Any idea where our 66 ranks among the big ten?
Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Saturday, November 1st, 11:00am CT, NBC
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Sixth worst (ahead of Rutgers, Mich st, Purdue, UCLA, Penn State).
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
If they lose Saturday there’s a good chance. I’m not predicting a loss.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I think Bielema has done a great job these five years. But I do agree that just getting to a bowl game every year with six wins is not a sufficient goal anymore.
In other words, in territory with the absolute rock bottom of the conference.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
This might be the most ridiculous first post on this board in its history.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
For anyone saying “we aren’t meeting expectations!”, here were the expectations coming into this season:
www.illinoisloyalty.com
A whole lot of 9-3 and 8-4s in those predictions, both of which are still on the table.
As disappointed as I am in the loss, we’ve done exactly as I (and many others) predicted so far this season:
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/2025-season-predictions-thread.39342/post-2285642
2025 Season Predictions Thread
Western Illinois at Duke Western Michigan at Indiana USC at Purdue Ohio State at Washington Rutgers Maryland at Wisconsin Northwestern
www.illinoisloyalty.com
A whole lot of 9-3 and 8-4s in those predictions, both of which are still on the table.
As disappointed as I am in the loss, we’ve done exactly as I (and many others) predicted so far this season:
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/2025-season-predictions-thread.39342/post-2285642
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
riveting wake and bake this morning.............it really really is...............
I’ll take Rutgers +12.5. I think it’s gonna be a close game. Rutgers can move the ball and their main weakness is giving up sacks, but IL doesn’t ever bring pressure so that weakness may be mitigated. They lead in the 4th Q in both the Iowa and Minnesota games before losing. They are better than their record when you look into their game flows of each game
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
Illinois is surrendering 39.6 points per game in Big Ten....where does that rank?
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I see no evidence based on his track record that, in the wake of the defensive performance on Saturday, BB won’t have these guys ready to take it hard to Rutgers. And those that follow.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
IIRC, most on the Board in July projected losses against three of Duke, Indinia, OSU and UDub.
Here we are: 3-1. Frankly, could have taken OSU to the wire without the turnovers and won.
I drank (figuratively) and posted Saturday night and regretted it. Of course BB is displeased. He will do something about it. To suggest that Josh should turf him because he fails to win nine a year is ludicrous. Only a handful of programs can afford that sort of hair-trigger madness, and it usually ends badly.
Let’s chill and enjoy what we have: a wonderful, talented HC and a team that can win almost every week and that we’re excited about watching. Doesn’t matter if they’re being paid. Unlike me they’re not flawless. They're kids and fall short.
Redemption, growth, and volatility is why I watch a lot of college ball and little of the NFL.
Here we are: 3-1. Frankly, could have taken OSU to the wire without the turnovers and won.
I drank (figuratively) and posted Saturday night and regretted it. Of course BB is displeased. He will do something about it. To suggest that Josh should turf him because he fails to win nine a year is ludicrous. Only a handful of programs can afford that sort of hair-trigger madness, and it usually ends badly.
Let’s chill and enjoy what we have: a wonderful, talented HC and a team that can win almost every week and that we’re excited about watching. Doesn’t matter if they’re being paid. Unlike me they’re not flawless. They're kids and fall short.
Redemption, growth, and volatility is why I watch a lot of college ball and little of the NFL.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
lol this makes me think of the zombie kill of the week scene in Zombieland.
“What do you think, zombie kill of the week?”
“Nope, close but no cigar. That award goes to Miss Cynthia Knickerbocker.”
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
Oh, indeed! These last 5 years have been a dreadful stretch of Illini football. Give me any other 5 year stretch in the last 25. It goes without saying that the winners in this new era of football that consistently win 9+ games a year will logically be teams that have never consistently won 9+ games a year.
Only 23rd time 7+wins in 135 years. Not bad.
I for one say I think this season is a failure, sad to say it but it is. We had all the momentum coming into the season expecting to be the third best team in the big ten. When you have a defense that can't stop a nose bleed you won't win games and eventually the offense will stop being productive. Zero pressure on the QB and horrible zone defense and even some prevent, like, what are we even doing, how is Bret okay with this defensive plan????
