Jamal Woods
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in West Lafayette, Ind. (Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP)
Illinois State at Southern Illinois 9/25/2021

Sep. 25, 2021 07:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 file photo, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema gets choked up as the senior players are introduced before the start of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. It's going on 40 days since Bret Bielema was announced as Illinois' football coach, and since then he's assembled a staff, met returning players, recruited new ones, convinced a top player to pull his name out of the transfer portal and made the rounds getting to know administrators and alumni. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
New Illini coach Bielema says he doesn't want to wait to win

Jan. 27, 2021 05:02 PM EST

Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey is tackled by Illinois defensive back Jartavius Martin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Porter leads way as No. 15 Northwestern runs over Illinois

By Andrew Seligman Dec. 12, 2020 03:24 PM EST

Illinois' Reggie Corbin (2) runs the ball in the second half of a NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept.14, 2019, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Huskers meet Illini looking to finally break through on road

By Eric Olson Sep. 20, 2019 03:00 AM EDT