2025 Season Predictions Thread

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#126      
BretMyBeachHouse
I feel like I'm at odds with many people on here. Old fogey that I am I still don't believe in Duke or Indiana. And I still have respect for some of the older guard.
I think we'll enter every fourth quarter with a chance to win. No embarrassments. 9-3. Bowl game is going to be tough with all the guys on the team likely going pro.

Western Illinois (W)
at Duke (W)
Western Michigan (W)
at Indiana (W)
USC (W)
at Purdue (W)
Ohio State (L)
at Washington (L)
Rutgers (W)
Maryland (W)
at Wisconsin (L)
Northwestern (W)
 
#127      
RabidDawgClassic
I find it fascinating how so many people here are bending over backwards to temper expectations — the scabs of decades of frustration are hard not to pick at I guess. I can’t blame anyone really — I’ve seen the same results you have for more than four of those decades.

But I’m refusing to maintain the old mindset. Bret Bielema has encouraged us to— begged us, even — to set aside the history, both ancient and recent and think differently. Believe! Just like they did at Wisconsin in the early 90s after decades of futility. We have the right man at the helm for a change. He’s proven to be a winner because he believes in himself and his staff.

Why do so many people have us losing at Duke? Sure, it could happen, but we could also win. They’re breaking in a transfer quarterback.

Why are we afraid of Indiana? Because of a one year anomaly where they beat only a schedule full of inferior teams (and had a close win vs Michigan)? If people are so certain Illinois will revert to the norm, doesn’t it seem even more likely the Hoosiers would?

Why are people so afraid of USC? They haven’t won in the Eastern or Central time zones for 13 years. That’s gotta be weighing on their shoulders. Hell, even their play by play announcer said the coaching staff is pointing to 2026 as the season they’ll be playoff caliber.

Why is Ohio State a sure fire loss? They’re breaking in essentially a new team. Granted, the buckeyes reload instead of rebuilding, but after winning the Natty, there’s a very good chance their focus won’t be a strong (except for the Michigan game).

At Washington is the game that truly scares me. They just don’t lose at home. Gonna take a great effort to fly out west and win. But we’ve won on the road in tough environments before.

At Wisconsin? Never easy. But that’s a place and a program Bret’s very familiar with.

Bottom line — I know that lowering expectations is the safe play. Can’t be disappointed if you don’t believe. But this is the very attitude Bret is trying to change. He wants a culture of belief… and to expect winning. But to also not take it to granted if — WHEN — it happens.
 
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#128      
Battle89
I am notoriously bad at this and usually don't even bother with predictions. I also am a pessimist at heart, but do believe in Bret and what he's done for the culture around here. So what the heck, I'll give it a go. If history holds, someone wager the opposite and get rich.

Western Illinois (W) - play the 2nd and 3rd strings a whole lot please.
at Duke (W) - most important game of the year IMO, sets the expectations and attitude for the rest of the year ('we can do it' vs 'same old Illini').
Western Michigan (W) - see Western Illinois.
at Indiana (W) - not a Hoosier believer.
USC (L) - I do not see a 6-0 start and think this is where we falter.
at Purdue (W) - we need to annihilate these guys, continue the culture-building as in the Duke game.
Ohio State (L) - would love a win of course but no.
at Washington (L) - bye week for us, UW travels a lot, whatever. Either this or Duke will be a loss and I'll say this one.
Rutgers (W) - can we please have enough cushion that we are not dependent on a Schiano brain fart.
Maryland (L) - my pick for the sh!t-the-bed game of the 2025 season. No particular reason, maybe basketball-influenced flinching on my part. Sue me.
at Wisconsin (W) - I think Wisconsin will be a mess by this point.
Northwestern (W) - rest who you can but beat these wannabees handily please.

8-4
upside Maryland 9-3
downside Duke 7-5
 
#130      
Calvin
Fighter of the Nightman said:
RE: That second one, it just feels like the stakes are so high to me. Last season alone skyrocketed us in terms of national perception, and I actually cannot imagine the vibe around Illini football if we followed last year (and the ensuing hype going into this year) up with a CFP appearance. It would just be the types of heights we could only dream of for literal decades...

So, in the back of my mind, I will know that a loss here or there isn't the end of the world and that the program is in amazing hands. However, in the heat of the moment ... a heart breaking loss even in games I might "predict" a loss such as at Indiana, vs. OSU, at Washington, etc. will feel like a dagger, simply because the win could have made all the difference in that CFP dream.
Click to expand...

The staff here is doing so many things right. It's hard to comprehend all the things that go into a successful season from the roster building and funding for it, to the coaching and players developing and doing their thing at the highest level. I think of, for example MSU under Dantonio where his players were so often better than their recruiting rankings, he had some elite defenses and guys going to the NFL. To my eyes, BB has a style of play and culture that punches well above it's weight. Time will tell, but I think he's got Illinois rolling. Not sure what the ceiling is, but this year we might test that!

I generally trust the smart money / Vegas, but a 7.5 win total seems off for this group.
 
#132      
the Castle on Daniel
If we look good @ Duke and beat Indiana, I think it's highly likely we are undefeated when OSU comes to Champaign. That said, we will likely lose 2 of 3 between OSU, Washington, and Wisconsin.
 
#134      
Bucktown
9-3

Western Illinois (W)
at Duke (W)
Western Michigan (W)
at Indiana (W)
USC (L)
at Purdue (W)
Ohio State (W)
at Washington (L)
Rutgers (W)
Maryland (W)
at Wisconsin (L)
Northwestern (W)
 
#135      
Chuck Nuggets
Anywhere from 7-10 wins is the realistic window, IMO. 6-6 isn't impossible if few things go right. 11-1 isn't impossible if everything goes right.

This schedule is tougher than it may seem, or tougher than I really realized before this exercise. Of course Indiana is now officially good.

I have 8-4.

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
 
#136      
RIP_Chief_2003
Western Illinois (W)
at Duke (L)
Western Michigan (W)
at Indiana (L)
USC (L)
at Purdue (W)
Ohio State (L)
at Washington (L)
Rutgers (W)
Maryland (W)
at Wisconsin (W)
Northwestern (W)

Close out strong to finish 7-5 and get another Bowl game!!
 
#137      
IlliniRocketFan
Just slammed a gallon of Kool-Aid

12-0
Western Illinois (W) (Warm-up)
at Duke (W) (I believe this game will start the run - win here and set the tone for IU)
Western Michigan (W) (Another warm-up for IU)
at Indiana (W) (Bringing in the adrenaline and confidence built up)
USC (W) (Ride the wave)
at Purdue (W) (Ride the wave)
Ohio State (W) (Pumped from third sell out in a row and an extra week to prepare)
at Washington (W) (Ride the wave)
Rutgers (W) (Ride the wave)
Maryland (W) (Ride the wave)
at Wisconsin (W) (Ride the wave)
Northwestern (W) (Ride the wave)

If I am wrong, I can blame the Kool-Aid. If I end up being right - I am a freakin genius. Nothing to lose.
 
#138      
PizzaHutParkingLot
IlliniRocketFan said:
Just slammed a gallon of Kool-Aid

12-0
Western Illinois (W) (Warm-up)
at Duke (W) (I believe this game will start the run - win here and set the tone for IU)
Western Michigan (W) (Another warm-up for IU)
at Indiana (W) (Bringing in the adrenaline and confidence built up)
USC (W) (Ride the wave)
at Purdue (W) (Ride the wave)
Ohio State (W) (Pumped from third sell out in a row and an extra week to prepare)
at Washington (W) (Ride the wave)
Rutgers (W) (Ride the wave)
Maryland (W) (Ride the wave)
at Wisconsin (W) (Ride the wave)
Northwestern (W) (Ride the wave)

If I am wrong, I can blame the Kool-Aid. If I end up being right - I am a freakin genius. Nothing to lose.
Click to expand...
Excited Fired Up GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics

Humor me, if this result holds, where do you think we end up in the College Football Playoff bracket, and who would we be matched up against?
 
#139      
Greensboro
11-1 regular season

we were 9-3 last year, but should be better, returning too much to not be.. on the downside Bryant won a few games (but we beat SC without him) & we were on the right side on a lot of one score games that could have went either way (experience & being a well coached team can mitigate this)...It isn't going to be easy, but it is our time....playoff bound
 
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#143      
Illini2010-11
RIP_Chief_2003 said:
Western Illinois (W)
at Duke (L)
Western Michigan (W)
at Indiana (L)
USC (L)
at Purdue (W)
Ohio State (L)
at Washington (L)
Rutgers (W)
Maryland (W)
at Wisconsin (W)
Northwestern (W)

Close out strong to finish 7-5 and get another Bowl game!!
Click to expand...
A 3-5 start to the season is quite literally the worst case scenario for the first 2/3 of the season. If that were to happen, it is conceivable that the Illini finish at 6-6 or 5-7. That would be a typical Illini season after winning 10 games, but it is a new era, so I choose to be more optimistic than starting the season 3-5.
 
