Illini Football 2025
- Status
i do agree it is very much possible to get beat, but illinois will be at the very least a 3.5 point favorite. slight favorite, but a clear favorite - that's not a pick 'em.
Sounds right to me. Having so many of Illinois starters returning should be a significant advantage this early in the season. The entire offensive and defensive schemes should be in place; hopefully Duke is still trying to figure out what they have.
and 69 others
“Timeout South Carolina”
Might try to make that. Is there a way of knowing what sections are intended for the visitors?
Illinois much deeper than years past, Beliema has done a great job with development, recruitment and retention.
RB is a concern, Fagan coming off an injury really only leaves Loughery and Valentine. Valentine is a small RB, not built for a ton of carries. Predict we will see freshmen get some carries, unless Illini stay healthy.
RB is a concern, Fagan coming off an injury really only leaves Loughery and Valentine. Valentine is a small RB, not built for a ton of carries. Predict we will see freshmen get some carries, unless Illini stay healthy.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
Renewing my original predictions, which called for the flex to Friday night week 1.
Illini Football 2025
www.illinoisloyalty.com
W1: vs. Western Illinois - (FLEXED TO FRIDAY) 7:00 PM FS1. Regular O/B/O uniforms and script Illinois helmets to acknowledge the bowl win.
W2: at Duke - 11:00 AM on ESPN2. Regular O/W/O uniforms and ILLINOIS helmet for good early season road vibes like the Nebraska game.
W3: vs. Western Michigan - 11:00 am on Peacock. Regular O/B/O uniforms and arched Illini helmet. I think this is our most likely Peacock game this season.
I sat in section 7 last year for the Duke/UNC game. Mostly Tar Heel fans. The visiting UNC band was in sections 1 and 2. Between the band and section 7 was solid Tar Heel fans.
We just bought our flights for the Duke game. With the gametime announced at noon eastern, how hot/sunny will it be on the visitor side? Section 1 is where the visitor tickets are, so just down from where you sat.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
INJECT THIS DIRECTLY INTO MY LEFT VENTRICLE!!!
THATS AN INTRACARDIAC INJECTION OF ORANGE KOOL AID FOR ALL YOU MEDICAL
NERDS!!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Some initial thoughts:
- Not that this guarantees fewer Peacock games or anything, but I guess wasting a Friday night opener vs. Western Illinois as one of our Peacock appearances isn't the worst case scenario. Even on a Friday, that game wasn't going to be drawing a big audience on BTN or FS1, so maybe we got one out of the way, so to speak?? From a fan enthusiasm perspective, this game will be less about ratings and more about getting a big crowd ... and given the hype for the season and the late start time to kick off Labor Day Weekend, I actually think this one will draw extremely well for a non-Saturday game.
- While it will suck to hear the ESPN announcers likely slobber all over Duke and downplay the Illini, I love that this game will be on a national network that will deliver a big audience, especially if we get that ABC slot. I'll take biased ESPN announcers and a big TV audience over biased ACC Network announcers and virtually nobody watching us!
- I love the night game start vs. WMU on September 13th!! That should keep our momentum growing with continuing to get bigger and bigger crowds at Memorial Stadium, and I will confidently predict that this game will be sold out if we can start 2-0. We are fortunate this didn't get slotted at 11:00 am or 2:30 pm on BTN/FS1, IMO.
P.S. For anyone planning a trip to Bloomington, IN for what will likely/hopefully be a massive game in Week 4 vs. Indiana (I am really hoping we get a lot of orange in that place given the proximity and their relatively low season ticket base!!), here are the other Big Ten games that weekend (Saturday, September 20th), using this preseason top 25 just to give some context:
CONFIRMED GAME TIMES
2:30 pm on CBS - #20 Michigan at Nebraska
2:30 pm on NBC - Purdue at #7 Notre Dame
6:30 pm on CBS - #24 Washington at Washington State
TBD GAME TIMES
#11 Illinois at #17 Indiana
Oregon State at #8 Oregon
Michigan State at USC
Iowa at Rutgers
Maryland at Wisconsin
So while we are not exactly traditional powers, Illinois/Indiana is actually the only game featuring two ranked teams on that list and there is at least a decent chance we are both undefeated. The three times listed above are off the table, but Big Noon Kickoff and NBC primetime remain an option. I will go ahead and guess that if both Illinois and Indiana hold up their ends of the bargain and it is a battle of undefeated teams, we will get Big Noon Kickoff, mostly because the only other interesting Big Ten games are on the West Coast ... and that would be a 9:00 am PST kickoff for them. Really wanted this one in primetime, but I do not see it.
