The first month of college football has already thrown off expectations, with major powerhouses like Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon remaining steady while strong contenders like Florida, Clemson, and Notre Dame fell apart. Due to this disruption, new names have been able to enter the debate. In their last three games, the Illini have completely outscored opponents 64-0 in the second half, securing back-to-back decisive wins that show their ability to perform well in the end.

Bret Bielema is aware of his team’s shortcomings, though. “We can’t give up two quarters of football and expect to be in the contest at the end,” the head coach admitted after a 38–0 sweep of Western Michigan. Illinois led Duke by just one point at halftime before defeating them by a score of 26. They also gave

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