#144      
Illini2010-11
RabidDawgClassic said:
I have no idea who we’d play, but at 12-0 I’d have to think we’re the #1 seed. Maybe #2 if someone else is also undefeated.
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At 12-0, the Illini would obviously be a lock for the B1G Championship Game. Naturally a win there to go 13-0, the Illini would easily be the #1 seed or possibly #2 seed if there is an undefeated SEC team as well.

What would be interesting is the seeding if the Illini go 12-0 and lose in the B1G Champ Game against a team like Penn State (if they are 11-1 going into game). Would the Illini be able to maintain one of the top 4 seeds and get a bye into the quarters? This is actually possible now that the byes are not top 4 ranked conference champions, but rather simply the top 4 ranked teams get the bye. There is a scenario where 12-1 (and losing conference championship game) still gets a bye.
 
#145      
RIP_Chief_2003
Not to nitpick, but I think 0-5 would be literally the worst case scenario. Road games are gonna be tough against those opponents. OSU will be a loss and then USC, they have a really solid squad. Will be hard to pull that one out especially after a lax start and likely some injuries. Ya never know.
 
#147      
Fighter of the Nightman
I keep putting my official predictions off for some reason, as if I am going to become a seasoned football analyst by tomorrow ... and as if those seasoned analysts aren't wrong all the time. :ROFLMAO: So ... screw it, here's my final take:

W vs. Western Illinois (ILL stays at #12)
W at Duke (ILL moves up to #10 - and we all feel slighted!)
W vs. Western Michigan (ILL moves up to #9)
W at #20 Indiana (ILL moves up to #6 - and we all start freaking out!)
L vs. USC (ILL drops to #10)
W at Purdue (ILL stays at #10)
L vs. Ohio State (ILL drops to #12)
L at Washington (ILL drops to #16)
W vs. Rutgers (ILL stays at #16)
W vs. Maryland (ILL moves up to #15)
W at Wisconsin (ILL moves up to #12 - it's a BEATDOWN in Madison)
W vs. Northwestern (ILL moves up to #10 thanks to chaos on Rivalry Weekend)

We do not make the Big Ten Championship Game, but hope for the CFP still lives on. It's a season a lot like 2007 where there are a ton of teams with really good records, and it's a total mess trying to figure out who belongs in. Our CFP hopes receive a revival due to a couple shocking conference championship games, but we are ultimately left out. We win our bowl game and get back-to-back 10-win seasons!
 
#148      
OrangeBlue98
9-3

Losses are OSU, at Washington, and at Wisconsin (because we always seem to have a WTF game every season and have a tough track record at Camp Randall).

Just for the record, I’d call that a big success, because another 9-3 regular season is a big mark of sustainability.
 
#149      
jmwillini
Second place is 1st loser said:
Western Illinois (W)
at Duke (L)
Western Michigan (W)
at Indiana (L)
USC (L)
at Purdue (W)
Ohio State (L)
at Washington (L)
Rutgers (W)
Maryland (W)
at Wisconsin (L)
Northwestern (W)

I'm going to go with 6-6, which will be incredibly disappointing. Last year we pulled two games completely out of our rears(Purdue and Rutgers). We're 7-5 last year if those two miracles don't happen, which includes Schiano handing us a gift.

There are most definitely some toss ups in there, but we have a lot of questions with one being....who comes anywhere near providing the production of PB? I love the OL and QB, but do we have playmakers(RB or WR)to take advantage of it? Can the interior of the DL stop the run? Can the defense consistently get off the field?

We'll see how it all plays out. This can EASILY be a 8-4 season, maybe even 9-3, but we do have a lot of questions.
Click to expand...
1756355318789.gif
 
#150      
jamie13197
We are not losing at Duke.
Indiana, I have a horrible feeling Officials will play a huge role in the winner.
USC we beat up in trenches.
OSU nope.
At Washington in that stadium worrisome.
We'll take care of business with good health, take aways on Defense, and solid offense.
Coach keeps talking special teams and they do win games.
10-2 or 9-3
 
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