P.P.S. If anyone wants to go further down the TV time rabbit hole, it was reported a few years ago that FOX, CBS and NBC have a draft before the season starts, and the end result is that there is a 1-2-3 pecking order for every single week. These are almost always filled in each of the three "prime" slots by the conference's affiliated networks (Big Noon Kickoff, 2:30 pm on CBS and NBC primetime), though there are exceptions like CBS picking up a night game slot for Washington/WSU.
Below is a list of all of these "prime" slots that have been filled. Other than some obvious weeks (e.g., it seems clear FOX had the first pick in Week One and Week Fourteen), it is sort of anyone's guess which network will have the top pick in a given week. Guessing this correctly matters a lot when guessing the game times, because how desirable a given matchup is could mean totally different things in a given week. For example, let's say we are the "best" matchup for both our 9/27 game vs. USC and our 10/11 game vs. Ohio State. If FOX has the first pick in one of those weeks and wants us, we are playing at 11:00 am. However, if NBC gets the first pick and wants us, we will be at 6:30 pm ... so drastically different options, lol.
WEEK ONE - Saturday 8/30
11:00 am on FOX - #3 Texas at #5 Ohio State
2:30 pm on CBS - Nevada at #1 Penn State
6:30 pm on NBC - New Mexico at #20 Michigan
WEEK TWO - Saturday 9/6
11:00 am on FOX - Iowa at #14 Iowa State
2:30 pm on CBS - Oklahoma State at #8 Oregon
6:30 pm on NBC - Boston College at Michigan State
WEEK THREE - Saturday 9/13
11:00 am on FOX - #8 Oregon at Northwestern
2:30 pm on CBS - USC at Purdue
6:30 pm on NBC - #23 Texas A&M at #7 Notre Dame
WEEK FOUR - Saturday 9/20
11:00 am on FOX -
2:30 pm on CBS - #20 Michigan at Nebraska
6:30 pm on NBC -
WEEK FIVE - Saturday 9/27
11:00 am on FOX -
2:30 pm on CBS -
6:30 pm on NBC - #8 Oregon at #1 Penn State
WEEK SIX - Saturday 10/4
All TBD
WEEK SEVEN - Saturday 10/11
All TBD (UCLA at Michigan State confirmed for 11:00 am, Purdue at Minnesota confirmed for 6:30 pm)
WEEK EIGHT - Saturday 10/18
11:00 am on FOX -
2:30 pm on CBS -
6:30 pm on NBC - USC at #7 Notre Dame
WEEK NINE - Saturday 10/25
All TBD (Rutgers at Purdue confirmed for 11:00 am)
WEEK TEN - Saturday 11/1
All TBD
WEEK ELEVEN - Saturday 11/8
All TBD
WEEK TWELVE - Saturday 11/15
All TBD (Iowa at USC confirmed for 2:00 pm)
WEEK THIRTEEN - Saturday 11/22
All TBD
WEEK FOURTEEN - Saturday 11/29
11:00 am on FOX - #5 Ohio State at #20 Michigan
2:30 pm on CBS -
6:30 pm on NBC -
So
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Given the noon ET kickoff it won't matter which side you sit on. The sun will be overhead for the whole game and it will likely be hot for the 12~3:30 p.m. duration. Low 80s is the avg air temp for that time of Sept but I can tell you when you're in the direct southern sun in Sept it's toasty (even if this isn't the Deep South.)
We're heading there from DC. Was hoping for an evening game to be spared the heat. No matter. Will be great to see the boys in person again.
***************
In reply to Fighter's post immediately above, IMO we're a good bet for the evening Big Ten NBC slot @ Indiana on Sept. 20.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Were you expecting BTN? I think in the eyes of the networks, these are about equally prestigious … in fact, BTN often gets better ratings than FS1 for comparable games.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
I guess the heat could be a factor, but I am glad that we don't have a night game at Duke. They have had their moments over the years in night games. But a sleepy noon kickoff is probably perfect for us to get in and out of there taking care of business.
We will be heading there from DC as well. Meeting our daughter and SIL and heading down Friday night. I'll be the guy in orange, probably drinking beer.
