Illinois tops No. 19 Kansas 23-17 on a night at Memorial Stadium that just might signal change

CHAMPAIGN — A sold-out Memorial Stadium for the first time since way back in 2016. A packed student section and an “Orange Out” in the seats. A ranked opponent in town. One last giant play by defensive back Xavier Scott, because who else? A field-rushing by the fans amid a celebration by Illinois — yes, Illinois — in the end.

Is this what college football that matters is supposed to look like?

Illinois upset No. 19 Kansas 23-17 on a Saturday night that just might change some things around here. For the Illini (2-0), it was the first win against a ranked, non-conference opponent since 2011. More important, it was the start — one can only believe — of repelling the struggles that have followed the Illini and coach Bret Bielema ever since their surprising 7-1 start in 2022.

“I just want to say thank you to anybody and everybody that came here tonight and put that stadium into a level that I’ve never seen before,” Bielema said.

When it comes to getting better and staying better, Illini football has displayed the turning radius of an ocean freighter through the years. It has been only a bit more encouraging on Bielema’s watch. But when Scott followed up his pair of game-changing interceptions by hitting Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels with a sack-fumble on the final play of the game, it had a powerful effect.

“To go out there and play the way that we did, make it a four-quarter game and at the end have that environment and celebration is a memorable thing,” Bielema said. “You just can’t replace these moments. . . . It was a long time coming, but we must build on this now.”

Fifteen years ago, now-Kansas coach Lance Leipold was the king of Division III at UW-Whitewater, in the middle of an incredible flurry of six national championships. Bielema was a much bigger deal, though, the hotshot coach at big-boy Wisconsin.

But Bielema was very good to Leipold, making memorable gestures such as letting Leipold’s teams practice indoors at Wisconsin’s classy facilities when postseason conditions became untenable. Over the years, Bielema remained an advisor and friend.

Then 2023 rolled around and the Illini opened their season at Kansas and got smacked around like nobodies. The Jayhawks scored 21 unanswered to start that game and cruised from there. If Leipold hadn’t yet leap-frogged Bielema in the national pecking order of coaches, he did that night.

But after this one? Get a load of the big fella — Bielema is back on the move. He’s 20-19 at the school. He’s signed through 2028. He has a pretty nice feather in his cap after knocking off a Jayhawks team that’s considered a contender in the Big 12.

Kansas’ four coaches before Leipold — Turner Gill, Charlie Weis, David Beaty and Les Miles — went an unthinkable 6-91 in Big 12 play. Leipold, who was a candidate at Illinois before Bielema was hired, still looks mighty good himself.

But this time around, the Illini actually showed up for the opening bell. Scott picked off Daniels on the first drive of the game. The Illini’s first drive was a thing of beauty until it ended in an agonizing fashion because, well, something usually goes wrong here, doesn’t it? After 14 plays, 62 yards and 7:35 with the ball, running back Aidan Laughery ran wide open into the flat on third-and-goal and dropped the easiest chance he’ll ever have at a touchdown. Still, the Illini took a 3-0 lead.

They cut it to 10-6 on a 50-yard field goal by David Olana, which came a few plays after a 42-yard one-handed catch by Zakhari Franklin, a newcomer via the portal who is college football’s active leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Consider Franklin, who had nine catches for 99 yards, an instant big hit.

Scott shocked Kansas with a 28-yard pick-six for a 13-10 lead with less than a minute to go in the half. And in the fourth quarter, when the Illini needed someone to step forward, quarterback Luke Altmyer made clutch throws to Pat Bryant and freshman running back Ca’Lil Valentine — a fourth-stringer coming in — gained first downs to drain the clock.

It wasn’t beautiful, but it looked like it mattered. What a nice thing to see.