Illinois
What Bret Bielema said after No. 20 Illinois lost to No. 1 Oregon football
EUGENE — No. 1 Oregon defeated No. 20 Illinois 38-9 Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Bret Bielema recapped the loss for Illinois (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten), which hosts Minnesota next week.
Below is a transcript of Bielema’s postgame press conference.
No. 1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 20 Illinois (6-1, 3-1)
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26
- Time: 12:30 p.m. PT
- Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
- TV channel: CBS
- Stream: Watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a cable provider, use your login information to watch this game on cbssports.com.
- Oregon Ducks football 2024 season schedule, scores
- Sign up for The Ducks Beat newsletter
BRET BIELEMA
Opening Statement…
“Give credit to Oregon. Obviously a really good football team, and they played very, very well especially that first half. I was very disappointed in the results of the first half. I take ownership on that as a head coach. Obviously didn’t have enough preparation or execution. I really felt good about our work week and the energy from our guys going in. We talked all week about this crew…the way they want to play the game, offense, defense. When they strike, they strike hard and fast. We put ourselves into a position to be where we are. The first quarter was just too much to overcome. I went in at halftime and basically went in to both sides of the ball and the players and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to treat it like this: we won the coin toss, we’re taking the ball, we’re going to play the second half like we’re starting over.’ I thought our guys took that to heart and did some things. We just couldn’t capitalize on it in time. We had two or three opportunities where we walked away with zero points inside the red area. You’re not going to win many games, let alone (against) the No. 1 team in the country. Several guys got banged up. I don’t really know anything update wise. A couple guys with head issues, a couple guys with soft tissue things. I don’t think there’s anything significant or season ending, but we’ll see where we’re at when I have more information on that.”
On areas of disappointment in defense…
“Probably tackling. I think we have to leverage the ball and get the ball down. We knew No. 15 was an explosive player. We had to know where he was on every formation, and he was the guy that had that first score. Came all the way across from one sideline to the next. I think our preparation…we have to understand when we’re playing a player of that caliber we can’t give normal answers. We have to have a better understanding of what we’re trying to do to win the game. Some growing experience there for us on how we game plan. Then, obviously, with a quarterback of his stature, he was pretty much able to complete his passes at will. He was very efficient with the ball on early downs and third downs as well. So, a lot of things that hopefully we will hopefully make corrections for.”
On Luke Altmyer’s performance…
“Luke is a tremendous competitor. I would like to have come up with some points. I think that the interception was one he probably wishes he had back. I don’t know if he didn’t see the coverage there, but he’s been so steady for us. We’re here where we are today because of what he’s done and we will continue to move forward because of that but everybody has a lot to learn. I think we have to do a better job of protecting him, making sure we can give him the answers. If there’s breaks in pressure, we have to give him an answer so he doesn’t get hit. Also, if we can do anything with him to change the pocket or do some things right. He’s got very good feet, he’s very athletic and the guys can continue to play around him.”
On answering defensive pressure…
“I know they changed up one pressure today, what we call ‘pop a guy out.’ They brought a full man today, seven-man protection. In the answer, we weren’t there and [Altmyer] had to get rid of it in a hurry. Also, there was a couple of red-area sequences where we broke down on protection, as well as the delivery of the run game. It was frustrating but I was very happy that our guys responded in the second half. We’re not trying to get a consolation prize, but I told the guys at halftime that I needed them to show up, play and compete and they did that.”
On redzone breakdowns…
“In particular, there was some of that in the low red. Those are almost like two-point plays in execution. We have to look closely at what we’re doing there. We have to change the pocket. We have to do something to move them. The execution of the run game down low. A lot of teams will try to just run the ball in rather than have any chance of throw game. I think there was one time where we ran Josh McCray up inside and gained four or five. Maybe we need to take a closer look at the run game in the red area.”
On refocusing after loss…
“I think the things that got us to where we are now are what we have to go forward with. Whatever our record was. We were 6-1 last week. We’re trying to go 1-0 every week. Now we’re a 6-2 football team. Everybody is going to have opinions on what I need to do. I think our guys know that Minnesota is coming to town in a rematch game for us. That could mean a lot of things down the road. I think these guys enjoy playing together. It definitely hurt them today. You could see it at halftime. I liked the energy they gave coming out at the half. Obviously, a lot of long faces in there tonight, as they should be. We’ll have to make sure that Oregon doesn’t get us twice. We’re going to have to do what we have to do on Sunday, get a flush, take a jump heading into Minnesota like we do with every game. Monday will be a great day for our guys to reset and come back in on Tuesday and get a work week.”
