lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Have any of the insiders heard anything about the health of X?
Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Saturday, September 20th, 6:30pm CT, NBC
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RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Not an insider, but Bret said he’s fine.
I've enjoyed being on here as an IU fan. You guys are a pretty good group of people over here. A lot of rationality over here. Bielema has done a great job with Illinois football, no question. I remember when these games were basically to decide who would get 5 wins? I have Indiana winning this game 28-24 with a late score. I think their Offensive Line will be the factor. I think it's a top unit in the country. But I will admit, this game has toss up written on it, so either outcome wouldn't suprise me.
I disagree. Mendoza is the far more talented QB. He's very mobile and he has tremendous arm strength. CBS latest mock draft chose him as the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft. His ceiling is very high.
I would say Indiana has playoff quality talent as they have many guys projected to be picked in the 3 rounds of the NFL draft. Cignetti swept all the National COY awards so I would say he too is a championship level coach.
Years and years of mediocrity seems to make for some rational fanbases when success does come along. Hope you're enjoying every second of it like we are
Should be a blast Saturday night either way.Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
That sounds like tampering
The only difference is like we won a road game and they have not played one. But it is kind of irrelevant since this is an Indiana home game. My guess is this will be a one possession game.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Not much to add, but I have always found it interesting how TOTALLY diametrically opposed narratives that could define a team's season can hang on the balance for a single game, lol. Saturday's result could have some fans feeling literally on top of the world or like our moment in the sun just ended depending on the result, even if neither is logical. Just a few interesting examples since Bret got here:
2022: W 9-6 vs. Iowa ... We survived this one by the skin of our teeth to move to 5-1 and finally enter the top 25! Tommy was injured, and our D outlasted a similarly elite Hawkeyes defense.
(Negative) If we lose this one, the pessimists come out in droves and declare that we only whooped Wisconsin the week before because the Badgers sucked. As soon as we got a "real test" vs. Iowa, we lost and dropped to 4-2.
(Positive) Because we won this one, we entered the following week's huge matchup with Minnesota feeling excited and eventually carried forward that momentum to reach 7-1 and a #16 ranking. We showed toughness and resilience without our starting QB and FINALLY did what it took to beat Iowa for the first time since 2008!
2022: L 24-31 vs. Purdue ... This frustrating home loss dropped us out of the top 25 and effectively killed our Big Ten West hopes.
(Negative) After a disappointing loss to MSU, we followed it up with a devastating home dud vs. Purdue to end our dreams of a Big Ten Championship Game appearance. What once looked like a truly special season while we were sitting at 7-1 after a beatdown of Nebraska in Lincoln is now looking a lot less shiny. While a huge improvement over past years, that "fairytale season" success that could catapult recruiting momentum is traded in for a "solid" 8-4.
(Positive) If we do JUST enough to beat Purdue, we right the ship, effectively clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, are cruising toward a 9-3 regular season and (most importantly) restore our fans' confidence. A letdown vs. MSU the previous week will not derail this ship, and this isn't your grandfather's Illini Football that faceplants whenever there is finally optimism!
2024: W 31-24 in OT at Nebraska ... The Illini score a top 25 road win while ranked for the first time since God-knows-when, and we move to 4-0 and #19 in the rankings.
(Negative) Sure, our top 25 win vs. KU under the lights was exciting ... but teams score upsets at home all the time, KU now looks like they were a paper tiger and we failed our first test with a ranking next to our names - Illinois still can't maintain success once there are actual expectations!
(Positive) We refused to let the KU win be a blip on the radar, and we grinded out a tough road win vs. a ranked opponent in a hostile environment. Sitting at 4-0, our fans ACTUALLY believe that this time it might be different.
2024: W 38-31 at Rutgers ... We steal a victory on a last-second miracle play and keep the dreams of a 9-win season and truly great bowl alive!
(Negative) If we lose this one, we prove that we are still the type of program that trips at the finish line when it looks like we might take that next step. Is two 8-win seasons in three years an amazing turn of events compared to past regimes? Of course ... but 10-2 or 9-3 was there for the taking, and we had everything to play for in Piscataway.
(Positive) Luck or not, our guys found a way to snatch a W, and we are one win against NU at a very Illini-friendly Wrigley Field away from winning 9 games for the third time this millennium.
2024: W 21-17 vs. #15 South Carolina ... We beat our first SEC opponent EVER and win a meaningful bowl game for the first time in decades.
(Negative) If we lose this one, we still walk away with a great season. However, the narrative is solidified that we are a rung below. We couldn't handle the athleticism and talent of a truly good SEC squad, and while we are all somewhat excited for 2025 ... people aren't exactly ready to be hurt again.
(Positive) What. A. Statement. We take on the allegedly hottest team in the nation, take their best punch and simply REFUSE to lose. The Illini are celebrating a Citrus Bowl championship, we are looking at a top 15 preseason ranking for the next year and most of us are still pinching ourselves to see if we are dreaming.
