Despite upsetting Kansas last week, the Illnois Fighting Illini know they have yet to accomplish anything.

There is still plenty left to prove but they have earned respect around the college football world. The latest show of this comes from a Nebraska Cornhuskers-related website. The site Cornhuskerswire moved the Illini up in its list of toughest remaining opponents.

The Illini is now at No. 5, ahead of Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue and UCLA.

“Illinois is moving up on the list following a 24-17 upset win over No. 19 Kansas,” Cornhuskerswire wrote. “The Fighting Illini battled the Jayhawks throughout the night. Down 17-13 heading into the fourth, Illinois broke through Kansas’s defense, scoring 10 unanswered to earn the win.

“This was largely due to IIllinois’s defense, which forced three interceptions and one fumble on the night. One of the interceptions also resulted in a pick-six for the Fighting Illini. With IIllinois’s defense on the rise, the team is one to look out for.” 

The site lists Rutgers, Iowa, USC and Ohio State as Nebraska’s four toughest opponents left. Of course, this all depends if the Illini get past Central Michigan this week in the final non-conference game.

They are focused on preventing Saturday from becoming a “trap” game.

“Everybody is about to pat these guys on the back and this next game that we’re about to walk into, most people would label it a trap game,” Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “If you come in sleepwalking, the team we’re about to play is a really, really, really talented. We have been having this conversation since the end of spring ball.” 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

Follow our coverage on Facebook

X: @IlliniNowOnSI

DNA testing on skeletal remains found in a car pulled from an Illinois river confirmed they are those of two men who vanished in 1976 after leaving a farm auction, authorities said.

Testing performed by the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services confirmed they are the remains of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.

Hawley, 72, of Stockton, Illinois, and Owens, 65, of Freeport, Illinois, vanished after leaving a farm auction on Feb. 19, 1976, near the Winnebago-Ogle county line, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said

Hawley was a real estate broker in Freeport, while Owens was a salesperson in Hawley’s firm.

“This bring us one step closer to providing closure to the families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley who have waited many years for answers that have been affected by this tragic case,” Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said in a statement.

In March, people fishing along the Pecatonica River discovered a submerged vehicle in the river using a sonar fish finder. Recovery crews then used a crane to pull the 1966 Chevrolet Impala sedan from the river in the village of Pecatonica, the Rockford Register Star reported.

The men had left the farm auction in that vehicle, authorities said.

More than 100 bones were retrieved from the vehicle and the river at the site about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Chicago. DNA extracted from the bones was compared with DNA profiles from the men’s relatives to identify them.

Before the DNA testing, the remains were examined by a forensic anthropologist in St. Louis, Missouri, who found no evidence of trauma.

Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski told WIFR-TV that how the two men died is still unknown, but no foul play is suspected.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema started the preparation the moment after last Saturday’s victory against Kansas.

He immediately told the players to forget about it, move on and look toward to the next challenge. The Illini have no plans of falling victim to a “trap game” against Central Michigan before opening play next week at Nebraska.

Judging from what was said this week, the Illini are 100 percent focused on Saturday.

Running backs coach Thad Ward: “They’re all big games, This one right here coming up is a big game. The next game is a big game. I always tell the guys so they can just stay in the moment … When you’re playing good teams, it’s going to be some highs, some lows. You’ve just got to stay poised and continue to write your story.” 

Defensive coordinator Aaron Henry: “Everybody is about to pat these guys on the back and this next game that we’re about to walk into, most people would label it a trap game. If you come in sleepwalking, the team we’re about to play is a really, really, really talented. We have been having this conversation since the end of spring ball.” 

Receiver Pat Bryant: “It gave us a little confidence but just winning any college football game is pretty tough. Beating a team like Kansas was a great, great win but we had a good game but it’s a lot of things we can learn from that game and move forward.” 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

Follow our coverage on Facebook

X: @IlliniNowOnSI