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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 8h

Know the Foe: Purdue Boilermakers @nwbaird on Year Two of the Barry Odom era, QB Ryan Browne's improvement, Kevin Kane's struggling defense, what Saturday's game against #illini means for Purdue and his score prediction

247sports.com

Know the Foe: The Indy Star's Nathan Baird previews Purdue Boilermakers vs. Illinois

The Indy Star's Nathan Baird breaks down Illinois football's Week Five opponent, the Purdue Boilermakers

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 8h

Illini Inquirer AM: Wednesday, Sept. 30 — ☕️ Your morning jolt of #illini news 🔮 Bielema's long-term options at defensive coordinator? 📺 Top 5 Big Ten games this weekend 🎙️ On the mic: J Leman on Bobby Hauck's exit, what's next

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer AM: Bielema's long-term options at defensive coordinator?; Top 5 Big Ten games this weekend

Get the latest Illini news explained, including Bret Bielema's long-term options at defensive coordinator

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Illini Inquirer AM: Tuesday, Sept. 29 — ☕️ Your morning jolt of #illini news 🤐 Bielema mum on defensive plan after Hauck's exit 🏛️ Protect College Sports Act passes Senate ⭐️ Recruit recap: Newman shines, Alexis dominates 🏈 Illini in NFL recap

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer AM: Bielema mum on plan after Hauck's exit; More strong performances from Illini skill commits

Get the latest Illini news explained, including the Senate passing the Protect College Sports Act

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema said he they are where they are "because I didn't know what our identity was" on defense. Still excited about the players on defense. "I just want to get their feet in the ground and play more aggressive." Don't know if they're comfortable enough now.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Where the long-term goes "depends a lot on what happens the next eight games." Do believe there's good things this 3-3-5 package can bring, but we can do a better job of maximizing our players than maximizing our calls.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: There will be a chance in who's up in the press box and who's on the field -- but doesn't specify who or in what roles

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: There were some things we got to do better at specifically, which can make us better overall. We want to maximize our players' strengths and minimize their weaknesses and improve communication.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Robby Hauck "was absolutely awesome" after the decision for Bobby's exit.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema not sharing who is calling plays or game-planning.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: We have a succession plan in place. Defense is on lockdown this week. No coach or player will talk with media this week.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Didn't quite expect it to happen like that, but I understand why Bobby said what he had to say.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema said he had no intentions of letting go of Bobby Hauck. He felt this wasn't working for him, which affected the staff and the players. He didn't think that was attainable the way it was going.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: OL Champ Smith will likely be out this week. OL Maika Matelau and Brandon Henderson cleared to practice this week. WR Jayshon Platt should return to practice this week. We'll see how the week goes.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Took an inventory Sunday morning with our staff, coaches and players. Had an open mind. Took a deep dive into the calls, our mindset, our physicality. A lot of things to get corrected.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: QB Katin Houser "is just a warrior." Was already impressed with him through three games, but Saturday was a "really, really good performance for him."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: Purdue has familiar faces with a few defenders (DL Curt Neal, LB Jojo Hayden) and DC Kevin Kane, who he respects a lot as a coach.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. said several plays in the red zone were their own mistakes, which is tough to take and they have to learn from. Has brought up the 3rd-and-2 when it was 28-13 multiple time, which eventually led to a turnover on downs.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. credits OL coach Bart Miller for developing depth on offensive line to help them compete despite rash of injuries. "Bart is a very good teacher. Bart is a very good coach."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. talked at length about Brayden Trimble will take a lot from the Ohio State game. Showed a lot of physicality as a blocker and made some contested catches, but like the team, needed to make a few more plays. Will learn the details it takes to make 'em.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: I liked the way we competed. I thought our guys competed really hard. We increased our intensity. The negatives, we didn't score when we needed to score. Left a lot of points off the board because we didn't execute.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema meeting with us reporters at 1 p.m. Obviously, a lot of questions about what's next on defense. OC Barry Lunney Jr. will chat with us first at 12:30.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Illini Inquirer AM: Monday, Sept. 28 — ☕️ Your morning jolt of #illini news explained ❓Remaining questions after Bobby Hauck's quick exit 💣 Illini open favorite over Purdue ⏪ Big Ten rewind: B1G West's big weekend 🏐 Illini VB season-changing weekend

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer AM: Remaining questions after Hauck's quick exit; Illini VB's season-changing weekend

Get the latest Illini news explained, including Illinois volleyball's big weekend of two ranked wins

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

NEWS: #illini have parted ways with defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck after four games

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The #illini offense missed opportunities at Ohio State. But after running and passing for more yards against the Buckeyes than anyone during the last two seasons, the UI offense looked dangerous. "We can go compete with anybody in the country."

247sports.com

Illini offense rues missed chances but shows it can 'compete with anybody in the country' in loss at OSU

The Illini put up more yards against Ohio State than any Buckeyes opponent of the last two seasons

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini DB Matthew Bailey: There's a lot of new stuff, so you're going to find things in the season you haven't seen before or problems or areas of concern that might not have arose yet. Being able to adapt to those things is the biggest key moving forward into Big Ten play.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini DB Matthew Bailey: There were times we had them held up, and we couldn't get off the field.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini QB Katin Houser said the offense knows it can compete with anyone in the country but just made too many mistakes, which is what is eating at him right now.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: We should know our strengths and weaknesses in all phases. Have to play to our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. We have to give guys a chance to make plays.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema on defense: Obviously it's unacceptable. We got to make sure we're doing things that make sense in the moment we're in. Gave up too many deep balls. We just can't give them free plays down the field. That' a big thing for me.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema said he felt Ohio State seemed to know what Illinois was running defensively on two plays, so we have to see if we're tipping anything.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Really got to look at what we're doing on defensively and if we're doing too much.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema said "we lost another guard" in Champ Smith but said Maika Matelau and Brandon Henderson are very close to returning.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Obviously very disappointed. Showed up to play a competitive four-quarter game.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

FINAL: Ohio State 42, #illini 19 Jeremiah Smith 12 receptions for 217 yards, 4 TDs Julian Sayin 27-36 for 367 yards, 5 total TDs Katin Houser 21-37, 263 yards, 1 TD Aidan Laughery 11 carries for 113 yards

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini RB Aidan Laughery with his third 100+ yard rushing game of his career. He's been the Illini's best RB this season.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith with a career-high 11 receptions for a career-high 205 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Ohio State 35, #illini 13

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Matthew Bailey with the #illini's first tackle for loss today.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini drive stalls inside the red zone as the ball to Collin Dixon gets broken up. A real shame on what was a promising drive. Third third-down loss for Jordan Anderson was the killer. Illinois just hasn't been able to finish drives.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

END 3Q: Ohio State 28, #illini 13 Heyo, Illinois won that quarter 3-0. Aidan Laughery one yard away from his third 100+ yard rushing game.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini officially in the red zone (inside the 20) for the first time today.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#illini into Ohio State territory for the sixth time in seven drives. Gotta finish this one in the end zone though to actually threaten them. Hudson Clement with five receptions for 87 yards.

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