I feel that this Indiana game carries similar weight. Are we 3-1 with our only decent win over a paper tiger Duke team and unable to win the types of games we need to in order to dream about things like the CFP? Or are we 4-0, knocking on the door of the top 5 and silencing the doubters once again with a statement win?
I will say that I find it interesting that our Citrus Bowl win described above is not really living in people's psyche in this thread as much as it should. Could we lose to Indiana? DUH, lol. Are there concerning aspects to things like our slow starts? Yes. However, let's stop acting like we don't have a team full of guys who HAVE stepped up to these kinds of challenges and gotten wins before.
2022: W 9-6 vs. Iowa ... We survived this one by the skin of our teeth to move to 5-1 and finally enter the top 25! Tommy was injured, and our D outlasted a similarly elite Hawkeyes defense.
(Negative) If we lose this one, the pessimists come out in droves and declare that we only whooped Wisconsin the week before because the Badgers sucked. As soon as we got a "real test" vs. Iowa, we lost and dropped to 4-2.
(Positive) Because we won this one, we entered the following week's huge matchup with Minnesota feeling excited and eventually carried forward that momentum to reach 7-1 and a #16 ranking. We showed toughness and resilience without our starting QB and FINALLY did what it took to beat Iowa for the first time since 2008!
2022: L 24-31 vs. Purdue ... This frustrating home loss dropped us out of the top 25 and effectively killed our Big Ten West hopes.
(Negative) After a disappointing loss to MSU, we followed it up with a devastating home dud vs. Purdue to end our dreams of a Big Ten Championship Game appearance. What once looked like a truly special season while we were sitting at 7-1 after a beatdown of Nebraska in Lincoln is now looking a lot less shiny. While a huge improvement over past years, that "fairytale season" success that could catapult recruiting momentum is traded in for a "solid" 8-4.
(Positive) If we do JUST enough to beat Purdue, we right the ship, effectively clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, are cruising toward a 9-3 regular season and (most importantly) restore our fans' confidence. A letdown vs. MSU the previous week will not derail this ship, and this isn't your grandfather's Illini Football that faceplants whenever there is finally optimism!
2024: W 31-24 in OT at Nebraska ... The Illini score a top 25 road win while ranked for the first time since God-knows-when, and we move to 4-0 and #19 in the rankings.
(Negative) Sure, our top 25 win vs. KU under the lights was exciting ... but teams score upsets at home all the time, KU now looks like they were a paper tiger and we failed our first test with a ranking next to our names - Illinois still can't maintain success once there are actual expectations!
(Positive) We refused to let the KU win be a blip on the radar, and we grinded out a tough road win vs. a ranked opponent in a hostile environment. Sitting at 4-0, our fans ACTUALLY believe that this time it might be different.
2024: W 38-31 at Rutgers ... We steal a victory on a last-second miracle play and keep the dreams of a 9-win season and truly great bowl alive!
(Negative) If we lose this one, we prove that we are still the type of program that trips at the finish line when it looks like we might take that next step. Is two 8-win seasons in three years an amazing turn of events compared to past regimes? Of course ... but 10-2 or 9-3 was there for the taking, and we had everything to play for in Piscataway.
(Positive) Luck or not, our guys found a way to snatch a W, and we are one win against NU at a very Illini-friendly Wrigley Field away from winning 9 games for the third time this millennium.
2024: W 21-17 vs. #15 South Carolina ... We beat our first SEC opponent EVER and win a meaningful bowl game for the first time in decades.
(Negative) If we lose this one, we still walk away with a great season. However, the narrative is solidified that we are a rung below. We couldn't handle the athleticism and talent of a truly good SEC squad, and while we are all somewhat excited for 2025 ... people aren't exactly ready to be hurt again.
(Positive) What. A. Statement. We take on the allegedly hottest team in the nation, take their best punch and simply REFUSE to lose. The Illini are celebrating a Citrus Bowl championship, we are looking at a top 15 preseason ranking for the next year and most of us are still pinching ourselves to see if we are dreaming.
I feel that this Indiana game carries similar weight. Are we 3-1 with our only decent win over a paper tiger Duke team and unable to win the types of games we need to in order to dream about things like the CFP? Or are we 4-0, knocking on the door of the top 5 and silencing the doubters once again with a statement win?
I will say that I find it interesting that our Citrus Bowl win described above is not really living in people's psyche in this thread as much as it should. Could we lose to Indiana? DUH, lol. Are there concerning aspects to things like our slow starts? Yes. However, let's stop acting like we don't have a team full of guys who HAVE stepped up to these kinds of challenges and gotten wins before.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yeah, but it's the SEC. If you don't like their principles, they have others.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I have to say, I ALMOST admire how thoughtlessly and quickly your ilk can drink the Kool-Aid that is served to you, lol. No number of years spent in futility in basketball can dampen that unfounded and delusional ego, and ONE good football season would make you think you've been a juggernaut for years!
31-27 good guys!
