#illini Bret Bielema said Matelau's injury happened early in practice so Hansen got a lot of reps at left guard this week. Said Champ Smith is a guy who can help them moving forward.

#illini Bret Bielema: Nate Sheppard is a really good player, but no excuses for us. We have to wrap up. There was a big emphasis on running our feet on Wednesday. We'll have to double-down and do that more.

#illini Bret Bielema said Maika Matelau has a knee spring. Will be back sooner than later.

#illini Bret Bielema: I think we did enough things to cause us to fail. I got to clean up the details, the way we execute in critical moments. Just a shame. Apologize to sellout crowd. Winning is addictive, and when it doesn't happen, you're pissed, you're made, you're angry.

One could see today coming since the day Hauck was hired, but one couldn’t ignore today was coming since the night we played UAB.

#Illini

bsky.app/profile/andr...

I feel bad for the #Illini helmets.

The #Illini headsets have failed them since early February.

FINAL:

Duke beats #Illini 31-27

Katin Houser: 24/35, 271 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Collin Dixon: 11 Rec, 166 yds, 3 TD

Walker Eget: 15/21, 206 yds, 3 TD
Nate Sheppard: 24 Car, 147 yds, 1 TD

First screenshot was a text I sent to my good friends at kickoff.

Second was something I wrote in a blog article I shared with only two friends and my wife about two hours before kickoff.

Pretty easy to see today coming.

#Illini

FINAL: Duke 31, #illini 27

Illinois (1-1) outscored 17-3 in the final 31 minutes.

Announcers in the #Illini - Duke game at 4th & 1 for the game were all like, “what should Duke do?” Um, DUH. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Nate Sheppard converts on 4th down to seal the game for Duke.

Not a real surprise. Feels like it had to happen that way.

#Illini

Scare-y Lunney is back.

That was absolutely terrified coaching and playcalling.

#Illini

It’s almost like Duke figured out our whole offense was Dixon. 😖

#Illini

Last 3 #illini drives
🔸 Fourth-down failure
🔸 Interception
🔸 Fourth-down failure

Very conservative play-calling here from #illini sets up a must-get 4th-and-4 from their own 38.

Katin Houser and the #illini offense will get a chance to redeem themselves.

Duke punts. Illini ball with 6:14 left, down 31-27.

Will Holmes is one #illini who can get to the quarterback.

What the hell are #Illini players doing?? If you’re going down for injury, just stay down!! Don’t cost the team a timeout. Twice!! 😖

That……that wasn’t supposed to happen #Illini

Katin Houser intercepted forcing it downfield to Dixon. #illini in deep trouble now.