We are one of the oldest college football teams in the country and this is the performance? If we got beat while playing man or applying pressure on the QB I am fine with that but allowing huge holes in your defense and just letting them march down the field hoping for a mistake, that's just not okay, and that is all scheme. Time to move on from D coordinator and get someone in there that will coach with some balls.
We are one of the oldest college football teams in the country and this is the performance? If we got beat while playing man or applying pressure on the QB I am fine with that but allowing huge holes in your defense and just letting them march down the field hoping for a mistake, that's just not okay, and that is all scheme. Time to move on from D coordinator and get someone in there that will coach with some balls.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I just don’t see how this season could be considered a failure at this point. I understand a disappointment based on some expectations going in. If the season caves in and they finish 6-6 or 5-7 I would consider that a failure, but I can’t fathom that with this group.
A month from now there's a world where we're riding a 4 game win streak & headed to a decent bowl game. Make program history along the way. Good vibes heading into the offseason. Not all is lost. But go any worse than 3-1 and it all feels deflated
Rutgers can sling it but they don't do all the small stuff well. As in they will probably beat themselves at some point. Would be a good game to at least don't break when Rutgers gets into the red zone.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Wow, subtle first post. The "Cignetti Effect"™ is represented by an incidence of 1 in a field of infinity, meaning while it is theoretically possible to recreate the phenomenon that is Indinia football the last two years, it's not likely to be duplicated. Many will try, few to none will succeed to the level we've all seen. Has the college football world changed? Only a fool would say no, but if it was as easy as just firing a coach, hiring a new one and bringing in a >50% transfer roster and winning the CFP in the first or second year, it is beyond the bounds of reality.
For those with the expectations of duplicating the "Cignetti Effect"™ at Illinois Ana's winning the CFP, put your expectations in one hand and deposit fecal matter in the other hand and see which one fills up first. Bret has elevated this program to levels not seen in 40+ years, and if he can continue to deliver continued, measurable success, he's not going anywhere. Of course when college sports implode upon themselves as I have foreseen, there won't be much to discuss any more.
I think anything short of 8 wins is a failure.
Frankly, having a third year starting QB and a decent enough offense around him, with at least some all big ten caliber defensive players and the schedule we play, should lend itself to that total as a floor. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
First things first, this Rutgers team isn’t good. I expect a fight, but we’re a more talented and better team. Time to show that.
How the Illini lost to Indiana and Washington were failures, but I can't classify the season as a failure except to some of my own built-up expectations (a new phenomenon for someone who used to hope to just be bowl eligible). True failures this season start with Clemson, LSU, Florida State and Penn State. Most of my disappointment this season is not having even an average defense to take full advantage of having Luke for his final season with the Illini.
So many posts about how the "Age of Cignetti" has changed everything, and now if you don't go 10-2, well just fire you and get our Cignetti. If it was that simple, wouldn't everyone do it? Dude's a massive anomaly in his level of instant success.. basically unheard of. He's the 99.9th percentile right now and everyone is talking like this is the new average below which is unacceptable. All those big name programs canning coaches you mentioned are way more likely to end up disappointed from this cycle than in the promised land, statically speaking
Those thousands of alums paying to see the game in person, are they aware it is meaningless as well? They could save their money and stay home.
Does the game itself no longer count in the final polls?
This isn’t Lake Wobegon, where everybody is above average. When you have a few B1G teams winning 10-11 games, finishing with “only” 8-9 wins is a pretty big deal. Well done!
Just 12 teams make the CFP, so firing coaches who fail to do so and paying up to $50m for the right to fire such a “loser” is insane. With such an irrational view, any of the 18 B1G teams falling outside the upper third should fire and hire via the coaching carousel, burning money and turning over staff in a crazy quest for the Holy Grail. Patience is rewarded and impatience is punished. PSU will likely regret firing Franklin for example.
Brett’s job is very secure. He’s building a culture, reputation, and program rather than a flash in the pan. With a 30-year perspective, I’m very grateful for being able to enjoy so many competitive games and look forward to another good bowl game. Life is good. Stay the course.
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