Tate Loss doesn't make task of changing attitudes any easier

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Sep. 14—It was an extraordinary football weekend that saw the two Big Ten favorites, Ohio State and Oregon, join the Illini in stunning disappointments. What follows are four burning takes from Saturday's scramble.

(1) Is the new UI defensive system unworkable at this level, or are the linemen simply lacking in NFL-level talent required of conference contenders?

Conclusion: It's equal proportions of both as the Illini permitted 43 first downs in two outings.

In the opener against UAB, the defense permitted 17 rushes of five yards or more, and gave up 194 ground yards while managing one sack. The Illini won with four huge plays, including a 65-yard punt return and a Hail Mary, avoiding early trouble because four UAB drives were chilled by Blazer penalties. Illinois tackling was already a major concern.

Against Duke on Saturday, the Illini again had a single sack amid surprisingly effective passes by Walker Eget (15 of 21 for 206 yards), and never got sensational Nate Sheppard under control. Sheppard bulled and darted for 147 yards, caught five passes for 41 and scored three touchdowns.

Coach Bret Bielema sent out alarm bells last month when he noted that, in rebuilding the offensive line, he lacked the millions of name, image and likeness dollars necessary to acquire high-level defensive talent. Thus the conversion to the 3-3-5 system.

This Illini D-line ranks near the bottom in Big Ten evaluations. Gabe Jacas and James Thompson Jr., who each started all 13 games last year, are in the NFL. Five other departed transfers, now playing elsewhere, started 19 games in 2025 compared to a single start by currently available UI returnees Joe Barna, Pat Farrell and Mason Muragin. Utah State's Will Holmes has been a positive addition and Jacksonville State transfer Darrell Prater is handling the nose.

Passing fancy

(2) Will Katin Houser match the performances of his quarterback predecessor, Luke Altmyer?

Conclusion: As a captain, Houser has high leadership qualities to match his exceptional throwing ability, and he will run when necessary.

But Altmyer had a special talent for game-ending situations, as we saw with his frequent fourth-quarter heroics. Bielema's teams have become expectant of winning when they trail 31-27 with nearly 14 minutes left and have three possessions on their way.

However, coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who called a brilliant aerial game for three quarters, shifted to runs on 10 of the last 15 plays and they netted 1, 4, 2, 2, 4, 2, 1, 6, 1 and minus 1. Houser threw the young season's only interception on third-and-8 with the clock under eight minutes, and threw an incompletion toward the brilliant Collin Dixon on the UI's final play. Dixon had 135 of his 166 yards in the first half.

It just means more?

(3) Is former Alabama coach Nick Saban correct in saying SEC football has once again surpassed the Big Ten?

Conclusion: Yes, results so far would indicate the SEC is better on top and deeper in the middle. Texas probably deserved its No. 1 ranking on Sunday after rallying from a 23-3 deficit to defeat Ohio State, 24-23.

Oregon opened the season slowly, barely getting past Boise State, and lost to Oklahoma State. In other meaningful games, Purdue fell to Wake Forest in a controversial double-overtime game, and Minnesota was routed by Mississippi State. And then there's Duke defeating Illinois.

Iowa was typically unimpressive in rallying to edge Iowa State, 16-13, and Washington barely held off Utah State, 16-14. Rutgers was embarrassed by Massachusetts and a loser to Boston College.

Yes, Michigan is 2-0 but the "extra-second win" over Western Michigan will linger even as the Wolverines used a late-game pass interception to break a 10-10 tie with Oklahoma Saturday. Arkansas joined Oklahoma as the only other SEC loser (to No. 20 Utah).

Georgia, LSU and resurgent Alabama deserved to join Texas in sharing high poll positions with untested Notre Dame, Indiana and Miami … although Ohio State remains high in that group.

Much fanfare

(4) Do these sellouts demonstrate that Illinois has become a "football school?"

Conclusion: Not really. While Josh Whitman has turned the stadium into a masterpiece of lights and video magic, featuring a giant American flag and football's best anthem singer (Jim Cornelison) along with the Marching Illini, there were holes in the "sellout" at the outset, and thousands had left the heated stands shortly after halftime of a tossup game.

Nineteen wins in the last two seasons have not put rabid into Illini fan behavior. There are more doubts than certainties, and Saturday's loss didn't make Bielema's task of changing attitudes any easier … particularly when so many are satisfied with the TV version in an air-conditioned living room with their refrigerator around the corner.

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