Bret Bielema welcoming challenge of hosting juggernaut Ohio State

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Despite there being an eight-year hiatus in the rivalry between the Fighting Illini and the Buckeyes, anticipation is high for the 104th matchup between the two teams for many reasons.

After all, this will be the first time since 2001 that both teams enter the series in the AP Top-25, and Ohio State happens to be No. 1. Although the Fighting Illini upset the numero uno Buckeyes back in 2007, they’ve lost nine-straight in the rivalry, and that’s a narrative their head coach desperately wants to change.

Bret Bielema has No. 17 Illinois (5-1) playing at a high level, and with confidence. There’s no denying this will be the perfect opportunity for Bielema to earn a signature win with the program, and bring Illibuck back to Champaign. Not to mention he has the pieces in place to accomplish that feat Saturday afternoon. However, Bielema understand that the Buckeyes are unbeaten, and loaded, so it’s going to be a huge challenge for his squad.

“This is something that has always been a big game, and and when you play Ohio State it’s a really good opportunity to see where you stand in College football,” Bielema said. “They have held up their end of the bargain, and hopefully we’ll start to hold up ours.”

The Fighting Illini have already faced adversity after a blowout loss at Indiana in week four, so they’re not taking anything for granted. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is performing like a Heisman candidate, with a high completion percentage, 15 total touchdowns and no interceptions. Altmyer is truly a gunslinger who makes others around him better, including wideout Hank Beatty, and Bielema feels this will be a legacy-defining game for him.

Coach Ryan Day is one of the Big Ten’s best, and everyone knows he studies film of the opposition. Illinois had to settle for five field goals on the road last week at Purdue, and Bielema is determined not to let that happen again against a vaunted Ohio State team. Still, he believes the Fighting Illini are just starting to crack the surface of their true potential.

“I don’t know if we ever played a game yet where we put it all together for four quarters, and there’ll be no better time than this week,” he said. “This is a team that you need your best at opening snap to the last snap.”

Ohio State’s defense is only allowing five points per game, which currently ranks No. 1 in the FBS, and has a plethora of elite weapons on offense. Illinois is dealing with a lot of injuries on defense, especially in the secondary, but Bielema isn’t using that as an excuse, and expects to field a hungry team. This game will be defined by the trenches, and it’s going to come down to which team wants it more. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas is a menace off the edge, already has four sacks, and Bielema plans on unleashing him on Julian Sayin.

A noon kickoff doesn’t mean the crowd won’t be rocking. As a matter of fact, Bielema hopes to have an all hands on deck-type of atmosphere. He will even have alumni Juice Williams on the sideline, who was the last Illinois signal-caller to beat Ohio State. The FOX Big Noon Kickoff crew will be in the building, recruits will be in attendance, and Bielema intends on taking advantage of the spotlight.

“If you come to College football, these moments really don’t happen that often, and I’ve been a head coach 17 years, and the amount of times I get these moments have been very few,” the 55-year old said. “To realize a moment that you’re in, to take advantage of it, so I told our players to create a special memory for these moments, and what you do with that moment makes the memory.”

Illinois already defeated a ranked USC team at home this season, so something has to give. Bielema just wants the fans to be loud, and rattle Sayin when he’s behind center, knowing it’s going to take an effort from everyone to pull off this victory.

“I need our crew at Memorial Stadium to be the best as they’ve ever been.”