On difficulty of Oregon’s speed…
“Especially at certain positions, you can tell on film, offense, defense, special teams. They take a lot of pride in that. They strike in all three phases. I think that was very apparent in the first quarter and even towards the end of the second. They put themselves in a position to make multiple scores. Defensively, we didn’t have the right answers putting pressure on. [Gabriel] was just getting the ball out so quickly, they weren’t going to let you get him. That is something we have to identify and make sure that we’re playing out of coverage.”
On secondary defense…
“Jaheim Clarke has been a guy that I would say has been continually impressive since fall camp. When Tyson Rooks went down, when Torrie Cox went out, and Kaleb Patterson went out…those three guys were out of the game before halftime. Those are difficult things to heal. Those guys came in by committee. Tyler Strain also went out, so our backup for Xavier Scott went down, so that’s what brought Rooks in there. I like the fact that he got that nice pick and made an advancement. Got the chance to change the game a little bit there. Obviously, we couldn’t capitalize on it offensively, but he did his part to make that moment.”
— James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.
A University of Chicago college student is among the 2026 Rhodes Scholars announced this weekend.
Tori Harris, a fourth-year in the College at UChicago, will attend Oxford University in England next fall with a goal of earning a master of science in African Studies and archaeology.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected to study as a Rhodes Scholar,” Harris said in a University of Chicago news release. “There’s a part of me that feels like this is a little surreal, but I’m excited to be given this opportunity to study what I love at Oxford. I’m hoping to do right by the people who set me on this journey as I move forward in my work.”
Harris is the 56th University of Chicago student to be named a Rhodes Scholar, and the third to earn the honor in the past 12 months.
“Tori has not only exhibited remarkable creativity during her time in the College, but also demonstrated the effectiveness of community-based knowledge—a hallmark of public archaeology,” Melina Hale, Dean of the College at UChicago, said in the news release. “We’re incredibly proud of her and this achievement.”
Harris studies anthropology and creative writing at the U of C. She has focused on excavating the legacy of the African diaspora to recover African American culture and history, the university said.
Harris, who grew up in Tulsa, had her first experience with archaeology when she researched and excavated the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the university said.
“My path in archaeology started when I volunteered during the riot’s centennial anniversary,” Harris said in the release. “I was 16 years old, and had a role in mapping smaller community sites that shaped the city and those neighborhoods for years to come. However, it wasn’t until my second year at UChicago that I became interested in African diasporic religious practices and started studying the connection between those practices and the revolutionary theory of those who were enslaved.”
The Rhodes House noted that Harris has conducted archaeological excavations elsewhere across the U.S., including New Orleans, where she helped excavate the Duncan Plaza public park. She also served as a research assistant at the Midlow Center for New Orleans Studies and at the Chicago History Museum, the Rhodes House said.
Harris is currently working on her B.A. paper on material culture — the study of the objects, spaces, and resources that people use to define themselves, the U of C said. Harris excavated artifacts at the Woodland Plantation in Louisiana last summer, and she used her creative writing skills to weave the information from the excavation into narratives, the university said.
Harris has also had her creative writing, including a set of poems and short stories, published in Blacklight Magazine.
At Oxford, Harris hopes to lean on the U.K.’s history of public archaeology, which she said has a focus on community involvement that she admires.
“There is a project in the outskirts of Cardiff that uses local volunteers at their archaeological sites to not only help out with research but also to care for the site,” Harris said in the release. “It’s honestly the reason why I want to be in the U.K. I want to learn what the best way to reach community members is and how to involve them and their local expertise in the discovery of history that is right in their backyards.”
Community involvement has come into play in archaeological excavations on which Harris has already worked. The university noted that during the Duncan Park excavation in New Orleans, some area residents came by, including the third great-grandson of a resident who once lived in the neighborhood and is now working with the excavation project himself.
