The Field Pass

Illini Sports podcast from Hosted by @MDFlash_7, @AyBayBalas, & @SoupOrSaladino.

[Tom Fornelli @TomFornelli]

Illinois gets another one.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Top Illini Week 10 PFF Grades vs. Nebraska (min. 10 snaps)

75.4 – RB Aidan Laughery
72.9 – WR Collin Dixon
72.6 – CB Juice Clarke
71.3 – CB Xavier Scott
70.7 – S Tanner Heckel
68.3 – LB Ismael Kante
68.0 – WR Hudson Clement
67.8 – TE Kaden Feagin
67.3 – QB Katin Houser
66.6 – LT Nathan Knapik
65.6 – DL Joe Barna
65.2 – LB James Kreutz
65.1 – LG Maika Matelau

[Bret Bielema @BretBielema]

We didn’t buddy boy we decided to do a Notre Dame home and home 🤷‍♂️😂🤷‍♂️

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Bret Arnold Bielema lost his father, Arnold “Arnie” Bielema, on October 25. He missed practice this week to attend the services.

If you know Bret, you’ve heard him talk about how meaningful names are. He carries his dad’s name as his own middle name.

Fittingly, on Dads Day in Champaign, his team won their fourth straight to become bowl eligible for the third consecutive season.

College football is the best.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Still thinking about this. Need to know if it was done on purpose.

There’s no detail too small for Bret Bielema.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

This may be giving undue credit, but Lars Rau ran high school track in CA. See: https://t.co/YsMpNO6B0f

However, we conveniently left that off his team bio. Is that next level gamesmanship?

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Big Ten overall records since the start of the 2024 season:

Indiana 35-3
Ohio State 32-6
Oregon 31-6
Illinois 25-10
Penn State 24-13
Iowa 23-11
USC 23-12
Michigan 22-12
Minnesota 21-13
Washington 20-14
Nebraska 19-16
Northwestern 17-16
UCLA 16-16
Wisconsin 14-18
Rutgers 14-19
Michigan State 11-21
Maryland 10-22
Purdue 6-26

[Sickos Committee @SickosCommittee]

That smile.

That damned smile.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

A few rapid fire shout outs…

• Collin Dixon: duuuhhhh

• Hudson Clement: 3 massive receptions on 3rd & long

• Katin Houser: broke his throwing hand 4 weeks ago and just went 22/36 for 292 yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs against a top-15 defense

• Bret Bielema: statue

• Juice Clarke: straight up dawg

• Matthew Bailey: aced his concussion final

• Pat Farrell/Carter Janki: swatting footballs

• Barry Lunney Jr.: offensive savant

• Roger Cooper: our defense doesn’t stink anymore

• Lars Rau: wasn’t familiar with your game

• Aidan Laughery: so consistent and reliable

• Josh Whitman: still the man

• Larry Gies: the scoreboard looks even better at night

• Collin Dixon: just wanted to put him on the list again because he’s the best

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Next Friday: the two hottest teams in the Big Ten do battle.

Illinois at UCLA.

(Yes, really.)

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Let me take you back to October 3rd…

Nebraska: 5-0
Illinois: 2-3

Want to guess which team became bowl eligible first?

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Shhhhh, go back to bed. It was just a dream.

[Will Compton @_willcompton]

Rocking my one-year-old to sleep and she just suddenly looked up at me, removed her binky and said “I can’t help but think Nebraska is going to put 30 on Illinois tomorrow”

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Nebraska 2-minute drill except make it 6 minutes instead and then turn the ball over on downs.

Everybody grab your bowling shoes!

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

It feels pretty sweet to have Collin Dixon on your football team.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

We are just wearing down this Nebraska defense. They look like they are quitting.

Matt Rhule might not make it back to Lincoln with a job.

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

A little sad Nebraska isn’t taking a lead into the 4th quarter…

[Illinois on BTN @IllinoisOnBTN]

Football is a game of inches 😲

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

Roger Cooper 3-3-5 voodoo magic.

[Big Ten Network @BigTenNetwork]

Lars Rau, the @IlliniFootball punter and holder, picks up the first down himself ‼️😳

Watch on FOX

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

This may be giving undue credit, but Lars Rau ran high school track in CA. See: https://t.co/YsMpNO6B0f

However, we conveniently left that off his team bio. Is that next level gamesmanship?

[The Field Pass @TheFieldPass]

College football is the best.

Illinois was left for dead at 2-3 and now they’re on the verge of a bowl game. https://t.co/iuDv1meusH