CHAMPAIGN – Lovie Smith knows why he gets millions to coach football.

A loss is a loss, and he’s not paid to keep the Illini from getting blown out. He’s paid to win. Yet there’s a progression of steps to take before a program can jump from loser to winner. The Zooker put it in three steps: Lose big, lose close, then win.

Pretty simple.

“There are no moral victories,’’ Lovie said Saturday after the 31-16 loss at No. 15 Nebraska in the Big Ten Conference opener Saturday. Understood. But Lovie and his staff already showed why there’s hope, more than just Lovie bringing some Super Bowl credentials to a program desperately wanting to play in meaningful games again. It’s not that the Illini were actually leading the game in the second half on the road against one of the favorites in the Big Ten West Division.

The takeaway from this game wasn’t the close call for the Huskers, who were roughly three touchdown favorites. It’s not any what-could-have-been talk about a spot that benefited Nebraska during the long, game-changing drive.

It’s the way Lovie and his staff attacked the bye week after Illinois stumbled out of the gate with two big losses to FBS opponents in two games.

The Illini didn’t stand pat. They didn’t just go through the motions with the same result. (We’ve all been in those lectures. What’s the definition of insanity, the instructor asks?) Lovie didn’t hesitate to make changes. He’s not conceding anything in his first trip through the Big Ten. If nothing else, a staff with years of experience in the NFL knows how to evaluate film, move the players around and adjust as the season progresses.

That’s why you’re paid millions.

“You’re ever evolving as a team,’’ Lovie said. “You give guys an opportunity. After you’ve played a while, you look at what players have done. If you feel you have a better option, you have to look at that option. That’s what we did. All those moves, we feel the player that got time today that hadn’t been playing did something to warrant more time. For the most part, I was pleased with what the guys did.’’

So after a 1-2 start, the bye week came at a great time for Lovie and his staff to analyze, make a few changes and do some juggling.

“You need those non-conference games,’’ Lovie said. “You need everything to see where we are. We learned different things about our team each practice and each game. To have that break and to evaluate exactly what we’re doing and come out like that, we’re headed in the right direction. I really believe that. Now, we need to take a couple more steps this week.’’

Don’t be surprised if there are more lineup moves after the Illini take another look at the film, because the buttons pushed by Lovie were working against Nebraska. He went with a different depth chart at running back, starting Reggie Corbin and using Kendrick Foster at second string. Corbin led the Illini with 72 yards rushing, and Foster’s 31-yard run for a score was Illinois’ only touchdown. Former starter Ke’Shawn Vaughn took just one carry. Even backup quarterback Chayce Crouch took some snaps, so nothing seems safe.

On defense, Tre Watson and Julian Jones started at outside linebacker. Patrick Nelson logged his first start at safety, then recorded 16 tackles. Freshman defensive tackle Kenyon Jackson experienced his first meaningful playing time.

“We look at the pool of players we have,’’ Lovie said. “We go with the guys that give us the best chance to win. In our program, we want to see improvement. We put a better product on the field today, but not for 60 minutes. That’s the disappointing part.’’

The swap at running back might have been the biggest eye opener.

“Reggie can make you miss in the open field,’’ Lovie said. “As much as anything, he brings a little bit different style than the rest of the guys, the open field movement part. Kendrick is a little bit different also. All three of our running backs are different. Today, we thought these guys in the lead role would give us a chance to win.’’

The message: it might be different next week, so every Illini out there should leave it all on the field every week.

While using Crouch for a handful of snaps, “he did OK for what we wanted him to do,’’ Lovie said. “He brings a different element to our offense, being able to run. If a quarterback is in the pocket, you can do different things on defense. That option for him to run it was a little different. That was the plan for Chayce. That was the plan all along.’’

Lovie and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee pushed starting quarterback Wes Lunt to be more decisive and aggressive with the offense.

“He stepped up and tried to do the best job he could possibly do,’’ Lovie said. “It’s not like he surprised me though. None of us played the way we planned the last couple of weeks before this game. I saw improvement from most of the guys, before we watch the video.’’

Lovie and his staff won’t likely stand pat on those changes in Nebraska when the Illini host Purdue Saturday.

“As a player, you have to analyze what you’re doing,’’ Lovie said. “What we talk about is improvement each play, each game. Lots of guys in the locker room did make improvement. If we continue at this pace, we will eventually be OK. We see promise in the future.’’

Lovie and his Illini are evolving. That means change.

“We look forward to the (next game) and look forward to getting back on the practice field and cleaning up things,’’ Lovie said. “We look forward to the week of practice to see if we can make the same kind of improvement this week.’’

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.