I think the point is that getting to that next level requires a financial commitment that at this point we can't swing without going all in on football to the detriment of basketball. I imagine many of us (myself included) would be against doing that.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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2025 was the wrong year to go 10-2 ... very unsure that we would've gotten in.
At this point, if 19 wins in two years isn't enough to gain that financial commitment... then I doubt one or two extra wins would move the needle all that much.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
c/o 2027 | 6’5
Corner | gpa 3.3 | 3
| Lakota WestCincy area, Ohio
I agree. Keeping A-Hen as DC and not upgrading really hurt. Perhaps some donors are questioning why BB couldn’t seal the deal with Partridge. Hauck may turn out to be a great pivot but thus far hasn’t helped create excitement with recruits.
If the big money donors have questions about your judgment and ability to lock down talent both on the field and the sidelines, it’s going to be tough to raise competitive funds.
I’m one of those grateful for the success of the past 2 years even if we slightly regress. At the same time, more than a few folks think BB wasted a generational QB talent and whiffed on a CFP due to a relationship…and it doesn’t feel entirely wrong.
I understand that take. But “never” and “always” are a little too absolute for me.
This post isn’t remotely about Indiana. But it quite nearly reads like something off a Hoosier fan board from 4-5 year ago. Just sayin…
Forever ain’t what it used to be.
We’ve had a lot of success but we’ve also gotten embarrassed a lot in the last 2 years. Indiana, Wisconsin and Washington were all brutal losses. We had 2 weeks to game plan for Washington and had one of the worst game plans in modern history.
Everybody has money problems unless you're one of the top 15 programs. Lot of other schools in our boat
The 19 wins is nice but what marque win do we have over the last 2 years?
Absolutes are always a strong and maybe even a bit meatballish, but if we can be competitive, from an NIL standpoint, after these last two years ....what's it going to take?I understand that take. But “never” and “always” are a little too absolute for me.
This post isn’t remotely about Indiana. But it quite nearly reads like something off a Hoosier fan board from 4-5 year ago. Just sayin…
Forever ain’t what it used to be.
Indiana is always going to be the poster child of what could happen. They're going to be the shining example. How have they gotten to a point where they can spend, on BOTH sports, the amount that it takes to bring in high, high, high quality players? I know Cuban gave a fortune.
As brutal as their basketball team has been, it hasn't had anything to do with a lack of resources.
People(I'd be the first in line) would be absolutely irate if they take one penny away from the basketball program. Without having Mark Cuban, the entire Mormon crusade, etc with their wallets open, it's tough.
I understand that take. But “never” and “always” are a little too absolute for me.
This post isn’t remotely about Indiana. But it quite nearly reads like something off a Hoosier fan board from 4-5 year ago. Just sayin…
Forever ain’t what it used to be.
Dammit…I got the quote wrong.
It’s: “ The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be”
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
C/O 2027 | Westfield High School | IN
| Football OL | Rugby lock | 6’4.5” 290 | 78” wingspan | 4.0 GPA Westfield, IN
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Citrus Bowl, to be the best team that didn't make the playoffs that year or USC at home. Sell out crowd Big Noon kickoff with a sea of orange, that would have been unimaginable for the previous decade before Bret.
2024: Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, South Carolina were all T25 wins (ranked when the game was played).
2025: USC was a ranked win. Tennessee in Nashville was a pretty big deal as well.
michigan? even if post-harbaugh they were defending champs. the bowl games? usc this past year?
your previous post mentions embarrassing losses, and you’re right about them, but what about basketball and duke? the maryland big ten tournament game? maybe others (i’d also offer the listless game against kentucky in the ncaas.)
football hasn’t made the national semifinals, no, but 19 wins is damn amazing from where we were and we’re supposedly a basketball school, anyway. i don’t get the need to belittle the fb accomplishments. if you’re just relaying how the big donors feel, that’s unfortunate.
Beating two SEC schools in bowls the past two years is pretty Marquee, especially South Carolina.
Agreed and it’s no fun hearing about it living in SEC country.
On top of those 2 games, I know the OSU game wasn’t all on the D, but the utter helplessness of our defense on that 3rd quarter drive (when we were only down 7) was so painful to watch…made for a long 6 hour drive back to Nashville. We just never had answers in big moments.
Why have some of us given up on our coach? His record has surpassed our wildest dreams. We're going to go bowling EVERY YEAR. It's a Christmas miracle!
Obviously the sec bowl wins are good but with opt outs bowl games don’t hold the same weight they used to. Regardless it’s good to say we beat those schools
How many of those teams finished in the top 25? In 2024 Kansas was 5-7, Nebraska 7-6, Michigan 8-5.
I think there's plenty but definitely needed another few.
Namely either OSU, Wisconsin and/or Washington last year (Probably weren't beating Indiana),
Purdue and Michigan State in 2022 (They probably weren't letting them beat Michigan)
In '24 obviously it was the (Minnesota?) loss.
Need those types of games in the future to keep elevating.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
holy hyperbole, batman!
Losing 3 straight and not winning the big10 west in 2022 was another chance to elevate the program.
BB has done a very good job but we have missed a few opportunities. Not being bowl eligible in 2023 is another time we fumbled the bag. Having Ahen as the dc also really hurt the program
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