foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Oh good. We'll be very noticeable on that short list.
Looking ahead to 2025
- Status
Rutgers returns 9 starters on offense, including the QB. They must replace RB Kyle Monangai and LT Hollin Pierce. The Rutgers defense has to replace 5 starters.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
This needs to be pinned on the thread. Strangely, the Illini have only gone to a bowl game the year following an 8+ win season twice going back to 1950 (happened in consecutive years under Mackovic):
1) 2022 (ReliaQuest Bowl) -- 8-5 -> 2023 -- 5-7
2) 2007 (Rose Bowl) -- 9-4 -> 2008 -- 5-7
3) 2001 (Sugar Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 2002 -- 5-7
4) 1999 (MicronPC Bowl) -- 8-4 -> 2000 -- 5-6
5)1990 (Hall of Fame Bowl) -- 8-4 -> 1991 -- 6-6 (Hancock Bowl)
6) 1989 (Citrus Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 1990 -- 8-4 (Hall of Fame Bowl)
7) 1983 (Rose Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 1984 -- 7-4 (No bowl but would have in current climate)
8) 1963 (Rose Bowl) -- 8-1-1 -> 1964 -- 6-3 (No bowl but would have in current climate)
9) 1951 (Rose Bowl) -- 9-0-1 -> 1952 -- 4-5
Given our history, going to a bowl game next season would actually be an accomplishment. I think Coach B is going to buck the trend going back 30 years and start building consecutive bowl appearances.
Dan
Admin
We'll get the 2025 Big Ten schedule released on Wednesday, 1:00pm CT on BTN.
2025 Illinois Football-
Sat, Aug 30: Western Illinois
Sat, Sept 6: at Duke
Sat, Sept 13 Western Michigan
B1G Home Games
Ohio State, USC, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers
B1G Road Games
at Indiana, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin
2025 Illinois Football-
Sat, Aug 30: Western Illinois
Sat, Sept 6: at Duke
Sat, Sept 13 Western Michigan
B1G Home Games
Ohio State, USC, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers
B1G Road Games
at Indiana, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin
12 home games?!
We have to be careful not to be like Kansas fans. They had a good season going into 2024, and still were not bad in 2024 but their fans flipped out. Please, collectively let’s continue to be mostly level headed lol.
It’s possible illini go 5-7 (or worse) next year unfortunately. Middle of the big 10 is as unpredictable as it gets and we won a lot of close games this year. However if all continues according to bielema’s plan and guys improve, which I think will happen, 7-5 to 9-3 would be the realistic expectations. Hope for more though
It’s possible illini go 5-7 (or worse) next year unfortunately. Middle of the big 10 is as unpredictable as it gets and we won a lot of close games this year. However if all continues according to bielema’s plan and guys improve, which I think will happen, 7-5 to 9-3 would be the realistic expectations. Hope for more though
I wouldn't say they were bad... but I could see why they were a frustrating to root for at certain points. But oh well... all things considered, KU fans were pretty darn cocky to start the year
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Given expectations and talent they had, 5-7 is incredibly disappointing for Kansas. They should have easily been able to get to 6-6. They were better than their record (so many one score losses), but the game is results oriented. In that respect, it was a bad season for Kansas.
I do agree with your sentiment, though. We should be level headed, given it is so rare for Illinois to have a bowl team the year following an 8+ win campaign. I would be happy with simply another bowl game next year (6 or 7 wins), and ecstatic with 8 or more wins.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Having five conference home games vs. four road games should be helpful.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
We would have gone to a bowl for the 1984 season, but we were on probation and ineligible. I can’t recall if that was from the Elton and Delton case or the Dave Wilson case, but the NCAA had it out for Illinois back then.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
I actually think it would be better for marketing reasons if they waited until after the national championship to release the official schedule. The pro leagues report everything after the season to keep the news cycle going. Reporting it before the bowl season means half of the teams are still focused on this season and only the poor performing team's fanbases are interested in next year (in that moment).
No it's already way too late as it is (as Bret has said). Planning for hotels and events needs to be done way in advance things fill up quick especially in college towns with somewhat small infrastructure. You're competing with conferences and even weddings for hotel spots. It's different for pro sports where you have big cities. In college towns it's a lot more difficult.
The schedule has been done.....the people that need to know it know it way in advance of the general public.
It's got done pretty recently according to Bret who brought up this issue.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
whoa, a realistic post. kudos. great results this season, but that means squat going forward. there's a very fine line between having an excellent season v a so-so one (see Nebraska, PU and Rutgers). counting chickens WRT next season is pretty laughable. that said, BB has done a tremendous job elevating the program. portal is gonna be key, gotta plug some very clear holes with legit quality
Yep. Big businesses plan way in advance. Or at least have the resources to adjust on the fly. People aren't throwing team labeled darts at a calendar. When I look at the logistics issues created by the current re-alignment and contracts, I am impressed by the adjustments. Bret was probably saying it's too late and it's creating a lot of work for the team's administrative staff, but nobody is to blame.
All at noon.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
A lot depends on our portal results with us needing OL and WR immediate help...............
If we go 9-3 that includes 2 road losses to any combo of Duke, Washington, or Wisconsin, plus home to OSU. We would be in the CFP discussion. Look at how many 3 loss teams were under consideration this year. I expect Illinois to be pre-season ranked (as much as I hate the polls, it is a reality we have to accept in football - it's in the guidelines). If they start 4-1 or 5-0 (depends on the actual schedule), it is up to them to stay in the conversation. I don't want to look backwards, but that Minny loss cost us a CFP position. ILL would have been ranked ahead of IND because of the resume. But, that's OK with me. We wern't really ready for it. I feel very differently about next year, unless we get nothing in the portal. I don't see that happening.
- Status