Bob Asmussen | 100 years later, Illini get a chance to repeat Grange win against Michigan

Nov. 3—CHAMPAIGN — Hey, what do you know, the Big Ten got one right.

On the 100th anniversary of the most famous moment in Illinois football history — a 39-14 win against Michigan in the dedication game at Memorial Stadium — the teams will meet again in the same classic building.

The conference released 2024 football schedules Thursday afternoon and Illinois is set to host Michigan on Oct. 19. But the door remains open to play the game on the actual anniversary. The schedules for all non-Saturday games will be announced later.

Ninety-nine years ago, Big Ten icon Red Grange scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes, later ran for a fifth and threw for a sixth score in the blowout win against the Wolverines. Already famous because of his earlier exploits, the performance cemented Grange as a household name across the country. On par with baseball's Babe Ruth and boxing's Jack Dempsey.

Before taking over as Illinois coach in 2021, Bret Bielema had cursory knowledge of Grange's greatness. He is now fully schooled thanks to Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman.

"The part that's been awesome for me is to come here to the University of Illinois and work for an athletic director, his passion for the University of Illinois is unprecedented," Bielema said Thursday morning at the Smith Center. "He played here. Got two degrees from here. He's been an AD. It's in his blood.

"Literally, I can remember in our first conversations in my first six months on the job talking about this year (2024), the anniversary of 100 years, what a special game that was in Illinois football history. He educated me. It's really a cool opportunity."

Bielema will make sure a Grange 101 course happens for next season's Illini football team.

"I promise you, there's not a lot of guys on our roster that understand what that means," Bielema said. "But by this time a year from now, I promise it will."

Bielema isn't disappointed about drawing the Wolverines, who last played in Champaign in 2019.

"I always want to play Michigan," he said.

Clearly, Bielema had been briefed about the pending schedule drop before Thursday.

"We kind of knew who we were playing and didn't know the exact order," Bielema said. "There's a lot of travel on the front end, a lot of travel on the back end, which is unusual. When you see the schedule, it should get fans excited."

Illinois travels to the East Coast twice, for an early season game at Penn State on Sept. 28 (nine OTs anyone?) and in late November at Rutgers on Nov. 23. The week after the Michigan game, Illinois travels to Oregon for an Oct. 26 game, the first time the Illini will play at Autzen Stadium since 1995. The Wolverines and Ducks are currently in the top six in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Hold him back

Illinois star defensive lineman Johnny Newton has to sit out the first half against Minnesota because of a targeting call late against Wisconsin on Oct. 21.

The news isn't all bad for Newton, who just found out on Wednesday he is one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, which goes to the nation's top lineman.

"It speaks volumes about what he's done," Bielema said.

I am a Lombardi voter, and Newton is part of an impressive list. A big second half against Minnesota will enhance his chances.

The candidates will be whittled to four finalists, with balloting ending Nov. 13.

My guess is the highly touted Newton makes the finalist cut. No Illinois player has ever won the Lombardi Award. Last year's winner was Alabama's Will Anderson, now in his rookie year with the Houston Texans. Newton is expected to enter the NFL draft after the season and is projected to be selected in the first round.

Wrecking ball

Minnesota is 3-2 in the Big Ten, tied for first in the West with Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Because they have wins against the Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers — and a game remaining with the Badgers — P.J. Fleck's Gophers control their own destiny.

Illinois can mess up the plan with an upset victory. Bielema's team enters as a 1 1/2-point underdog.

Illinois has goals of its own. A year after playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, it needs three wins in its final four games to quality for the postseason.

"For us to get where we want to be, we've got to take one game at a time to get to Saturday," Bielema said. "I think this group's been doing that. Excited for the opportunity."

Bielema isn't looking ahead to later this month, with home games against Indiana on Nov. 11 and Northwestern on Nov. 25 sandwiched in between a trip to Iowa on Nov. 18.

"It's really just about this week," he said. "I gave them a calendar that laid out the year and what we have left."