OPINION

By Matt Hayes

updated 9:02 p.m. ET Oct. 6, 2007

Matt Hayes

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It's the noise in the system, people. Those were Ron Zook's infamous words three years ago as it all imploded at Florida.

He said it again Saturday in the aftermath of his biggest win in three seasons at Illinois. Here comes the love for Illinois, everyone.

Get ready, Zooker. All those detractors are now breaking ankles jumping on for the ride after the unranked Illini's 31-26 victory over No. 5 Wisconsin.

"We have to just keep playing," Zook says. "We can't be concerned by the noise in the system."

Here's some noise: Illinois has better wins than anyone in the Big Ten. Illinois will score, with a punishing ground game, on anyone in the Big Ten.

Illinois is -- ahem! the best team in the Big Ten.

"The guys in blue were pretty good," says Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema.

He ain't kidding.

And what a long, strange ride it has been. Two years ago, the Illini would've lost to every team playing in the Division I-AA playoffs. Last year, they improved to merely one of the worst Division I teams.

And now this: Wisconsin was never in the game. The team that had won 17 of its past 18 games couldn't keep up with the guys in blue because it came down to a game of athletes and points. Illinois, everyone, won't lose many games that come down to athletes and points.

Offensively, this team is fast and dynamic and can hit you from anywhere on the field. Defensively ... well, let's just say the best tackle of the day was the one three cops laid on a wayward fan trying to rush the field after the Illini's first win over a top five team since 1985.

"We're getting there, man," says linebacker J Leman. "We've got to play at the same level as the offense; the same attitude."

If that happens, this team will be in Pasadena in January. No team in the Big Ten has this much dynamic ability at the three key positions -- quarterback, tailback, wideout -- as Illinois. Not bad for unit that essentially runs the triple option from the spread.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

This isn't the spread offense as much as it is simply getting quarterback Juice Williams, tailback Rashard Mendenhall and wideout Regis Benn in space to use their speed and athleticism.

The three combined for 505 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, and had Wisconsin's defense baffled all game. Mendenhall gashed the Badgers for 160 yards on just 19 carries, and Benn easily is the most talented freshman -- and maybe player -- in the Big Ten.

Then there's Williams, who has gone from a guy who looked like a safety playing quarterback last season, to a legitimate quarterback who can make all the throws -- and run like a tailback on the option.

"They have three players on offense who can change the game in one play" says Bielema.

Now that's noise in the system.

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

Florida’s Meyer says Notre Dame not an option   CFT: End-of-season award finalists announced Bowl Projections: Penn State in BCS picture   Vote: Who should be ranked No. 1? Heisman Hopefuls: Race is tight down stretch Bama's defense rolling, Auburn's struggling Colorado coach second guesses recruiting son QB Robinson resumes throwing for No. 11 Cowboys CFT: Pike returns to Cincinnati starting lineup CFT: Leach blasts Mangino ‘witch hunt’ College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: