Illini Football 2026

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#103      
DeonThomas
lstewart53x3 said:
I think it’s pretty obvious that this next year will likely be a small or potentially large step back.

We lost our 3 year starting QB who had the most comeback wins of any QB in the country over the past 2 years. We lost our offensive line. We lost our defensive line. We had a decent, but not great portal season.

So yeah, it’ll likely be a step back in comparison to the best stretch of football in Illinois history.

My personal hope is that the step back is temporary. And we continue to grow the program over the coming years.
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We gotta be careful in saying "....best in the history of our football program." This 16 year stretch below (86-27-6 for a win % of .761) in which we won 4 National Titles is undeniably better. Instead, I'd say we're on another heater right now, reminiscent of Ray Elliott in 40's/50's, Mike White in the 1980's, and John Mackovic circa 1990. The good news = Bret appears to be on a path of making it sustainable this time around, similar to the Zuppke streak below!



1914Robert Zuppke7–06–01st
1915Robert Zuppke5–0–23–0–25th
1916Robert Zuppke3–3–12–2–1T–4th
1917Robert Zuppke5–2–12–2–1T–5th
1918Robert Zuppke5–24–01st
1919Robert Zuppke6–16–11st
1920Robert Zuppke5–24–24th
1921Robert Zuppke3–41–48th
1922Robert Zuppke2–52–46th
1923Robert Zuppke8–05–01st
1924Robert Zuppke6–1–13–1–1T–2nd
1925Robert Zuppke5–32–2T–4th
1926Robert Zuppke6–22–2T–6th
1927Robert Zuppke7–0–15–0T–1st
1928Robert Zuppke7–14–11st
1929Robert Zuppke6–1–13–1–12nd
 
#104      
IllinoisOKC
good transfer qb with plenty of offense weapons imo and a heck of a secondary returning leads me to believe that 8 wins is the benchmark. I am hesitant about the oline(should be fine) and dline/lbers with a new defensive scheme but mark me down for 8 or more W’s.
 
#105      
Mr. Tibbs
We gotta be careful in saying "....best in the history of our football program." This 16 year stretch below (86-27-6 for a win % of .761) in which we won 4 National Titles is undeniably better. Instead, I'd say we're on another heater right now, reminiscent of Ray Elliott in 40's/50's, Mike White in the 1980's, and John Mackovic circa 1990. The good news = Bret appears to be on a path of making it sustainable this time around, similar to the Zuppke streak below!



1914Robert Zuppke7–06–01st
1915Robert Zuppke5–0–23–0–25th
1916Robert Zuppke3–3–12–2–1T–4th
1917Robert Zuppke5–2–12–2–1T–5th
1918Robert Zuppke5–24–01st
1919Robert Zuppke6–16–11st
1920Robert Zuppke5–24–24th
1921Robert Zuppke3–41–48th
1922Robert Zuppke2–52–46th
1923Robert Zuppke8–05–01st
1924Robert Zuppke6–1–13–1–1T–2nd
1925Robert Zuppke5–32–2T–4th
1926Robert Zuppke6–22–2T–6th
1927Robert Zuppke7–0–15–0T–1st
1928Robert Zuppke7–14–11st
1929Robert Zuppke6–1–13–1–12nd
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we really can’t go back that far and have those records back then really mean anything

it’s apples to watermelons

different time
different game
different rules really
 
#106      
ILLINISON1
I think it’s pretty obvious that this next year will likely be a small or potentially large step back.

We lost our 3 year starting QB who had the most comeback wins of any QB in the country over the past 2 years. We lost our offensive line. We lost our defensive line. We had a decent, but not great portal season.

So yeah, it’ll likely be a step back in comparison to the best stretch of football in Illinois history.

My personal hope is that the step back is temporary. And we continue to grow the program over the coming years.
Click to expand...

I see us improving at LB, DB, RB.

The QB has plenty of game time.

Our LT proved to be a quality player when he subbed in. And we have a TON of interior players that can step on the OL .

Your point on the DL is concerning but the cupboard is not totally empty. And the portal could be fruitful at a later date.

I don't see us falling off a cliff with the quality of kids on the field. 8-2 is realistic IMHO.
 
#107      
therealmiket86
IllinoisOKC said:
good transfer qb with plenty of offense weapons imo and a heck of a secondary returning leads me to believe that 8 wins is the benchmark. I am hesitant about the oline(should be fine) and dline/lbers with a new defensive scheme but mark me down for 8 or more W’s.
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Oline is tbd but we have a good running back room. Also Houser will be a factor in the running game
 
#109      
Birdus
logjam said:
Much, much more enjoyable than hoping to get to 6 wins...
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I've been around long enough to know a PROGRAM when I see it. Before coach B got here we did not have one. At least in the last 20 years. I do feel like we probably take a step back this year but we WILL go to a bowl and it might be a better bowl than most people think. I think we get 7 maybe even 8 wins. Before Coach B got here, the only bowl we qualified for was the toilet bowl. We are transitioning this year but I don't expect it to be a total reset. That is my feeling and probably a lot of people don't agree with it but I understand. There is always SOMEONE with the doom and gloom and look back at what this coach did or that coach. We have not had anything close to this kind of winning in a long time. I think Indiana has thrown everyone off on a kilter. Enjoy this transition year ahead. It might be tougher but there are bigger and better things ahead. I HOPE.
 
#110      
DeonThomas
Mr. Tibbs said:
we really need to win at least 7 of our first 11 games .

we can’t go in to NU’s new house needing to win to be bowl eligible
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Win just six and we're bowl eligible.....

Our 6 most Likely losses if indeed we were to go 6-6:
@ OSU
OREG home
IOWA home
@ UCLA
@ MSU
NEBR home

And some of these are certainly winnable!
 
#112      
AirTran
Mr. Tibbs said:
I realize we just need 6 to be bowl eligible.

I really want to win 8
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I am not a fan of trying to predict games without having seen any practice or early games. Duke at home is going to be challenging. I don't havea clue what MSU is going to have. UCLA had a 60 player turnover in the off season.
 
#113      
mhuml32
217sports said:
I am not saying he is close to being in danger of being fired or has to prove anything. Its a fair question of whether we continue on our upward trajectory or fall back with the amount of change that we are undergoing this year.
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There's a third option, and you could argue it's the most likely outcome.
 
#120      
Joel Goodson
Username said:
Dude, I was thinking the same thing. I said out loud to myself, "Mathew Bailey is yolked." Sorry for quoting myself, but I wanted to give an accurate account.

Is he too big to play safety???

Or upon watching it a second time is it just that Xavier Scott is a lot smaller?
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Bailey is a big egg guy. good egg too
 
#121      
chiefIlliniWek4.0
We'll win 8+ games the next 3 seasons and it'll still be the same bs in here about if we have a losing record next year we're back to doormat... I get it with our history, but at some point y'all got to move on and recognize this isn't the Illini of old. THIS's no longer a program being run on bare bones with fingers crossed for good luck results. Base layer's here to stay. I'm absolutely hitting the over on whatever low ball 6.5-7 win total Vegas throws our way this season
 
#124      
TentakilRex
Username said:
Dude, I was thinking the same thing. I said out loud to myself, "Mathew Bailey is yolked." Sorry for quoting myself, but I wanted to give an accurate account.

Is he too big to play safety???

Or upon watching it a second time is it just that Xavier Scott is a lot smaller?
Click to expand...
Insert joke that could play the Lobo role in a Rocky Long defense….

Yes that is a reference.
 
#125      
AirTran
We'll win 8+ games the next 3 seasons and it'll still be the same bs in here about if we have a losing record next year we're back to doormat... I get it with our history, but at some point y'all got to move on and recognize this isn't the Illini of old. THIS's no longer a program being run on bare bones with fingers crossed for good luck results. Base layer's here to stay. I'm absolutely hitting the over on whatever low ball 6.5-7 win total Vegas throws our way this season
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I need to caution you (as I have with others). Using common sense with this crew can, at times be hazerdous to your help. On the whole this group is more positive than other poster boards. But the posters that want to impress with what they have read on twitter or the internet love make negative comparisons or opinion (coaches, players etc) which have no first hand info whatseover.
 
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