Illinois and Bret Bielema need a surprise win – and they are no longer in Kansas

Kansas will dress only 50 players for Saturday's game at Illinois. The rest will try to dress themselves.

Many shoes have “TGIF” written on them. Why? To remind them that their toes go in first.

Look, I'm just kidding about KU. But the truth about No. 19 Kansas (5½) at Illinois (6 p.m., FS1, 890-AM) is that fans will have to do their part to help the Illini pull off a much-needed upset, as this year's first sold-out at the 60,000-plus capacity Memorial Stadium since 2016. Standing up, stomping, chanting and throwing ridiculous, unfounded insults at the crowd are the order of the day that night.

For this Illini team, that means making up for last year's 34-23 loss at Kansas, one of the low points of the Bret Bielema era. The score was 34-7 before the Illini tied meaninglessly. The Jayhawks ran the ball at will, possessing it for nearly 37 minutes and amassing 539 total yards. It was a long, unmistakable step back for Bielema and his program, and a sign of things to come; the Illini fell from third nationally in total defense in 2022 to 63rd in 2023 and from 14th to 109th in time of possession. They finished 5-7 – a total washout after eight wins and what looked like major progress the year before.

To beat a higher-ranked opponent outside of the conference for the first time since 2011, the Illini (1-0) will have to bare their teeth, beat their knuckles bloody and show how important defending their home turf is to them.

“Are we just saying that or are we?” Bielema asked. “Your DNA has to match who you are.”

The Jayhawks (1-0) have gone from two wins to six-nine under coach Lance Leipold, who was a candidate at Illinois before Bielema was hired. They have strong offensive weapons in quarterback Jalon Daniels, running back Devin Neal and receivers Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm, who have put the Illini in trouble once before. But their defense was worse than Illinois' last season, ranked 90th in the run game and is without pass rusher Austin Booker, a name Bears fans know well. The Illini don't need to stop them; they need to score more points than them.

At the height of Bielema's reputation, his Wisconsin teams ran the ball relentlessly. Illinois doesn't play like that, but it has big, strong running backs — most notably Kaden Feagin — and a quarterback in Luke Altmyer who could have a great night throwing the ball and sprinkling in some key runs along the way. This is undoubtedly a game where Altmyer will have to prove himself, too.

Hey, it's just KU, right? And the Illini aren't in Kansas anymore. Surprise, 31-30.

OTHER TIPS FOR WEEK 2

No. 3 Texas (-7½) at No. 10 Michigan (11 a.m., Fox 32): It nearly made a playoff matchup last season, and the Wolverines (1-0) played better with the Longhorns (1-0) in January. Texas has a big advantage at quarterback in Quinn Ewers and the experience of going into the lion's den in Week 2 last year and, led by Ewers' brilliant passing, ending Alabama's 21-game home winning streak. Ann Arbor's 23-game home winning streak – the longest in half a century – also comes to an end. Hook 'Em, 27-20.

Northern Illinois (+28½) at No. 5 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC 5, 780-AM): We already know the Irish (1-0) defense will be one of the best all season. The offense will be more inconsistent. There's no real chance NIU (1-0) will add to its collection of upset wins over power conference schools with a 19th “Boneyard” victory, but expect the veteran Huskies to give it their all in their first-ever nationally televised game. Irish, 31-10.

Colorado (+7) in Nebraska (6:30 p.m., NBC 5, Peacock): Last year in Boulder, it was a loss in which Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter performed like superstars and coach Deion Sanders assured everyone that the Buffs had arrived. Now it's time for revenge for the Huskers, who have so much to gain. The duel between quarterback Sanders – a potential top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft – and the Huskers' true freshman, Dylan Raiola, will be exciting. Big Red, 38-28.

My absolute favorite: No. 21 Iowa (-3) vs. Iowa State (2:30 p.m., CBS 2): Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is back after a one-game suspension for improperly thinking about not punting on fourth-and-1. That was a minor violation of recruiting rules. The Hawkeyes' “D” at home? FIRE.

My favorite outsider: Michigan State (+10) at Maryland (2:30 p.m., BTN): Both teams won their opening games against clear underdogs, although Maryland played far better than MSU. But this is the first Big Ten matchup of the season – the only one this week – and I see these teams ranked 13th (Terrapins) and 14th (Spartans) in the conference. Terps in a close game.

Last week: 3-4 straight, 2-5 against the spread.