Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular

September 30, 2025

The Illinois Fighting Illini football team still hasn’t been able to put together a complete game of solid execution to this point in the season, but they sit at a record of 4-1 with what has been the #9 hardest schedule so far this season. No one expected a 53-point loss, but if you would’ve told Bret Bielema the team would be inconsistent – even wildly inconsistent – from half to half, I’m not sure he’d have guessed the record would be 4-1.

Last week, I talked about 6-days to turn it around and the Illini staff and players managed to do just that. Sure, it was a close call but take away one controversial and mystifying fumble replay decision and the Illini come out of this game with close to a 20-point win.

Now, the Purdue Boilermakers stand in the way of the Illini, and this is a rivalry that turns the cliché into reality. You really can throw away the records. Purdue would love nothing more than to screw up an impressive start for the Illini as they head into a potentially massive battle with the Ohio State Buckeyes in two weeks. And Purdue has given Bielema's Illini more than anyone expected on more than one occasion. This isn't an automatic "W" for the Illini.

Hail Mary #1 – USC – It Isn’t the Game Time

The USC staff hinted at the issues of having to start at game at 11 am central (which would be 9 am for a person living in the pacific time zone) is a legitimate negative for West Coast teams. While most folks find it a challenge to be out tailgating at 9 am, the weather was beautiful, the stadium was full and there are few excuses for not wanting to play when the game starts.

Nonetheless, USC fans have harped on this paper-thin excuse for losing as well. This makes me wonder more about their collective memories than anything else. Why would I possibly say this? Because I’ve been burned trying to use an early game time as an excuse to justify an Illini victory.

Last January 11^th at 11 am the Fighting Illini tipped off against the USC Trojans in a B1G basketball game in the State Farm Center.

While USC featured length that could cause the Illini issues, most Illini fans figured the early game time coupled with a talented Illini team would result in an Illini victory. Not a blowout but a comfortable win that would allow the weekend to start off with a bang for Illini followers.

That didn’t happen.

The Trojans came out and battled the Illini in the first half, trailing the home team by only three. In the second half, the Trojans turned it on and outscored the Illini while sailing to a 10-point victory that was not as close as the score indicated.

If the basketball Men of Troy can hold the Illini to sub 40% shooting while lighting it up for 52.3% from the field and 35.7% from the 3-point line and outrebounding the Illini at 11 am in the morning, there’s no excuses for the football team to lay an egg. At least no excuse based on the game’s starting time.

Hail Mary #2 – Tip of the Hat to the Illini Offensive Line and QB Luke Altmyer

The Illini offense got themselves back on track against a similarly inconsistent USC defense that featured a strong defensive line and an up and down secondary. Clearly coach Lincoln Riley puts more of an emphasis on recruiting offensive talent, but one can see the physical talent of the USC defense. It is hardly an empty cupboard.

The Illini gained 502 yards, including 171 on the ground. Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer completed 77% of his passes while throwing for 328 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions (for the game and for the season so far). Luke wasn’t done there; he caught a TD pass from Hank Beatty and ran for another TD. Luke was a busy man Saturday.

Stats don’t happen like that if the offensive line doesn’t get a push at the line of scrimmage and if they don’t stay on blocks. This week, the Illini offensive line played like what one would expect a Bret Bielema-led offensive line to play like. They were much more physical and confident.

Luke Altmyer played with a supreme air of confidence as well. Even in the face of a bone crushing sack which no one even touched the defender – and Luke somehow didn’t see him coming – the quarterback just got up and kept going. I'm not sure every quarterback would shrug off such a devastating hit like Luke did.

As the game came down to the requisite final drive, Luke calmly led the team downfield to set up the game winning kick by David Olano. There are many possible nicknames one could come up for Luke Altmyer, but sometimes the most obvious ones are the best ones.

Nice job, Cool Hand Luke.

Hail Mary #3 – Up Next

The Illini have a challenging schedule through the end of October, they:

• travel to Purdue
• face the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes at home
• travel to Washington where the Huskies are 22-1 in their last 23 home games (with their only loss to the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes)
• face Rutgers at home as October closes

We all know Bret Bielema plans on going undefeated each Saturday. And if any team has plagued Ohio State with unplanned upsets over the last forty years – it is the Fighting Illini. Maybe 2025 is another year the Illini can catch the Buckeyes looking forward towards Penn State?

If the Illini could finish the month of October with 2 losses on the season, it would be great - and not improbable. Having only one loss for the season at the end of October would be extraordinary (and truly beating expectations). Heck, even finishing the month with 3 losses for the season would put them at a pace for an 8- or 9-win season. The Illini have to take care of business with Purdue and Rutgers and play well for a chance to overachieve against Ohio State and Washington.

Bielema teams tend to get better as the season goes on. That is a good thing as the Illini start on another important October.