Bob Asmussen
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Bob Asmussen is the Illinois football beat writer for the Champaign News-Gazette and IlliniHQ.com.
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Articles by Bob Asmussen
Can't Wait For Saturday | Airplane issues leave teams scrambling
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Normally in this space on Friday or Saturday, I suggest which college football games are worth your time. But not today. Why? Because I'm not sure what games are going to be played for sure on Saturday.
Bob Asmussen | The old college try: Illini put up a fight against CFP-bound Bruins
PASADENA, Calif, -- Less than a month from now when the College Football Playoff pairings are announced and "UCLA" goes up on the board, the Illinois players might feel a little bit better. But not now. Not after they hung with the No. 4 Bruins the entire game and couldn't seal the deal. UCLA 22, Illinois 14. So much for California dreamin'. The Illini left the Rose Bowl late Friday night wet, sore and hoping their plane would be able to take off after a hectic day in the skies.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Yes, Illini are going bowling ... but where?
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Hope Illinois football fans keep their Christmas plans flexible. If they want to follow their team, they might be going to a bowl. In my quick review of bowl projections, Dec.
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Illinois gets primetime opportunity tonight against undefeated UCLA at iconic venue
Can't Wait For Saturday | Illini have a shot against CFP-bound Bruins
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Last time Illinois played UCLA at the Rose Bowl, 23 years ago, the teams did not exactly light up the scoreboard. The final: UCLA 6, Illinois 3. I was there and I instinctively yawn when I think about it.
Bob Asmussen | Low-key Laughery keeps improving for the Illini
CHAMPAIGN — As he climbs the list of career rushing leaders at Illinois, Aidan Laughery continues to run with great company. His 1,676 yards currently ranks 25th on the school chart. He just moved past James Coleman. Next on the list: Illini legend J.C. Caroline, who gained 1,696. Don’t forget, either, that Laughery has at least four more games to go. Three in the regular season and a to-be-determined bowl.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Defending champs being treated unfairly in CFP
Greetings from “Can’t Wait For Saturday,” your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He’ll give you his views each day on the game he loves. Perhaps, the folks on the current College Football Playoff selection committee should take a trip down memory lane. And watch how Indiana blitzed through the tournament last season on the way to its first football title.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Defending champs being treated unfairly in CFP
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Perhaps, the folks on the current College Football Playoff selection committee should take a trip down memory lane.
Bob's buzzer beaters | Only half good
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Well, that certainly didn't end well. Hitting the road for the first time this season, No. 3-ranked Illinois barely put up a fight in the first half Tuesday night at Texas Tech. The No. 16-ranked Red Raiders jumped to a 20-point halftime lead and held on for a 84-78 victory. It had a March Madness feel thanks to the effort of the two teams and the leather lungs in the stands.
Can't Wait For Saturday | And the winners are ... Auburn's Jim Bandy and Geneva's Rob Barnes
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Tip of the cap to multi-time winner Barnes and, I believe, first-time winner Bandy. They were just four points off the Illinois-Nebraska final score with identical 24-17 picks.
Bob Asmussen | For Bielema, the more CFP teams, the merrier
CHAMPAIGN — Back in Bret Bielema’s days at Iowa, the be-all and end-all for a Big Ten player was a game at the Rose Bowl. Fast forward 30-plus years later and that’s where Bielema is taking his Illinois football team for Friday’s matchup against No. 4 UCLA (8 p.m. on Fox). Of course, when Bielema was a Hawkeye, the only way to reach the Rose Bowl was to win the Big Ten. And the only way to face the Bruins was in that same Rose Bowl, if UCLA won the Pac-10.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Bielema's team one win away from a spot in the Top 25
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Early Sunday morning, I was filling out my Associated Press Top 25 ballot. Illinois, fresh off a win Friday against Nebraska, received a long look. A couple things ultimately kept Illinois off my ballot.
