Bob Asmussen | Illini find a cure for what ails them

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A week after devastation, jubilation.

Led by local hero and future Danville mayor Caleb Griffin.

As his perfect 43-yard field goal sailed through the uprights at SECU Stadium early Saturday evening, Griffin's Illinis teammates dashed across the field. Hugs all around after a stirring 27-24 victory against Maryland. Orange-clad Illinois fans in one corner of the stands went bonkers. Illinois is no longer 0 for Maryland.

Griffin had done this before, kicking a game-winner in the season opener on Sept. 2 against Toledo at Memorial Stadium.

But this was bigger for the sixth-year senior who celebrates his 24th birthday this upcoming Friday.

"I wanted it," Griffin said.

He had missed an earlier field goal. In his mind, Griffin owed his team one,

At least.

"We should have been up three and we were tied because I missed the first kick," Griffin said. "So I was like, 'All right, you've got to bounce back and earn it."

Which is exactly what he did. Like his buddies in a game they had to have. Illinois dropped lost four of its last five going in and entered as a a 14-point underdog against Mike Locksley's team.

Few outside the program gave the Illini much of a chance. Unless a late entry came in, not a single IlliniHQ reader predicted an Illinois victory.

But don't tell Bret Bielema his guys couldn't win. Or that his team should have been down in the dumps after the ugly 20-7 home loss to Nebraska on Oct. 6.

"Each week is the same," Bielema said. "I've been in this business for a long time. If you get your panties in a bunch over one week, it's going to go bad all the time.

"I know our guys were going to work. I knew they were gong to grind. I really challenged our coaches."

He felt good at the intermission, with the game tied at 14.

"I came in and yelled 'Hey, congratulations, you graduated,'" he said. "Now you want to go further. They began to play like the football team we had coached."

Bielema had a feeling his Illini would play well based on what he saw during the week.

"Super excited for our guys," he said. "They've been through a lot. They've stuck together. They've practiced extremely hard. As crazy as it is, I told them during the course of the week, 'Everybody's trying to tell you why you can't. I want to tell you why you can.'"

After Tuesday's practice, Bielema said players showed up for a bonus film session. It helped.

"When you play a team like that, Locks is a very good coach, they tell you things before the snap if you are willing to listen," he said. "Our guys really locked in to the game plan."

Strategically, it was by far the best game of the season for Illinois. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. talked Bielema into going for it on fourth-and-1 just before half. Kaden Feagin banged his way into the end zone to tie the game. Then Illinois scored the first drive after the break to take the lead.

A different approach served the Illini well Saturday. Sometimes, you've got to say, "What the heck."

Looking upIllinois entered the season considered Big Ten West title contenders. One win after an 0-3 conference start doesn't fix all the troubles. But it can lead to more celebrations.

The win puts Illinois back on the bowl watch. Beat Wisconsin for homecoming next Saturday and the team will even the season record at 4-4.

Big road wins have been a part of the Illinois DNA with Bielema as coach. In 2021, the Illni stunned No. 7 Penn State in nine overtimes. Last season, they went to Wisconsin and Nebraska and brought home wins.

More road games are coming in November, with trips to Minnesota on Nov. 4 and Iowa on Nov. 18. How does Saturday's win help?

"It teaches guys what they can do," Bielema said. "I told these guys all week, (Maryland) is a 5-1 team that just went toe to toe with Ohio State."

Bielema believes in his team.

"These guys can play with anybody," he said. "It's just whether they want to do it. It doesn't matter what we want as coaches. it's what they want as players. I told them routinely, 'This is in your hands.' Somebody's got to step forward and some of those guys did that (Saturday)."

Illinois, which has struggled all season to find an identity of offense, showed improvement in the running game, outgaining the Terrapins.

Good signsIt rained steadily in College Park all morning and into the early afternoon. Forecasts called for heavy wet stuff that never came.

Illinois opened the game by actually winning the coin toss. Isaiah Williams followed the saying, "Tails Never Fails," which set his team up for a success by allowing it to defer and get the ball to start the second half.

A little win that made the final outcome possible.

Plenty of issues are still there for Bielema's team, which is banged up at multiple positions.

But those aches and pains are feeling better after a happy flight back from D.C. Illinois ended a modest three-game road losing streak that will make the trips to Minneapolis and Iowa City more anticipatory than worrisome.

By the way, the rain came Saturday night, in buckets at about 9 p.m. The Illini were on their way home. Wearing smiles.