This is what it’s all about.

After a long year in 2020 that resulted in a 2-6 record, Illinois is already halfway to that win total after the first game of the season. In the first game under new head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini posted a 30-22 victory over Nebraska, defeating the Huskers in back-to-back seasons for the first time in nearly a century.

It was Bielema’s first win as the head coach of Illinois. The locker room in Champaign was more than excited to join in on that celebration on Saturday afternoon.

Illinois’ social media team captured the excitement and joy from inside the locker room following the big win:

That looks like a locker room that’s bought in to its head coach. After making just one bowl trip under the previous regime, it has to feel good in Champaign for the Illini to get off to a 1-0 start.

We’ll see if Illinois can replicate the magic next weekend in a nonconference matchup against UTSA.