O’Donnell: Will Arch Manning face Bielema’s Illini in a ‘B’ bowl game?
ONCE UPON A TIME, WHERE CHAMPAIGN MEETS URBANA — like two months ago — Bret Bielema and his Fighting Illini had visions of a CFP berth.
The Illini were 3-0, No. 9 in the nation and headed to Indiana for a September showdown vs. Curt Cignetti and his No. 19 Hoosiers.
Too bad a joint state police force couldn't have sealed the borders before the game.
ONE 63-10 HOST-TOASTING LATER, Bielema and his group were relegated to the Big Ten's upper middle-class.
They've stayed there. They're 7-3, 4-3 in conference and prepared to receive some kind of bowl bid in an era when such sub-CFP invites are like being asked to an Andrew Dice Clay meet-and-greet.
But the faintest glimmer of hook 'em orange could await Illinois at the end of that dicey tunnel.
IF BIELEMA AND HIS TEAM WIN OUT — at Wisconsin and vs. Northwestern — and Arch Manning and Texas don't upset No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28 in Austin, potential yahoo:
Instant Illinois-Arch/Texas bowl match.
It's not going to make any Grange Grovers forget Jack Trudeau and Mike White. But it would put a minor accent on a season that opened with enormous promise and cruises home in neutered gear.
SOME SMART COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOLKS are saying because of Manning's drawing power, a stage such as the ReliaQuest Bowl, New Year's Eve morning at Tampa (ESPN), would make sense.
It's a consolation prize for sure, on both sides.
But for Bielema's program, at least it would be a chance to gaze upon a star as the mad dash to build a better roster for the 2026 season zooms to quick critical velocity.
STREET-BEATIN':
News of Aaron Rodgers' wrist injury immediately bumped the Bears from 1½- to 3-point favorites over the visiting Steelers on Sunday (noon, CBS). Intriguing note on PIT: For years, more informed NFL analysts have insisted that head coach Mike Tomlin is one of the league's worst at making halftime adjustments. …
J.J. McCarthy's weak showing vs. the Bears came with mitigation: The Vikings QB hasn't had a full week of healthy, uninterrupted preparation since MIN's opening 27-24 win at Soldier Field. McCarthy and his wife, Katya, welcomed a son, Rome, four days later. Then he had a high-ankle sprain and missed five games followed by the dinged throwing hand that appeared to consistently impact his passing Sunday. …
No less than Taylor Bell is circling Class 8A juggernaut Mt. Carmel (12-0) as quite possibly the greatest prep football team in the history of the Chicago region. Historically topping the learned Bell's list has been two-way Tom Carey, Jack McHugh and the 1950 Caravan. …
Mt. Carmel's 8A semifinal vs. traveling Fremd (11-1) Saturday (5 p.m.) is also waking up some Huskies memories in DeKalb. Both head coaches played for Northern Illinois. MC's Jordan Lynch was a star QB (2009-13); Lou Sponsel played fullback in 1997-98. Ace quarterback Johnny O'Brien and Sponsel's Vikings are positioned to try for an upset that would leave parts of Palatine and Inverness dancing. …
Jori Parys is adding some notable spark and sizzle to the sports operation at WBBM-Channel 2. The Crystal Lake native was once a cheerleader at the University of Illinois and strengthened her broadcast journalist credentials in New Orleans. …
With Northwestern heading into an unusual weekend trifecta of men's games, Andy Masur of WGN-AM (720) will work basketball Friday and Sunday from the Greenbrier Tip-Off in West Virginia. Dave Eanet will stay at home to call the griddler between the Wildcats and Minnesota at Wrigley Field Saturday. (Due to Blackhawks conflicts, the two net games will stream on wgnradio.com.) …
Speaking of the purple passionate, it was impossible not to note that preponderant shading as Chris Collins' Wildcats beat host DePaul 81-79. The Blue Demons would be closer to a jump-up if they had a snake pit near campus instead of the remote Wintrust Arena. DePaul coach Chris Holtmann is seeing to it that any student with a ticket stub gets a free lunch the following day at the university's student center. …
Jason Benetti had another quietly spectacular weekend for Fox: The expatriated Chicago voice handled play-by-play for Minnesota-Oregon Friday night and then breezed to Atlanta for Panthers-Falcons Sunday. Benetti is approaching critical loft as one of American sportscasting's top-tier infotainers. …
And hard grading by some die-hard Babe Ruth emailers: “Shohei Ohtani is a five-inning pitcher, a DH and a home-run swatter who doesn't hit for average.” (The Bambino's lifetime BA was a remarkable .342; Ohtani hammers his thrillers at a mere .282.) …
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.