2025 Season Predictions Thread

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#76      
Fighter of the Nightman
I'll post my final predictions when I have time (probably Wednesday?), but for now ... I think the games break down like this for me. In general, the games get easier as they go down the list.

EXTREMELY Confident - Cannot Imagine a Loss
Record: 2-0
vs. Western Illinois ... Should practically be able to take the fourth quarter off and win easily.
vs. Northwestern ... I just cannot see these guys dropping our Senior Day game vs. the worst NU team we will have seen in years. Not happening.

VERY Confident - Would Find a Loss Shocking
Record: 3-0
vs. Western Michigan ... Way better than WIU but still a game we simply should win at home.
vs. Maryland ... People are getting heebie jeebies from basketball, but UMD doesn't have the same curse over us in football and they are not supposed to be good. Also, this one is after a bye week, and I just don't think we'll allow ourselves to drop this one.
at Purdue ... This is another one where I do not understand the fear. I guess Purdue will be coming off of a bye week, but they will have also likely faced two beatdowns from USC and Notre Dame so far. Add in what I expect to be a large Illini contingent in W-L, the possibility of us feeling some urgency if we've lost to Duke/Indiana/USC and various revenge factors ... we are not losing this game.

FAIRLY Confident - A Loss Would Be Disappointing But Not Totally Shocking
Record: 1-0
vs. Rutgers ... I think this is our best chance at a "WTF" loss, but I still am decently confident we can put them away at home.

A LITTLE Confident - True Cautious Optimism With a Loss Being Realistic
Record: Lean 1-0
at Wisconsin ... I think we are understandably getting spooked by a big road game, but I also could totally see (A) Wisconsin haven given up somewhat by this point, (B) our guys having a LOT to play for and (C) Bielema having the team super motivated to walk into Madison and get a W.

Total TBD - Could Expect About Anything
Record: Lean 1-1
at Duke ... I am less worried about this than some, but it will be our first test.
vs. USC ... I'm getting a LITTLE more worried about this one, as it just *feels* like a game we might drop to halt some midseason momentum. However, we could have just lost in Bloomington and be really fired up to not lose on Homecoming.

A LITTLE Pessimistic - Expect a Loss, Believe a Win is Possible
Record: Lean 0-2
at #20 Indiana ... I think Cig will have these guys sold on the "chip on our shoulder/disrespected yet again" hype, and it'll be a hostile atmosphere. I'm also totally unprepared to guess how our style will clash with theirs. I'll be cautiously optimistic come gameday (especially if we're 3-0!!), but I'm comfortable predicting a loss, too.
at Washington ... time zones, home winning streaks, UW being (IMO) underrated and at the late October/early November spot where we sometimes experience setbacks? I think I've had this one as a loss in every prediction.

NOT Confident - Icing on the Cake
Record: 0-1
vs. #2 Ohio State ... Anything could happen with an electric atmosphere, but it would still be quite the feat.

So that's kind of my overall outlook ... 7 wins is a disappointment to me no matter how you slice it. 8 wins will depend on momentum and the specific results. 9 wins is another great season and means we at least won some of these "big games" that will be nationally hyped. 10+ would take some "magic," but it's exceptionally exciting that such a scenario is NOT too crazy!
 
#77      
Birdus
According to their podcasts and forums, USC and Indiana already have us getting beat severely down!
 
#78      
Illini in Italy
bleedorange and blue said:
I like 12-0. The ball bounces our way all season, the zebras make the correct calls, 1 of our running backs wins the Heisman, Luke completes 75% of his passes with 33 touchdowns and zero ints. Brett coaches a near perfect production of Illinois football and wins bigten and national coach of the year. Sit back and enjoy as Illinois wins it first natty since the 1920's. Dream big or don't dream at all. This season will make up for everything since the slush fund.
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when harry met sally ill have what shes having GIF
 
#79      
Fighter of the Nightman
Birdus said:
According to their podcasts and forums, USC and Indiana already have us getting beat severely down!
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I'll say this once again - Illini fans (and Illinoisans in general) take WAY too much of a perverse pride in being ~realistic~ or ~down to Earth~ or whatever. It's like they think it's this awesome reflection on them to not be "too optimistic" or "too excessively prideful" about anything ... but nobody else gives us a single brownie point for these ~reasonable perspectives~ and it just hurts the image of us as passionate fans.

