(WAND) -- Illinois football is in their first bye week of the season after playing seven games and Bret Bielema said it couldn't come at a better time.

The Illini sit at 5-2 overall after a loss to the top seed Ohio State and Bielema said both the players and coaches are using this week to rest and recover.

Adding he knows his team better than anyone and knows they will bounce back and learn from both the missed opportunities they had so far.

Bielema said during the teams bye weeks the coaches are traveling for recruiting before turning their attention to Washington.

The Illini take on the Huskies next Saturday.

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