Bret Bielema and the Illinois program started the season 1-0 with a win over Toledo, achieving the most important goal of the weekend. However, Bielema would have liked to see a bit more love for his kicker after a clutch finish to the game.

After Luke Altmyer guided the offense into field goal range, Caleb Griffin stepped up to the plate and drilled a game-winning field goal with 5 seconds left. Though it was Griffin’s only field goal of the night, he also finished 3-for-3 on PATs.

Despite the performance, the B1G went with Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich for the Special Teams Player of the Week. Kesich went 2-for-3 on field goals with 7 total points, including a game-winner as time expired against Nebraska.

At his Wednesday press conference, Bielema made the point that Griffin’s kick was actually the tougher try of the two and should have netted Griffin the award:

“I think it was pointed out, Caleb (Griffin), I said to him we knew Miles Scott was getting the Defensive MVP, right, for the conference,” said Bielema. “And I thought Caleb might have a shot (at the special teams honor) for a walk-off field goal, but they gave it to the Minnesota guy. But the score was tied there, right? Their score was tied, ours was a game-winning field goal, so I was kind of pimping him up there.”

Either way, it’s a successful start to the season for Griffin and the entire Illini squad. Now, Illinois will try and move to 2-o with a road trip against Kansas this Friday.