Let's use both of those examples. Indiana had ONE good year, and they think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. When fans point out their pathetic history, they just roll their eyes and keep believing they're somehow special. Compare that to Illinois, where many of our fans practically cannot help themselves to NOT brace for misery, lol ... as if IU fans haven't been burned way worse than us before! USC football has only won more than 6 regular season games twice in the last 5 years ... but give them one good recruiting class, and their swagger returns unaltered, and they're ever-confident that they're BACK. Compare that to Illini basketball, where our storied history was a drop in the bucket compared to our inherited pessimism from the Groce years as we were continuing, as it took us at LEAST until 2024 to really get some swagger back as a hoops fan base.

Long story short? My best friend's dad is a Badgers fan, and he once told me that there is literally nothing to gain about not proudly being a homer. If you end up winning, no one gives you credit for having the confidence ... if you lose, absolutely no opposing fan would afford you any grace or respect for your humility. We don't have to go full Texas A&M delirium, but man ... it wouldn't be awful if we increased our proportion of big dreamers and homers!
 
#80      
the juiceman cometh
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I'll say this once again - Illini fans (and Illinoisans in general) take WAY too much of a perverse pride in being ~realistic~ or ~down to Earth~ or whatever. It's like they think it's this awesome reflection on them to not be "too optimistic" or "too excessively prideful" about anything ... but nobody else gives us a single brownie point for these ~reasonable perspectives~ and it just hurts the image of us as passionate fans.

Let's use both of those examples. Indiana had ONE good year, and they think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. When fans point out their pathetic history, they just roll their eyes and keep believing they're somehow special. Compare that to Illinois, where many of our fans practically cannot help themselves to NOT brace for misery, lol ... as if IU fans haven't been burned way worse than us before! USC football has only won more than 6 regular season games twice in the last 5 years ... but give them one good recruiting class, and their swagger returns unaltered, and they're ever-confident that they're BACK. Compare that to Illini basketball, where our storied history was a drop in the bucket compared to our inherited pessimism from the Groce years as we were continuing, as it took us at LEAST until 2024 to really get some swagger back as a hoops fan base.

Long story short? My best friend's dad is a Badgers fan, and he once told me that there is literally nothing to gain about not proudly being a homer. If you end up winning, no one gives you credit for having the confidence ... if you lose, absolutely no opposing fan would afford you any grace or respect for your humility. We don't have to go full Texas A&M delirium, but man ... it wouldn't be awful if we increased our proportion of big dreamers and homers!
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Eh, I think this website would be boring if everyone was just an overly optimistic homer that thinks we're destined to go go 11-1 or 12-0 and make the playoff. There's some great analysis on this website and it tends to come from people who are able to be realistic. It's hard to have insightful analysis when you're starting from a position of "yeah I am going to be incredibly and unabashedly biased in favor of my team."

I also think it's more fun to have reasonable expectations and allow yourself the possibility of being pleasantly surprised. If someone genuinely in their heart believe this team is going to go 11-1, that's great. Please don't let me disabuse anyone of that notion. But if we end up going 10-2 I am going to be ecstatic, while you might be either underwhelmed or just whelmed. If we go 8-4, I'll be happy with that. You won't be. I think keeping expectations reasonable and hopes high is ultimately a healthier way of being a fan than keeping your expectations right up there with your hopes.
 
#84      
DERV64
illini0440 said:
9-3 or 10-2. If we avoid significant Injury on OL and Luke stays healthy I'll take 10-2..We will drop 2 of 3 of either Indiana, USC or Ohio St. The Staff view those 3 as the hardest games on the schedule.
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They are making a huge mistake with Washington then
 
#85      
the Castle on Daniel
We've seen more ups and downs than Indiana, who has pretty much only been down, so our excitement may be bit more tempered when things are looking up. If you gave them our schedule last year, I sincerely doubt they make the playoff. I want us to metaphorically curb stomp them next month.
 
#87      
FlotownIllini
I'm going 9-3, with losses to OSU, Indiana, and Washington. Winning one or more of those, in addition, turns this into a truly special season, and it wouldn't shock me at all, but this is just where I'm landing as of today.
 
#89      
fuddrules
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I'll say this once again - Illini fans (and Illinoisans in general) take WAY too much of a perverse pride in being ~realistic~ or ~down to Earth~ or whatever. It's like they think it's this awesome reflection on them to not be "too optimistic" or "too excessively prideful" about anything ... but nobody else gives us a single brownie point for these ~reasonable perspectives~ and it just hurts the image of us as passionate fans.
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Giving a 12-0 predictions isn't going to win Ch!t.

Giving 12k. Now we're talking.

Wish we had far more of the later.
 
