.
Season to date: 59-25, 41-43.