Illinois' Bret Bielema Explains Rareness Of Week 2 Matchup Vs. Kansas

Coach Bret Bielema met with the media Thursday morning ahead of Illinois' matchup with Kansas Saturday night in Champaign.

Aug 29, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema hugs running back Josh McCray (6) before the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Coach Bret Bielema is familiar with ranked non-conference games early in the college football season, but it's new for an Illinois program slowly building toward success.

Despite the Illini dropping last season's game against Kansas 34-23, Bielema says there is a different energy entering Saturday night's game (7 p.m. ET, FS1) at Memorial Stadium.

Bielema cited past experiences of playing a ranked non-conference opponent this early in the season. He mentioned a 13-10 victory against Fresno State in September of 2008 as one of the few times he was put in this scenario.

"To play a ranked non-conference opponent this time of the schedule is pretty rare," Bielema said. "Even in my coaching career, being in this league for as long as I have been, we've had ranked opponents early on."

Bielema views Illinois versus Kansas as a potentially significant turning point for both programs.

"When this schedule was created back in the day, Kansas was in a different place. Illinois was in a different place," Bielema said. "They probably threw these two teams together thinking two conferences that are going to be good matchups. Obviously, there's been a change in both programs, thankfully for the better. I'm excited to see where it goes."

Bielema said Illinois' home crowd environment could play a factor. It's the team's first sellout since 2016 and the second of three home games to begin the season.

Illinois last began a season 2-0 in 2019, the program's lone bowl appearance under then-coach Lovie Smith.

Zain Bando is a contributor to Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at zainbando99@gmail.com or follow him on X @zainbando99