As someone who grew up twenty five miles from indiana when Bobby had them in their prime, They are arch enemy number one.
Yep. I have gone through spells of thinking that Missouri is our biggest rival due to them not having a true conference one right now, but a non-conference game is just different than a longtime conference foe. We have a very token instate rivalry with Northwestern, and other fans have a "most hated rival" based on location, whether that is Iowa, Wisconsin or someone else ... but at the end of the day, Indiana is the most consistent enemy of Illini nation, regardless of how they feel about us (given their rivalry with Purdue taking center stage). Through the years, they have been the biggest consistent roadblock to Illinois ever taking that next step up, IMO, and the hate there is real. I want this one badly, especially since we have lost 5 of 6 to the Hoosiers. Luckily, though, we have fared much better in Champaign vs. them the last ten years:
1/24/2018:
Illinois 73, Indiana 71
2/25/2016:
#18 Indiana 74, Illinois 47 ... OUCH
1/18/2015:
Indiana 80, Illinois 74
12/31/2013:
Illinois 83, Indiana 80 in OT (this tied the all-time series ... so close, so close)
2/7/2013:
Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72
3/5/2011:
Illinois 72, Indiana 48
1/30/2010:
Illinois 72, Indiana 70
1/10/2009:
Illinois 76, Indiana 45
While they have had a few games, they are wildly inconsistent and are not far removed from the team I saw show up at Minnesota ... we need to punch them in the throat early and never look back.