Bob Asmussen's Polling Place | Beware the Bruins
Illinois beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Bob Asmussen checks in with an update on the latest poll: The Associated Press Top 25 The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: RK., TEAM REC. PTS. PREV. 1. Georgia (53) 8-1 1,729 2 2. Utah (12) 9-0 1,675 3 3. Notre Dame (5) 8-1 1,597 4 4. UCLA 9-0 1,542 5 5. Miami 8-1 1,430 1 6.
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Close call over Georgia, UCLA
Bob Asmussen | With Illini bowl bid locked up, is CFP still in play?
LISTEN IN: Our celebrity picker got it right on 'The News-Gazette Tailgate Show' in Grange Grove and Lot 31 CHAMPAIGN — Before Friday night, it never dawned on me that I might need to consider Illinois for this week's Associated Press Top 25. Even more absurd, Bret Bielema's team, which started 2-3, is still actually in the College Football Playoff conversation. Another win against a favored Nebraska has Illinois thinking big ... one game at a time.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Thanks to Fox for giving me time to watch Original
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Way back when, the nice folks at Fox decided Illinois and Nebraska football would make an attractive matchup for a Friday night. Much appreciated.
Bob Asmussen | An Illini bowl bid now locked up, is CFP still in play?
CHAMPAIGN -- Before Friday night, it never dawned on me that I might need to consider Illinois for this week's Associated Press Top 25. Even more absurd, Bret Bielema's team -- which started 2-3 -- is still actually in the College Football Playoff conversation. Another win against a favored Nebraska has Illinois thinking big ... one game at a time. Illinois dominated the final three quarters in a 24-13 decision Friday night against the staggering Cornhuskers at Gies Memorial Stadium.
Can't Wait For Saturday | My hunch: Illini extend win streak, qualify for a bowl
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Illinois has won three games in a row, with two of the three coming down to the last play of the game. Nebraska has lost three in a row, blowing leads late every time, Something has to give.
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Recruiting ties for both programs
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One more wins puts Illini in
Bob Asmussen | Bielema excited about Notre Dame series
CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema knew the question was coming. He even hinted about it during his opening statement inside the Smith Center on Wednesday. Illinois football is scheduled to play Notre Dame each of the next two seasons, first doing so on Sept. 4, 2027 in South Bend, Ind., and again on Sept. 2, 2028 in Champaign, after the two-year series was announced on Tuesday. What are his thoughts on the Illini and Irish set to play football for the first time in almost six decades?
Can't Wait For Saturday | First CFP reveal includes a few head-scratchers
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Did you see it Tuesday? The votes are in with some surprise results. The midterms? Hardly. I try to keep CWFS a politics-free zone.
Bob Asmussen | Bringing on the Irish a very smart move
CHAMPAIGN — Yep, it’s time. A total of 59 years between Illinois-Notre Dame football games is long enough. On Tuesday, both schools announced a two-year series, with the opening game set for South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 4, 2027. Notre Dame will play in Champaign on Sept. 2, 2028, for the first time since 1967. Last time Illinois played Notre Dame — in 1968 — was two years before coach Bret Bielema’s birth. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman was 18 years away. The upcoming meeting will be the 13th all-time.
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Getting closer to perfection
Bob Asmussen | Houser's early return put a smile on Lunney's face
CHAMPAIGN — Barry Lunney Jr. didn’t start prep for the Maryland game thinking he would have Katin Houser available. But soon enough, the fifth-year Illinois offensive coordinator found out his starting quarterback was ready to return to the lineup after breaking his hand at Michigan State on Oct. 10.
Can't Wait For Saturday | College Football Playoff reveal certain to cause some fan meltdowns
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Before the start of the 2026 college football season, there wasn't a lot of attention being paid to UCLA. That, as it turns out, was a mistake.
Bob Asmussen's Polling Place | What's wrong with the Big Ten? Plenty.
