Nov. 15--CHAMPAIGN -- With only three games remaining in Illinois' season, the pressure is impossible to ignore.
The Illini (4-5, 1-4 Big Ten) must win two games to become bowl-eligible. Starting with a victory at home Saturday against Iowa (6-3, 3-2) would be a great place to start, with Penn State visiting Nov. 22 before a trip to Northwestern on Nov. 29.
"It's pressure, but that's what we all play the game for," said quarterback Wes Lunt, who will return after missing three games with a broken leg. "There's pressure to win the first game (of the last three) to put us in contention to go to a bowl. We're excited for it."
The games also are opportunities for coach Tim Beckman to improve his reputation and possibly save his job.
Athletic director Mike Thomas recently told the Tribune "there's nothing to report" on Beckman's job status. But Beckman's job retention is another motivation for some players.
"We all want to win so badly," Lunt said. "We want to get this staff and this team to a bowl game."
Illinois has had a week off and is playing at home, just like it did when it won its only Big Ten game against Minnesota. The Gophers trashed the Hawkeyes 51-14 last weekend.
The Hawkeyes are a difficult team to figure out. Are they the team that beat Northwestern 48-7 on Nov. 1 or the team Minnesota trounced a week later?
Either way, Beckman said turnovers will be key.
The Illini turned the ball over four times in a 55-14 loss at Ohio State on Nov. 1. The Hawkeyes had three crucial turnovers in their loss to Minnesota.
"Every game is different," Beckman said. "Turnovers, as we are well aware of, you can't have them in big games. It happened to us in Columbus. It was just terrible."
Yet Beckman said the team has reasons to remain optimistic.
"It's great," Beckman said of the Illini's position. "I told the kids, they have achieved what hasn't been done here the last two seasons, having a victory in October and going into November with four victories."
Players noted there is more optimism as the team tries to finish the season on an upswing.
"There's a chip on all of our shoulders," receiver Mikey Dudek said. "There's a different vibe in the locker room that we can go out and do this."
sryan@tribpub.com
Twitter @sryantribune
