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The Duke Blue Devils are no longer the football pushover that they've been for most of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, something Illinois football found out first-hand on Saturday in a 31-27 home loss. 

The Blue Devils won the ACC championship last year and have now won eight or more games eight times since 2010, making them a legitimately strong program.

None of that did anything to dissuade Illinois coach Bret Bielema from feeling disappointed, upset, and everything in between after Saturday's loss, which started on a high note and ended in a huge letdown for a team with College Football Playoff aspirations.

Bielema's Emotions Come to the Forefront 

Bielema had a hard time containing his emotions after the game so he described them to the media as best he could when asked about Illinois failing to beat Duke. 

"When it doesn't happen, you're upset, you're pissed, you're mad, you're angry, and I definitely fall into that category," Bielema said to Carson Gourdie of FOX Illinois. 

"My Saturdays are always better when I got two girls at home that love to have a fun time, and when you don't have success, it just sits with you for seven days, right?

Bielema took blame for the loss and pledged to do a better job in the future.

"I ask them to have big eyes and ears tomorrow. As coaches, we need to set the standard early on in the meetings to accept the things that we need to do better, and hopefully put ourselves in a position to get back on track sooner than later." 

Southern Illinois Next for Bielema's Team 

The Southern Illinois Salukis are next up for Illinois before Sept. 26's Big Ten opener at Ohio State with the Salukis coming off of a 34-28 win over Southeast Missouri State. 

Quarterback DJ Williams, a senior from Harvey, Illinois, led SIU in passing in that contest with 286 yards while 6-foot-3 junior receiver Kyle Thomas led in receiving yards with 144. 

The Salukis' playmakers give them enough firepower to hang with Bielema's Fighting Illini meaning that the Illini players and coaches will need to be on full alert in their week of film study, practice and preparation. 

The Fighting Illini have won all four previous meetings between the two schools with their last win coming by a score of 42-34 in 2013. All four previous meetings have been played in Champaign, Illinois, where next week's game will be played prior to the following week's road game in Columbus against the Buckeyes. 

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