Illinois beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Bob Asmussen checks in with an update on the latest poll: The Associated Press Top 25 The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: Rk., Team Rec. Pts. Prev. 1. Miami (62) 8-0 1740 1 2. Georgia (7) 7-1 1648 3 3. Utah (1) 8-0 1540 6 4. Notre Dame 7-1 1476 5 5. UCLA 8-0 1473 7 6.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Bob Asmussen's AP Top 25 ballot: Buckeyes go bust, paving the way for the 'Canes at the No. 1
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Hot off the presses, here is my Associated Press Top 25 ballot this week. (The full poll will be released later Sunday): TEAM PREV. 1. Miami 2 2. UCLA 3 3. Georgia 6 4. Utah 4 5. Indiana 5 6. BYU 7 7. Notre Dame 8 8.
Bob Asmussen | Walk-off field goal keeps Illini headed in right direction Original
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — One more ... ... Win needed for Illinois to guarantee a 13th game this season. Bowl eligibility could come as soon as Friday, when Nebraska visits Gies Memorial Stadium (7 p.m. Fox.) ... Feather in the cap for Illini coach Bret Bielema. His late-game strategy worked to perfection, Illinois took possession at its own 26 with 5:45 left and never gave the ball back. He must have been good at keep-away as a kid.
Bob Asmussen | Walk-off field goal helps Illini inch closer to the postseason
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- One more ... ... Win needed for Illinois to guarantee a 13th game this season. Bowl eligibility could come as soon as Friday, when Nebraska visits Gies Memorial Stadium (7 p.m. Fox.) ... Feather in the cap for Illini coach Bret Bielema. His late-game strategy worked to perfection, Illinois took possession at its own 26 with 5:45 left and never gave the ball back. He must have been good at keep-away as a kid.
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Will upset lightning strike twice?
Bob Asmussen | Bielema take Illini program to rare place: Stable footing
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In its first 136 years playing college football, Illinois had exactly two coaches who lasted more than 10 seasons. Two?!?! Bob Zuppke remains the program’s leader in seasons (29) and wins (131). Ray Eliot is still second at 18 years and 83 victories. Nobody else has made it a decade. With the two exceptions, the Illinois program had become the epitome of instability. The place where head coaching careers go to die. Unless ... Perhaps .... Maybe ... The current guy changes it.
Bob Asmussen | ClarkLindsey says 'welcome back' to Illini AD Original
To subscribe, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. URBANA — One of the nation’s top athletic directors took an hour out of his packed Halloween week schedule Thursday to answer well-prepared questions. The University of Illinois’ Josh Whitman wasn’t in front of a bunch of reporters, TV types or high-roller boosters. Instead, Whitman chatted with the uber-pleasant residents at ClarkLindsey. Not your typical setting for a Q&A.
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Dixon does it again
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Coaching change adds wrinkles before Illinois kicks off at Maryland on Saturdya
Bob Asmussen | Ten years later, ClarkLindsey says 'welcome back' to Illini AD
To subscribe, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. URBANA — One of the nation’s top athletic directors took an hour out of his packed Halloween week schedule Thursday to answer well-prepared questions. The University of Illinois’ Josh Whitman wasn’t in front of a bunch of reporters, TV types or high-roller boosters. Instead, Whitman chatted with the uber-pleasant residents at ClarkLindsey. Not your typical setting for a Q&A.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Oregon's fall reiterates the difficulties presented by college football
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Looking for a cautionary tale in college football? I give you the Oregon Ducks.
Bob Asmussen | Illini back Anderson making up for lost time
CHAMPAIGN — The clock read 4 minutes, 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Saturday with the Illinois football team clinging to a 14-10 lead against Oregon. Then came Jordan Anderson’s time to shine. Facing third-and-3 from the Illini’s own 41-yard line, Anderson took the ball and gashed the Ducks’ defense for 33 yards. Anderson’s career-long run moved Illinois to the Oregon 26.
