After further review, Bielema fine with replay change
· Yahoo Sports
Sep. 11—CHAMPAIGN — The fallout from the Michigan-Western Michigan fiasco includes the Big Ten's decision to add more transparency to replay discussions.
That's a change from the earlier, when the Big Ten said it would use expanded network access on replay only for Friday games.
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Now, starting Saturday, all replay reviews will be available to the networks airing the games. Duh. The Big Ten could have saved itself all sorts of trouble had replay rules been different at Michigan Stadium last Saturday night before the Wolverines avoided an upset loss, winning 13-12 on a second-chance Hail Mary.
"Ironically, last year I think it was the ACC that did live replay," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Thursday at the Smith Center. "I know in spring meetings they told us they were going to have a camera in the Big Ten office."
Illinois has two Friday night games scheduled later in the season, so that bit of news was already on Bielema's radar.
Illinois hosts Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 and plays at UCLA the following Friday at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13.
"Obviously, (replay) wasn't live for the game that everybody's talking about," Bielema said. "The last thing that I worry about is the the things that go on in the Big Ten office. I think Tony Petitti and his crew have been awesome about it. Obviously, I know a situation comes up. But those things usually come up every so often. Whichever vantage point you're on, the good thing is that it's happened, and hopefully, we'll be better going forward."
Back in the day
The reality for Bielema and the rest of his Big Ten cohorts is there but for the grace of football gods go I.
Bad calls happen to every school.
It was an Illinois game back in 2000 that pushed the Big Ten, and, ultimately, all of college football to use replay to fix officiating mistakes.
In a night game at Memorial Stadium, officials missed a fumble by Michigan running back Anthony Thomas. Later in the game, the officials mistakenly ruled the Illini's Rocky Harvey had fumbled and gave the ball to the Wolverines.
Then-Illinois coach Ron Turner — who will be attending Saturday's game against Duke to celebrate the 2001 team's Big Ten title — got help on the replay push from Penn State coach Joe Paterno. During a Big Ten coaches meeting, Paterno said that Turner's team had been "robbed." He used a different term if memory serves.
Turner had seen replay work in the NFL. Before he became coach at Illinois in 1997, Turner was Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator.
The 35-31 loss to Michigan in 2000 kept that Illinois team out of a bowl and denied it a chance for consecutive winning seasons.
Getting better
Bielema said his team had a "really good week" of preparation for Duke (1-0), the marquee game on Illinois' nonconference schedule.
The Illini (1-0) worked out in the rain on Thursday morning without any issues.
"We had a couple hot days in a row," Bielema said. "I think the heat's going to return for Saturday. I've been preaching to our guys about that."
Forecasts call for temperatures in the high 70s at the 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
The two teams played in 2025 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., with Illinois creating plenty of turnovers en route to a 45-19 win.
"Both sides of the ball have got so many new personnel, it's kind of almost a different matchup," Bielema said. "You can see the emphasis on the physicality and the run game from Duke overall."
Coming soon
Illinois linebacker Daniel Brown, who missed the season-opening 42-23 victory against UAB with an injury, is closer to returning to the field.
"He's been involved more," Bielema said. "I don't think he'll play on Saturday but a very good chance next week (against Southern Illinois)."
Wide receiver Jayshon Platt, who missed the opener with an injury, is getting closer to being back on the field.
Solid start
Former Illini Gabe Jacas, now a rookie linebacker with the New England Patriots, had a sack during Wednesday night's 13-10 loss at the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL season opener.
Bielema was aware.
"Not surprising," Bielema said. "I think Gabe's a guy since he's been here has been a playmaker. It's kind of cool to watch."
It wasn't all perfect for Jacas, who was called for a penalty on a punt return.
"I will light him up," Bielema said. "He's got to take the good with the bad."