Bielema, Illini turn attention to Buckyes

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Sep. 22—CHAMPAIGN — During Bret Bielema's time as an Iowa player and assistant coach, wins at Ohio Stadium were hard to come by.

It didn't get much easier when he went to Wisconsin as the Badgers' defensive coordinator and then coach.

"I have never won over there," Bielema said during his Monday afternoon press conference at Gies Memorial Stadium.

Actually, he has. If the Ohio State records are accurate — and why wouldn't they be? — Bielema won there both as an Iowa player in 1991 and during his first season as the Wisconsin defensive coordinator in 2004. Perhaps the other games in Columbus — all losses — dulled the joy of the two victories.

Does Bielema have a favorite Ohio Stadium moment?

"I ran two punt fakes in one game against them," he said. "One worked and one didn't. I probably should have just stopped after the first one."

He remembers being on the field with former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

"We're standing at midfield and I said, 'Man, I love my Ohio guys. Every one we get, we do really well,'" Bielema recalled. "He said, 'I know.'"

Players on the current Ohio State roster Bielema has recruited to try to come to Illinois. And there will be more in the future.

Bielema gets another shot this Saturday at Ohio Stadium with Illinois. His team is a 27 1/2-point underdog for the 11 a.m. kickoff.

Probably not the Big Ten opener Bielema would have requested given a choice.

"I have the utmost respect for not just Ohio State but Ryan (Day) and what he's built and what he's been able to do," Bielema said. "Super excited about the opportunity."

No. 7 Ohio State (2-1) is the first ranked opponent the Illini (2-1) will play this season and likely the last until Oregon visits Gies Memorial Stadium on Oct. 24.

Been there, done that

Illinois starting quarterback Katin Houser knows what is like to play at Ohio State as a visitor. He was there with Michigan State in 2023, but likely won't want to repeat what happened then. Ohio State easily defeated the Spartans 38-3 as Houser went 12 of 24 for 92 yards.

That experience should help Illinois on Saturday.

"It's a big deal," Bielema said. "I texted him Saturday night and just said, 'Man, I can't tell you how impressed I am with who you are and what you represent.' What I don't know is the things I've never done with him. I don't know all the intangibles that factor into a young man's mind."

Houser only plays one position. Half the Illinois roster is new, adding to Bielema's excitement about the potential of Illinois ending a 10-game losing streak against the Buckeyes.

"I don't know what my left tackle Christian Martin is going to be like on the road as the starter against Ohio State," Bielema said.

Golden moment

Former Illinois standout Gabe Jacas, now with the New England Patriots, had his first career interception on Sunday. Not just first in the NFL. But at any level.

Bielema didn't buy it.

"Somebody told me Gabe Jacas had an interception," Bielema said. "I said, '(B.S.) that did not happen,'" Bielema said.

Bielema called Jacas on Monday to congratulate him after he helped the Patriots beat the Steelers 20-3 in Foxborough, Mass.

Big bucks

Bielema admits to getting a bit annoyed last summer when he heard the disparity in salaries Big Ten teams were spending to build their rosters.

"I thought we were all staying within a parameter that we were going to be," he said. "When that didn't become reality, I said, 'We can only blame ourselves.' I think it's insane but it's absolutely awesome what's going on in college football right now."

He would like everyone to use the same limits. That is unlikely.

"When this came up, I said, 'Hey, if I'm within $2 million of Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan, I'm good,'" Bielema said. "When I'm within $25 million, I'm not so good."

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