The homecoming affair against Indiana won't be the gimme some observers expect. The Hoosiers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) played with undefeated Northwestern on Saturday and trailed by only a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The calendar agrees with your eyes -- the Illini are in trouble. Since 2000, Illinois (2-3) has closed the month of September with a sub-.500 record in four seasons. Illinois finished 5-7 (in 2002), 1-11 (2003), 2-10 (2006) and 3-9 (2009). Perhaps it's time to break a streak. Those four teams went 0-4 in their first games in October.

Klee