Anybody know this song
Got a tow from a guy named Joe
Cost sixty dollars hope I don't run out of dough
Told me bout a sex offense 'put him three days in jail
Stuck in Indianapolis, hope I live to tell the tale
Can't go west, can't go east
I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased
Ten days on the road now I'm four hours from my home town
Is this hell or Indianapolis with no way to get around
Anybody know this song
Got a tow from a guy named Joe
Cost sixty dollars hope I don't run out of dough
Told me bout a sex offense 'put him three days in jail
Stuck in Indianapolis, hope I live to tell the tale
Can't go west, can't go east
I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased
Ten days on the road now I'm four hours from my home town
Is this hell or Indianapolis with no way to get around
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
Says a lot about the state of my mental from sports fandom that my immediate thought in a big game like this is "please don't embarrass ourselves".
While I don’t doubt or argue Mendoza is objectively the better of the two in terms of NFL stock and perhaps he does have more tools than Luke, that doesn’t automatically mean he’s going to have a better game or even season. There’s been plenty of star NCAA QBs that have won a ton of games that go undrafted in the NFL.
That’s a pretty weak statement, but it seems to me both sides think their respective QB is the second coming. I think the match up is almost likely a wash. But heck, maybe I’m also a bit delusional?
Great song by the Bottle Rockets!31-27 good guys!
Anybody know this song
Got a tow from a guy named Joe
Cost sixty dollars hope I don't run out of dough
Told me bout a sex offense 'put him three days in jail
Stuck in Indianapolis, hope I live to tell the tale
Can't go west, can't go east
I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased
Ten days on the road now I'm four hours from my home town
Is this hell or Indianapolis with no way to get around
Say what?
Mendoza is projected as a 1st round pick next year by everyone.
Rourke was a 7th round pick.
Indiana's main claims to fame are that you have to go through it to get somewhere you actually want to be and that Lincoln left there to come to Illinois.
In other words, the state of Indiana is an afterthought.
And after Saturday , IU will be an afterthought in the CFP discussion.
Illini by 10.
In other words, the state of Indiana is an afterthought.
And after Saturday , IU will be an afterthought in the CFP discussion.
Illini by 10.
Luke has all the strength he needs and he checks all the QB boxes. Give him time in the pocket and he will dissect a defense. Even though he may not be able to heave the ball 70. yards downhill.
My 2 biggest concerns for this game are 1. TFLs and 2. sacks. We’ve given up far too many of each in our first 3 games, and from what I can see Indiana gets more than their fair share of both.
We gave up too many against WIU and WMU but it didn’t matter because they were inferior opponents. We were able to weather the storm in the first half vs Duke, aided by a muffed punt, and made adjustments to limit TFL and sacks in the second half.
Not sure we can get away with it against the Hoosiers. They don’t seem nearly as mistake prone as Duke was and if we have drives that stall out because of negative plays, we could be down a couple of touchdowns in a hurry. We can really grind teams down with a lead, but I don’t know if our offense is built to play from behind.
If we limit negative plays I like our chances. I think we can slow down their run game and bother Mendoza with some pressure and I think we’ve got a balanced enough attack on offense, with what I’m assuming are a few wrinkles we’ve been saving for this game, to score enough points.
I think we clean up the negative plays enough to prevail. I will say 27-24 ILL.
We gave up too many against WIU and WMU but it didn’t matter because they were inferior opponents. We were able to weather the storm in the first half vs Duke, aided by a muffed punt, and made adjustments to limit TFL and sacks in the second half.
Not sure we can get away with it against the Hoosiers. They don’t seem nearly as mistake prone as Duke was and if we have drives that stall out because of negative plays, we could be down a couple of touchdowns in a hurry. We can really grind teams down with a lead, but I don’t know if our offense is built to play from behind.
If we limit negative plays I like our chances. I think we can slow down their run game and bother Mendoza with some pressure and I think we’ve got a balanced enough attack on offense, with what I’m assuming are a few wrinkles we’ve been saving for this game, to score enough points.
I think we clean up the negative plays enough to prevail. I will say 27-24 ILL.
Then look at common opponents from last year
Michigan (21-7) vs (20-15)
Purdue (50-49) vs (66-0)
Northwestern (38-28) vs (41-24)
Nebraska (31-24) vs (56-7)
Michigan State (38-16) vs (47-10)
35-25 average vs 46-11
The more I look at the numbers, and Indiana at home in a night game, they have the better QB (some on here must not be familiar with Mendoza. He went 19/20 last game and he’s projected as a top 20 pick everywhere)- I’d be surprised if Illinois keeps it close. They also have a 1st rounder at CB too per Walter Football.
I’ll say
Indiana 31
Illinois 17
Does that make you a better college Quarterback?
Tools are phenomenal. We just were told for 2 years about Arch...
Quinn Ewers was a 7th round pick...Also, this topic could invoke Tim Tebow but that's not an obvious comp so we can leave that out.
Anyone who argues on the basis of 1st Rd mock is forgetting that doesn't win you a game today. In your 4th week as the starter in a program with 0 P4 wins.
I'm not saying he won't be great but leave the tools and projections to mock drafts. The game is played on turf, this Saturday.
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