Bret Bielema and his Illinois squad did it, coming up with a clutch performance on the road against Maryland in Week 7. After blowing a 10-point lead on the road, Luke Altmyer and the offense answered with one final drive.

In the end, the Illini drove in range for a game-winning field goal to stun the Terrapins and pick up the first B1G win of the season. During his postgame press conference, Bielema said his pre-game message to the team noted that the weather set the stage for a “gritty type of day” in College Park.

“Very very happy with those guys. I literally told those guys today, it is kind of a gritty type of day, right? Kind of moisture, a little chill in the air, this is going to be one of those games, and really excited for them,” said Bielema.

The head coach went on to praise kicker Caleb Griffin for nailing the game-winning field goal. Bielema noted Griffin missed Thursday’s practice due to a family funeral, but that did not hinder his performance with the game on the line.

“In the end, I literally just told radio: Thursday, Caleb Griffin wasn’t even at practice,” Bielema explained. “He was at the funeral of a family friend, relative. For him to get his second walk-off field goal that wasn’t exactly a chip shot either, just very very impressed with him and super excited for that group.”

Griffin’s first walk-off win of the season came in the season opener against Toledo. Now, Illinois will rest and regroup for a visit from Wisconsin in Week 8.