Illinois coach Bret Bielema takes responsibility for loss to Oregon

A certain level of delusion is required to play or coach any sport at its highest level – not only to talk about the minutiae of a game decided across the chasm, but also to believe that those finer details actually matter to the outcome.

Bret Bielema, coming off Illinois’ tough 38-9 loss to the top-ranked Oregon Ducks, ticked off the boxes as best he could.

He refused to throw his players under the bus: “Very disappointed with the results of the first half. I take it upon myself as the head coach. Obviously, there was not enough preparation and execution.”

He identified valid areas for improvement, even if they wouldn’t make up a 31-point deficit, specifically lamenting “two or three opportunities where we went with zero points inside (the red zone).”

He gave credit to Oregon linebacker Dillon Gabriel, who didn’t look like an opposing fan: “He could finish almost anything … and was very effective with the ball both early and third down.”

However, his most telling quote of all speaks volumes about the potential ripple effects of a loss that landed on a tidal wave: “We’re going to have to make sure Oregon doesn’t get us twice.”

Bielema clearly wasn’t referring to a possible rematch, but rather avoiding a morale hangover that could cost his team in the next game against Minnesota. As disappointing as it was, the Oregon loss is in the past. Time to prepare for the next one.

Snapshot: No. 1 Oregon beats No. 20 Illinois 38-9

Third Quarter Update: Illinois Football lost 35-9 to Oregon

Halftime Update: Illinois, Oregon, 35-3

First Quarter Update: Oregon leads Illinois 14-3