Can't Wait For Saturday | As predicted, Illini back in the bowl conversation
Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette.
Bob Asmussen | Bielema: 'He wanted me to pursue the biggest opportunity available'
CHAMPAIGN — The question came late in Bret Bielema’s Monday press conference: When you returned to Illinois as coach, what did that mean to your parents Marilyn and Arnie? “When I called my mom and dad and told them I was coming to the University of Illinois, it was very, very cool,” Bret Bielema said at Gies Memorial Stadium. “Even though it was a three-hour car ride, we knew they were going to be in a proximity we’ve never been able to have before.
Can't Wait For Saturday | And the winner is Stonington's Rich Covington
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Tip of the cap to the guy with three Illinois degrees, who won the prediction contest for the Illinois-Oregon game ... barely. Rich was eight points off with his pick: Illinois 21, Oregon 17.
Can't Wait For Saturday | And the winner is ///
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Can't Wait For Saturday | Coach leads Illini with a heavy heart
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Those us of lucky enough to work in sports receive constant reminders that the players and coaches we deal with daily have their own lives, families and heartbreaks.
Bob Asmussen's Polling Place | What to make of Texas? Good question
Illinois beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Bob Asmussen checks in with an update on the latest poll: The Associated Press Top 25 The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: Rk., Team Rec. Pts. Prev. 1. Miami (59) 7-0 1,735 1 2. Ohio State (10) 6-1 1,681 3 3. Georgia 6-1 1,511 5 4. Indiana 7-1 1,459 6 5. Notre Dame 6-1 1,458 4 6.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Bob Asmussen's AP Top 25 ballot: And then there were three ... undefeated teams
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Hot off the presses, here is my Associated Press Top 25 ballot this week. (The full poll will be released later Sunday): TEAM PREV. 1. Ohio State 1 2. Miami 3 3. UCLA 5 4. Utah 10 5. Indiana 6 6. Georgia 8 7. BYU 2 8.
Bob Asmussen | Illini put doubters in their place with upset win
CHAMPAIGN — Collin Dixon happily admits it. He enjoys proving people wrong. His teammates must, too. Illinois entered Saturday's game against Oregon as 10-point underdogs at Gies Memorial Stadium. Dixon, the team's star receiver, scored the game-clinching touchdown in Illinois' 21-10 victory. So much for the experts. "It's awesome," Dixon said. "You go out there, and it's Oregon. They're all highly recruited. They've got Nike and all that stuff.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Top 10 appears safer this weekend, but you never know
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** College football fans shouldn't count on a repeat of last weekend's upset special. Five of the top seven teams got beat in a wipeout that won't likely happen again this season. If ever.
Bob Asmussen | Father's Day: Former Illini standout Jackson thrilled to see son Devon playing in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN — Tucked in the middle of all that orange and blue on Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium, a lone white No. 9 Oregon jersey will be sitting in the stands. It will be easy to spot Bobby Jackson. Because he will be the one beaming. For the one and only time in his life, Jackson will get to watch his son, Oregon linebacker Devon Jackson, play at his college home. Bobby started on the 2001 Illini team that won the Big Ten title, the last Illinois team to do so.
Can't Wait For Saturday | Upset special? Got a feeling one is about to happen
Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves. *** Memories of the long ago games are getting a bit fuzzy. But the ramifications of 1990s Illinois-Oregon matchups remain crystal clear.
Bob Asmussen | Which Duck gets the QB call? Illini preparing for both
CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema knows who will be playing quarterback for Illinois on Saturday: Michael Clayton II making his first start against Oregon. (Check out Scott Richey’s story on B-1). And Bielema knows who won’t be playing for Oregon ... again. Dante Moore, who entered the season as a Heisman Trophy contender will miss his third consecutive start after suffering a concussion against Southern California. On the Big Ten’s mandated injury report released Wednesday, Moore was listed as out.
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