Also among the 2026 Rhodes scholars is William Lieber, a fifth-generation Illinoisan who grew up in Springfield and graduated from Duke University in North Carolina in May. Lieber earned a B.A. in health and incarceration, a program at Duke that involves examining the intersection of medical science, ethics, education, and criminal and restorative justice.
Lieber, who transferred to Duke from Illinois Wesleyan, is focused on advancing prison reform and improving reentry programs and systems for those who have served time, Duke said.
Lieber has already co-led education-focused programs in prisons throughout North Carolina, and worked with Duke Hospital and the Durham Sheriff’s office to examine the issue of insurance among rearrested patients, Duke said. He also worked as an EMT and restorative justice facilitator, and led an interview team working with gun violence victims in Durham, North Carolina, to provide information for policy reform.
At Oxford, Lieber will pursue a master of science in education and in criminology and criminal justice.
The Oregon State women’s basketball team put on a late burst to beat Illinois 64-59 at Gill Coliseum on Friday night.
Oregon State took a one-bucket lead into the fourth quarter, but Kennedie Shuler out of Barlow High converted a layup to spark a late six-point surge that put the game out of reach. Teammate Tiara Bolden added a 3-pointer, and the Beavers held a 62-54 lead with less than a minute to play.
Oregon State’s defense made the difference, holding Illinois to 20-of-59 (33.9%) shooting and forcing 11 turnovers.
Bolden finished with a game-high 25 points, while Shuler added eight points and five assists. The Beavers shot 25-for-48 (52.1%) as a team.
Oregon State (3-0) is back in action at home at 11 a.m. Tuesday against Utah State.
CHICAGO – Illinois police now have more flexibility when responding to domestic violence cases involving juveniles.
What we know:
A new law ends the long-standing rule that police must arrest juveniles accused of domestic violence.
Instead, officers can now refer them to counseling, family services, or other programs that help address the root of the problem, according to Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser.
The law, known as Public Act 104-0290, was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August. Mosser and State Rep. Matt Hanson led the effort to change the law.
Why it matters:
Since 1986, officers under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act have had to make arrests in nearly every domestic violence case, even when the situation involved a child. The intention was to protect victims and ensure accountability.
Sometimes, however, Mosser said that approach did more harm than good.
“Throughout my career as a prosecutor, I have specialized in domestic violence cases and seen how this behavior is often learned and passed down through generations,” she said in a statement. “Because research shows that young people’s brains are still developing, we must treat them differently from adults. Our Juvenile Justice Center is filled with youth accused of domestic violence, and many of them need counseling or family support, not detention. This law gives officers the flexibility to connect kids and families to the help they need instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all response.”
Rep. Hanson added, “Allowing law enforcement to use discretion in response to juvenile domestic violence situations is overdue, and they now have the ability to help and support young people when diversion is a safe alternative to an arrest.”
What’s next:
The law took effect on Thursday.
Mosser’s office is offering training for police departments across the state to help them learn how to apply the new rules.
The Source: The information in this story came from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Mud, sweat and cheers: Volunteers plant mangroves to protect Louisiana coast from erosion
Arlington National Cemetery’s new exhibit showcases rare artifact from USS Maine explosion
Chilly, windy weather in Maryland Monday, rain to return Tuesday
Michigan State basketball responds to early tongue-lashing ahead of featured matchup
Massachusetts water resources body punts on permanently dumping sewage into Charles River
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: Border Patrol Descends on Charlotte, N.C.
Trump calls on House Republicans to vote to release Epstein files: ‘We have nothing to hide’
Baby or ballot? Members of the EU Parliament won’t have to choose
FAA to lift all restrictions on commercial flights
New Videos, Data and Reporting Give a Detailed Account of the Camp Mystic Disaster
-
Nebraska1 week agoWhere to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game
-
Hawaii1 week agoMissing Kapolei man found in Waipio, attorney says
-
Vermont5 days agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
Southwest1 week agoTexas launches effort to install TPUSA in every high school and college
-
New Jersey1 week agoPolice investigate car collision, shooting in Orange, New Jersey
-
West Virginia6 days ago
Search for coal miner trapped in flooded West Virginia mine continues for third day
-
Seattle, WA1 week agoSoundgarden Enlist Jim Carrey and Seattle All-Stars for Rock Hall 2025 Ceremony
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoHere’s the snow forecast for Metro Detroit heading into next week
