Illinois football focuses on lessons after close loss to Duke

The Illinois football team faced a 31-27 loss against Duke in Champaign on September 16. This marked another close game in a history of tight contests, as Illinois has played 20 games decided by six or fewer points over the last five seasons. Coach Bret Bielema emphasized the need for improvement, particularly after witnessing critical late-game errors, including turnovers. The Illini are now preparing to host Southern Illinois on September 23, looking to correct their performance and enhance late-game execution.

• 2:47 PMYahoo Sports — Close calls: What Illinois hopes to learn from in those situations