CHAMPAIGN, Unwell. — The start of the 2025 season for Illinois was lengthy. The Illini didn’t have an opportunity to catch their breath till week eight — the newest first bye week within the NCAA.
The end result after their week off? Not good. Illinois was throttled at Washington, shedding 42-25.
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However off a rebound win towards Rutgers, the Illini headed into bye week quantity two, hoping for a special consequence than final time.
“Since I’ve been right here, we’ve got kinda had a bit of little bit of every thing,” stated Illinois head coach Bret Bielema. “We had some on the entrance finish, one yr we had the each on the again finish like this, however that is nearly an identical to final yr.”
Final season noticed Illinois drop a house recreation to Minnesota, earlier than heading into the bye week. The Illini then rattled off three straight wins to finish the common season, one thing Bielema hopes they will replicate this yr.
“There may be numerous similarities [to last season], I believe with the best way we’ve educated our guys,” Bielema stated. “I instructed them the month of November is those you bear in mind, however they’re those you bear in mind since you practice that means. That is when our true grit wants to point out out.”
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The primary bye week didn’t go effectively. Bielema, who’s at all times adapting, determined to make modifications so his workforce doesn’t battle out of the gates once more.
“We really did issues a bit of completely different in our bye-week, to give attention to Maryland Thursday and Friday,” Bielema stated. “Simply to sort of change it up from what we did the Washington week.”
Bielema’s groups are often actually good off the bye week. At Illinois he’s 6-2 following the week off. His observe document is so good, that different Large Ten coaches have taken discover.
“I obtained a name randomly from a Large Ten coach two weeks in the past. We don’t play one another this yr, however they reached out they usually had finished a examine on individuals popping out of the bye weeks and we had a document that was pretty much as good or higher than anyone else within the convention,” Bielema stated. “He was asking questions on what we did, why we did it, the quantity of reps we take, who we give days off. And I believe that’s simply a part of our career. We attempt to study on a regular basis.”
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The Illini hoped they realized sufficient, earlier than taking up Maryland at Gies Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. on FS1.
Bielema additionally famous that the workforce’s bye week prep, isn’t just helpful now, however down the highway too.
“It not solely helps them whereas they’re right here, it helps them sooner or later as effectively.”