I want to like this, but when two teams below you make the playoff, and one of them has a 0%, it just leaves me feeling sour
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I'm rooting for Frames Janklin's record of futility against the Top 10 to continue indefinitely. I love seeing PSU #1 preseason because when they choke again it will be especially delightful.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
For anyone looking for a trip down memory lane, here are the wins...
2021
Illinois 20, #7 Penn State 18 (9 OT) in State College, PA
Illinois 14, #20 Minnesota 6 in Minneapolis, MN
2022
N/A
2023
N/A
2024
Illinois 23, #19 Kansas 17 in Champaign, IL
#24 Illinois 31, #22 Nebraska 24 (OT) in Lincoln, NE
#22 Illinois 21, #24 Michigan 7 in Champaign, IL
#20 Illinois 21, #15 South Carolina 17 in Orlando, FL (Citrus Bowl)
Kind of crazy that 75% came just last season and zero in 2022! Below are some (of what I consider to be) near misses:
2022
#3 Michigan 19, Illinois 17 in Ann Arbor, MI ... I literally cannot bring myself to type too much about this absolute travesty and screwjob.
#22 Mississippi State 19, Illinois 10 in Tampa, FL (ReliaQuest Bowl) ... frustrating end that doesn't need some crazy narrative spun.
2023
#16 Iowa 15, Illinois 13 in Iowa City, IA ... a heartbreaker. We held a 13-9 lead until Iowa scored with just 4:43 left in the game, and we then failed to convert on 2nd & 3, 3rd & 2 and 4th & 2 to end the game.
Win this one, and we would have three straight bowl trips under our belts to add to this awesome momentum we have going!2024
#9 Penn State 21, #19 Illinois 7 in State College, PA ... I know some will say this wasn't that close, but we were down 14-7 with the ball, driving into PSU territory with under 6:00 to go in the game ... I will die on the hill that we played very well in this game and battled!
Bottom line? It's absolutely crazy how much Bret transformed our ability to compete in meaningful games.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
WOOHOO! Relaying back to my previous post, these are the Big Ten games those weekends as we try to guess when we will get slotted:
SATURDAY 9/27
Already Announced
6:30 pm on NBC - Oregon at Penn State
Semi-Announced
11:00 am OR 2:30 pm - Indiana at Iowa (i.e., no night game)
Still TBD
USC at Illinois
Ohio State at Washington
Rutgers at Minnesota
UCLA at Northwestern
SATURDAY 10/11
Already Announced
None
Semi-Announced
11:00 am - UCLA at Michigan State
11:00 am OR 2:30 pm - Northwestern at Penn State (i.e., no night game)
6:30 pm - Purdue at Minnesota (i.e., no day game)
Still TBD
Ohio State at Illinois
Michigan at USC
Indiana at Oregon
Iowa at Wisconsin
Nebraska at Maryland
Rutgers at Washington
A couple notes:
1. USC/Illinois is Homecoming, and for every other Homecoming game for the entire Big Ten schedule, there are tentative times listed (e.g., NU/PSU being either 11:00 am or 2:30 or Purdue/Minnesota for sure being at night). However, USC/Illinois does not have any other times listed.
2. Regarding the first point, could this mean we have a good shot at a night game vs. USC? NBC already has the Oregon/PSU game that week, but if we are not picked up by CBS or FOX (let's say Big Noon goes to Iowa/Indiana and CBS scoops up OSU/Washington), it seems very likely BTN would want the USC/Illinois game in primetime, right? Either way, if we have a good record here, I could see us getting Big Noon Kickoff in Champaign for this one, especially considering they don't tend to book a West Coast school in that early time slot. IN FACT, I will predict the winner of the Illini/Indiana game will be playing in the Big Noon slot on September 27.
3. IF we still have a good record by the OSU game, I think that is an even better chance at hosting Big Noon Kickoff (keep in mind that this is about way more than a lame 11:00 am kickoff ... the whole nation would see a broadcast from a packed Grange Grove, and we were robbed of this experience in 2023 at the last second!!), as the next best games are on the West Coast. With that said, the networks won't hesitate to screw over a West Coast school to get the best game available, haha. If we are undefeated or have one loss when OSU comes to town, I think we will be the top pick that weekend - whether that is Big Noon Kickoff, CBS at 2:30 pm or NBC in primetime!
We need to beat Duke, we will be ranked top 15...need to put them away.
- Status