Bret Bielema and Illinois are gearing up for a crucial B1G showdown this weekend, facing Penn State in Champaign during Week 3.

Originally, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pre-game show was going to make the trip to Champaign. However, the network called an audible late during Colorado’s win over Nebraska, announcing plans to instead return for another broadcast in Boulder.

During his press conference, Bielema said he was all for it but the pre-game show was also never a big deal for him to begin with. However, he did question the process of FOX announcing Champaign very early before finally pulling the plug.

“It really wasn’t a big deal to me to begin with,” said Bielema. “When it was mentioed to me on Saturday, whenever I was made aware of that I literally took that as a responsibility of me, right? My responsibility as a head coach was to win football games, and they have the right to choose that.

“I don’t understand the process, I was kind of a little of it when it first popped up like ‘Okay, they’re announcing it this far in advance.’ I had just never been a part of that. I’m all for it, giddy-up, rodeo, but I also remember the week of the Kansas game there was something that popped up that we were about to start announcing things about the Penn State game… I don’t want to put that out in front, it’s just how I’m wired… I don’t really get worked up about things I don’t have a voice in.”

In the end, Illinois will be looking for more upset magic against the Nittany Lions after a 9-OT stunner in Happy Valley 2 seasons ago. As for the broadcast, it will still be on FOX, just without a Big Noon Kickoff presence on campus.

(H/T Illini Inquirer)