Illinois Football holds a Unique Opportunity vs Kansas

This is it. Illinois Football faces the Kansas Jayhawks this Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium. Though a football game against Kansas may not seem like much, this game is the biggest game of the Bret Bielema era. The Illini have the unique opportunity to plant their flag in the ground. Bret Bielema made some statements during the 2022 season. They started 7-1 however did not finish the season as well as they wanted. Bielema and his team missed a unique opportunity to declare themselves to the rest of the country and the entire fanbase.

Since that start, the Illini have gone 7-11 overall. The momentum that was built up during that 2022 season is holding on a thread. Despite the stakes, Illinois football can regain all of that momentum with a win on Saturday evening. 

Eyes on the Illini

Beating a ranked team is one achievement. However, doing it in front of a sold-out home crowd is an opportunity that does not come by very often. Illinois Football has always had a fan problem. Unfortunately, Illini fans tend to check out when the team starts to fade given the recent history. If Illinois can pull off a victory vs the explosive Kansas Jayhawks, against a sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium, the dynamics of the program completely change.

As nervous as this may sound, I do think the Illini are ready to take that step. The team has a heightened focus and seems to be led by a group of guys that are hell-bent on proving the world wrong. It is time to show up and shed the “basketball school” title.

Not a single seat left.#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/HRo9gBHhb9

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) September 4, 2024

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