STEVENS COLUMN: Saturday Proved Illini Are Good Enough To Sleepwalk Through 30 Minutes vs. a MAC Team

Despite Bret Bielema’s best efforts at avoiding this reality, Illinois proved Saturday they don’t need their ‘A’ or ‘B’ game to beat lower-level competition. And this hasn’t been the case for decades.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There is one obvious reason Saturday night was a night to celebrate if you’re a fan of the University of Illinois football program.

Yes, Illinois didn’t play very well and you might go as far as to say poorly for 30 minutes. Let’s not . . .

 

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