Walk-off field goal keeps Illini headed in right direction
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Walk-off field goal keeps Illini headed in right direction
Oct. 31—COLLEGE PARK, Md. — One more ...
... Win needed for Illinois football to guarantee a 13th game this season. Bowl eligibility could come as soon as Friday night, when reeling Nebraska visits Gies Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Champaign.
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... Feather in the cap for Illini coach Bret Bielema. His late-game strategy worked to perfection when Illinois took possession at its own 26 with 5:45 left and never gave the ball back. He must have been good at keep-away as a kid.
Credit Jordan Anderson with a heads-up play late in the game, going down at the 2-yard line at the end of a 12-yard run. Then, a kneel down by quarterback Katin Houser to set up Ethan Moczulski's chip-shot field goal. Illinois 20, Maryland 17.
The victory came at the end of an emotional week for Bielema, who lost his dad Arnie last Sunday. What a fitting way to honor the person Bielama calls the most influential in his life. Mr. Bielema's services will be held Sunday and Monday.
... Reminder that the football season lasts more than five games.
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After a 2-3 start, including close home losses to Duke and Purdue and a not-so-close loss at Ohio State, some thought the Illini were toast. Few outside the Smith Center would have predicted the team reaching the postseason at all, let alone making it in four more games. But that is now possible.
My hunch: The Illinois players or coaches aren't aiming at JUST six wins. Their appetites are much bigger.
The three earlier losses take the College Football Playoff out of the equation ... this year. When it jumps to a 24-team field, oodles of three-loss teams will contend.
Each win for Illinois the remainder of the season raises its bowl profile. Illinois fans showed up in big numbers in Orlando, Fla., for the Citrus Bowl in 2024 and in Nashville. Tenn., for the Music City Bowl in 2025.
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The middle rung bowls tied to the Big Ten will be interested in Illinois ... when it becomes available.
Smooth move
Bielema hinted earlier in the week that injured starting quarterback Houser was feeling better. Turns out the degree was "a lot." Enough to start and play the entire game.
Michael Clayton II did a commendable job filling in, leading the team to a pair of victories. But if Houser was healthy enough to play again, the job should and did belong to him.
Houser wasn't perfect. He threw an interception on his first pass. No harm, no foul because the Terrapins gave it back on a fumble.
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Houser hit 18 of 32 for 223 yards and ran twice for 18 more. Barry Lunney Jr. will likely try to keep his quarterback out of harm's way. The return of Houser is a cool story with a chance for a happy ending.
With Houser back in charge, Illinois' late-season schedule doesn't look nearly as daunting.
Nebraska comes to Champaign this week reeling, with a 17-10 loss against Washington the third straight for the Cornhuskers.
Then comes a trip to the Rose Bowl to play undefeated UCLA, which shut out Nevada 27-0 on Saturday.
Iowa appears to be the most difficult team left for Illinois. The Hawkyes bounced back from a loss to Minnesota by throttling ranked Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. That's two shutouts in a row for Iowa against Wisconsin.
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For the first time since the Chuck Long days, Iowa's offense is getting some of the headlines. And not for ineptitude, but for being clever and fun.
And the Northwestern game is usually a challenge for Illinois. David Braun continues to win in Evanston and now that Northwestern has a football palace, the top players might be more tempted to sign up.
Making his case
Early in the week, Bielema was asked the status of his defensive coordinator position. Roger Cooper is currently filling in for departed Bobby Hauck.
Totally understandable if Bielema wants to consider his options, but the last two games show the defense is thriving with Cooper calling the plays.
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Imagine the boost in confidence for the defense if the interim tag goes off Cooper. Risky? Not really. The defense held Oregon and Maryland to a combined 27 points and was especially stingy in the second half.
The Ducks didn't score a point after intermission and Maryland had just three after its opening drive in the third quarter.
More important, Illinois twice kept Maryland from scoring after it reached the red zone.
The idea for defense, as I understand it, is to keep the other team from scoring. Illinois with Cooper running it is making the critical plays. And looks better each week.