#91      
champaignchris
TheChief4Life said:
Western Illinois - W
at Duke - L
Western Michigan - W
at Indiana - L
USC - W
at Purdue - W
Ohio State - L
at Washington - L
Rutgers - W
Maryland - W
at Wisconsin - W
Northwestern - W

8-4, but could see us going 7-5 or 9-3
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Same. I think they’re a fringe top-25 team instead of a fringe playoff team.

THAT SAID, I’m bullish on the future of this program and think we’re in great hands with BB and JW.

It’s awesome the floor has been raised to such a level we’re having this discussion at all.
 
#92      
Calvin
MajorNathanMaxwellJanice said:

Illini love at the 17:53 mark

Extended bit of blunt talk about USC at 21:11
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The huge guaranteed money for coaches....those bidding wars didn't anticipate the changing landscape where money now needs to be available for the players. Some programs are just stuck. USC is one of them. LSU too.
 
#93      
Fighter of the Nightman
the juiceman cometh said:
Eh, I think this website would be boring if everyone was just an overly optimistic homer that thinks we're destined to go go 11-1 or 12-0 and make the playoff. There's some great analysis on this website and it tends to come from people who are able to be realistic. It's hard to have insightful analysis when you're starting from a position of "yeah I am going to be incredibly and unabashedly biased in favor of my team."

I also think it's more fun to have reasonable expectations and allow yourself the possibility of being pleasantly surprised. If someone genuinely in their heart believe this team is going to go 11-1, that's great. Please don't let me disabuse anyone of that notion. But if we end up going 10-2 I am going to be ecstatic, while you might be either underwhelmed or just whelmed. If we go 8-4, I'll be happy with that. You won't be. I think keeping expectations reasonable and hopes high is ultimately a healthier way of being a fan than keeping your expectations right up there with your hopes.
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FTR, I am not really talking about "internal" conversations here among Illini fans. I agree that I like that there are a wide range of perspectives here, and it would be more boring as an echo chamber of blind homerism. I am referring more to how Illini fans carry themselves when talking to non-Illini fans. I wish we had more of an attitude - even when we are TERRIBLE - of "Yeah, WE can make fun of ourselves, but you can't!"
 
#98      
RabidDawgClassic
illinoistradition said:
I still think people are underestimating how tired Washington is going to be coming into their game against us. It will be their fifth straight game, following four weeks of going back and forth between the eastern and western time zones. We, on the other hand, come off a bye and can go over earlier to acclimate. I think we drop 2 of 3 to USC, OSU, or Rutgers. Rutgers following that trip to Washington has me nervous as Bret's yearly headscratcher at home.
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USC hasn’t won a game in the Central or Eastern time zones in thirteen years. They’ll have a decent chance to break that streak with an early conference game at Purdue before later traveling to Champaign. Imagine the weight on their shoulders if they lose in West Lafayette.
 
#99      
RabidDawgClassic
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I'll say this once again - Illini fans (and Illinoisans in general) take WAY too much of a perverse pride in being ~realistic~ or ~down to Earth~ or whatever. It's like they think it's this awesome reflection on them to not be "too optimistic" or "too excessively prideful" about anything ... but nobody else gives us a single brownie point for these ~reasonable perspectives~ and it just hurts the image of us as passionate fans.

Let's use both of those examples. Indiana had ONE good year, and they think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. When fans point out their pathetic history, they just roll their eyes and keep believing they're somehow special. Compare that to Illinois, where many of our fans practically cannot help themselves to NOT brace for misery, lol ... as if IU fans haven't been burned way worse than us before! USC football has only won more than 6 regular season games twice in the last 5 years ... but give them one good recruiting class, and their swagger returns unaltered, and they're ever-confident that they're BACK. Compare that to Illini basketball, where our storied history was a drop in the bucket compared to our inherited pessimism from the Groce years as we were continuing, as it took us at LEAST until 2024 to really get some swagger back as a hoops fan base.

Long story short? My best friend's dad is a Badgers fan, and he once told me that there is literally nothing to gain about not proudly being a homer. If you end up winning, no one gives you credit for having the confidence ... if you lose, absolutely no opposing fan would afford you any grace or respect for your humility. We don't have to go full Texas A&M delirium, but man ... it wouldn't be awful if we increased our proportion of big dreamers and homers!
Click to expand...
I always laugh when people say something like “best case scenario, I say we finish 9-3.” They obviously don’t understand the phrase “best case scenario.” Best case scenario, we finish 16-0 National Champions. Everything else is probably closer to reality, but certainly not the scenario that’s the best.
 
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