Illinois coach Bret Bielema is keeping things simple. His team is seven and three, and there are only two games left in the regular season. They are in a good position for a strong bowl game. But he also knows what everyone is talking about. He has to take his team back to Madison to face Wisconsin, the school he once coached and the place where he built a lot of memories.
After Illinois beat Maryland twenty four to six, Bielema talked about the outside noise. He said the talk about his return to Madison will be loud. People will make it a big story. But he wants to keep the attention on his players and on the next goal, which is winning a third straight game. He also wants to get his first win against Wisconsin since twenty twenty two.
He said there are many things people will bring up that have nothing to do with the actual game. He knows his time in Wisconsin will be part of the conversation. He said he has great memories there. He even mentioned that he and his wife got married in Madison. But when it comes to football, he wants everyone to remember it is still just one more Big Ten matchup.
Bielema said the narrative will be there no matter what he says. But for him it comes down to Wisconsin and Illinois playing on a Saturday afternoon. He wants the game to be about football, not about old stories or emotional returns.
The game will be played at Camp Randall under the lights. Kickoff is at seven thirty eastern time on Big Ten Network. Illinois enters the game with momentum. Wisconsin does not. The Badgers are three and seven. They failed to pick up a second Big Ten win after losing badly to second ranked Indiana, thirty one to seven.
If Illinois wins, they will have a chance to go nine and three again. They will get that chance next week when they face Northwestern at home for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is trying to play spoiler in what has been a disappointing season under coach Luke Fickell.
Both teams need something. Illinois wants to keep climbing. Wisconsin wants to save pride. And once again, something has to give.