The Latest Breaking News from Bret Bielema

CHICAGO — The Big Ten season once again should come down to The Game, a sure sign normalcy has been restored in Middle America.

There’s a lot that could still happen, but the Illini aren’t likely to be the last ones standing. And they will rue Saturday’s defeat as surely as they will the 23-15 letdown against Michigan State that preceded it.

Broader implications aside, simply getting the better of the Boilermakers for a change would hit the spot. They’ve taken home the Cannon in five of the last six renditions of this rivalry series and have a five-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium, where they haven’t lost since 2010.

Lunney, who is earning $675,000 this year, will be paid $800,000 in 2023 and $825,000 each of the following two years.

The Illini bumbled and stumbled throughout, but at least they’re still in command in the Big Ten West.

We're handing out Big Ten football conference midseason awards and comparing things to what we believed would happen at the start of the season. #B1G

Illinois ranks No. 1 in scoring defense (8.9 points per game), total defense (224.5 yards per game) and passing efficiency defense (77.9).

WATCH: Illinois football coaches preview game vs. Michigan State football

You might be surprised by these figures. Ranking contract buyouts by each Big Ten football coach. #B1G

With 21 seconds to play and Illinois holding a 12-point lead over Minnesota, safety Sydney Brown came down with his first interception of the season. It was a sunny but chilly fall Saturday, and the 45,683 fans who bundled up to celebrate homecoming let out a roar loud enough to…

After pounding Minnesota 26-14 to get to 6-1, the Illini head into a bye week with a Big Ten West title looking like a real possibility.