Chicago Tribune

Illinois opens the college football season — and the Bret Bielema era — with a 30-22 victory over Nebraska

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois kicked off the college football season in an emphatic way with a 30-22 victory over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

The “Week 0″ game was the only Power Five conference game played Saturday and gave first-year coach Bret Bielema his first victory with the Illini — and an early Big Ten win — on a national stage.

“I’ve been talking about this game for a while. To have it be a win is the perfect

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