Illinois coach Bret Bielema will try to remain perfect vs. Minnesota

Bret Bielema has turn out to be one thing of a streak-snapper since taking the helm at Illinois final season.

The Illini earned their first win at Penn State since 2010 final 12 months in a nine-overtime thriller. This season, Illinois snapped an eight-game skid to Iowa and notched its first win at Wisconsin since 2002.

Now, No. 24 Illinois will try to defend a streak on behalf of their coach, who has an 8-0 profession file in opposition to Minnesota relationship to his time because the coach of the Badgers.

“Very lucky to get out of there with a win final 12 months,” Bielema mentioned. “I feel total they’re really a greater soccer crew, most likely.”

The Golden Gophers (4-1, 1-1 Huge Ten) look each bit as able to profitable the Huge Ten West because the Illini (5-1, 2-1) and can arrive in Champaign off a bye. The time without work seems to have given star working again Mo Ibrahim sufficient time to recuperate from an ankle harm that compelled him out of a 20-10 loss to Purdue on Oct. 1.

“We need to ensure that we maintain him secure, so sadly he wasn’t in a position to play (Oct. 1),” coach P.J. Fleck mentioned. “However he appears actually good this week.”

Ibrahim torched 4 opposing defenses for a mean of 141.8 yards per sport earlier than that. His eight touchdowns path solely Michigan tailback Blake Corum (11) within the Huge Ten.

The Gophers compiled a measly 47 dashing yards with out Ibrahim in opposition to Purdue. His presence needs to be a lift in opposition to an Illinois dashing protection that enables simply 67.2 yards per sport.

A succesful Illini entrance contains nostril guard Calvin Avery and defensive tackles Keith Randolph (8 tackles for loss) and Jer’Zhan Newton (7 tackles for loss).

“They’ve obtained three guys (on the road) which can be all 300 kilos, they’re all robust,” Fleck mentioned. “They do an excellent job of violently disengaging on the level of contact, being of their hole, then getting you out of the hole to allow them to go make the play.”

ART’S START?

First-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. mentioned he felt “snug” with backup Illini QB Artur Sitkwoski being thrust below heart after Tommy DeVito went down early with an ankle harm within the 9-6 win over Iowa.

Bielema mentioned “good strive” on Monday when requested who would begin in opposition to Minnesota. Whether it is Sitkowski, he’ll have had the good thing about a full week of apply with the starters.

The extent of DeVito’s harm is just not recognized, however Bielema referred to it as soon as as a re-aggravation of an outdated harm. A bye subsequent week offers him additional time to rehabilitate earlier than Illinois performs at Nebraska on Oct. 29.

BACKFIELD BASHERS

Whatever the Illini’s beginning quarterback, it helps to have a again like Chase Brown. He leads the nation with 879 dashing yards and is second at 151 per sport to go together with 4 touchdowns.

Fleck referred to as him “probably the greatest backs within the nation, interval.”

Minnesota’s offense ranks No. 21 within the FBS in scoring with a mean of 38.6 factors per sport. The Illini are 88th, at 26 factors per sport.

The largest particular person benefactor of Ibrahim’s return is probably going Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan. He’s finishing greater than 70% of his passes to date this 12 months, however went 18 of 33 with three interceptions in opposition to the Boilermakers.

Middle John Michael Schmitz is comfortable to have Ibrahim again, too.

“Only a pleasure simply having him again,” Schmitz mentioned. “Simply the power he brings every day in apply, undoubtedly glad to see him again to his regular self.”

ACTION FOR JACKSON

With sixth-year standout Chris Autman-Bell out with a season-ending decrease leg harm, the remainder of the Gophers broad receivers have stepped up.

Daniel Jackson, who was restricted in coaching camp and missed the primary two video games with a decrease leg harm, leads the crew with two landing receptions and had a career-high 110 yards on six catches in opposition to Purdue.

“His understanding of the offense is de facto excessive,” Morgan mentioned. “He’s made an excellent bounce from final 12 months to this 12 months, and that’s a credit score to him. Even being out at instances throughout coaching camp firstly of the season, he was energetic, he was nonetheless within the conferences studying, being current.”

COMING HOME

Behind Minnesota, Illinois is the second-most represented state on the roster with 12 natives enjoying for the Gophers.

“I’ve obtained about 40-plus folks coming. It’s at all times good when the sport’s shut. Household and pals get to make the fast little drive all the way down to Champaign,” mentioned linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin, who’s from Mokena within the Chicago suburbs. “It’ll be good to see ‘em.”

There’s at all times a clamor for Illinois sport (and Northwestern) tickets among the many natives when the Gophers go on the highway to Illinois.

“I would like about 30 tickets, so there’s going to be a bandwagon of Nubin supporters on the market,” mentioned security Tyler Nubin, who’s from St. Charles. “So it’s superior.”