Illini Football 2026

#159      
lstewart53x3
Fly Illini Fly! said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2079620336098726336
Click to expand...
You don’t win every game you’re favored in and you don’t lose every game you’re the dog in, but if that did happen, we’d go 8-4.

Would GIF by hamlet
 
#160      
mhuml32
Fly Illini Fly! said:
View attachment 50866
Click to expand...

This is an asinine list. I get that these are designed to stoke engagement.

Jack Ham should be #2 on this list. He was a consensus AA in college, multiple time all-pro in NFL, HOFer, Super Bowl Winner.
Lavonte David might be top-5. He played at Nebraska during some terrible years but he was incredible. Future HOFer too.
There are a lot of interesting Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, and Wisconsin linebackers that could also make this list. I'd especially say it's a crime that Penn State has no representation on this list.


Good luck figuring out what to do with guys like Hardy, TJ Watt, etc. that were excellent modern, edge linebackers. Also, are you only considering players who played in the official Big Ten? Or players who played for current B1G members? Because the latter would add Junior Seau, Ken Norton Jr., and a bunch of interesting USC players.
 
#162      
kmunt09
10% greater odds of beating Oregon (at home) than Ohio State (on the road).
 
#163      
Mr. Tibbs
Dkayak said:
Pick up NB and IA and go 10-2. Overall it’s a very positive outlook. I’d be pleased with 8-4, especially if only two games turn out to be “less than close”. Hard fought losses in which we’re competitive don’t sting like the blowouts of the bad old days.
Click to expand...
8-4 is very possible .
imo, 7-5 is our floor
I just think we will be decent , with a chance to be pretty good .
slight chance to be pretty pretty good
 
#164      
Bucktown
Mr. Tibbs said:
8-4 is very possible .
imo, 7-5 is our floor
I just think we will be decent , with a chance to be pretty good .
slight chance to be pretty pretty good
Click to expand...
8-4 would be great and historic! Illinois hasn't won 8 or more games three years in a row in 122 years. Even 7-5 would be the first time since Mackovic Illinois football has had a winning record three years in a row.
 
#165      
mhuml32
mhuml32 said:
This is an asinine list. I get that these are designed to stoke engagement.

Jack Ham should be #2 on this list. He was a consensus AA in college, multiple time all-pro in NFL, HOFer, Super Bowl Winner.
Lavonte David might be top-5. He played at Nebraska during some terrible years but he was incredible. Future HOFer too.
There are a lot of interesting Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, and Wisconsin linebackers that could also make this list. I'd especially say it's a crime that Penn State has no representation on this list.


Good luck figuring out what to do with guys like Hardy, TJ Watt, etc. that were excellent modern, edge linebackers. Also, are you only considering players who played in the official Big Ten? Or players who played for current B1G members? Because the latter would add Junior Seau, Ken Norton Jr., and a bunch of interesting USC players.
Click to expand...

Ignore all of this, just realized that Ham would have been pre-B1G.
 
#169      
Battle89
Bucktown said:
8-4 would be great and historic! Illinois hasn't won 8 or more games three years in a row in 122 years. Even 7-5 would be the first time since Mackovic Illinois football has had a winning record three years in a row.
Click to expand...
The only tears we'll cry are tears of joy
1784723652819.png
 
#172      
Dan
"New for the 2026 Fighting Illini football season, Illinois Athletics is implementing a lot-specific traffic-routing system on gameday in order to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and ensure quicker, more efficient access to parking areas.
All fans will be required to follow designated traffic routes assigned to specific lots, beginning approximately 3.5 hours before kickoff."

fightingillini.com

Illinois Football 2026 Parking Updates - University of Illinois Athletics

ILLINOIS FOOTBALL 2026 PARKING UPDATES New for the 2026 Fighting Illini football season, Illinois Athletics is implementing a lot-specific traffic-routing sy...
fightingillini.com fightingillini.com
 
#173      
lstewart53x3
Mr. Tibbs said:
the big sports books have our o/u win total at 7.5
Click to expand...
Yes, and Vegas set the under on 7.5 at -160, making the under the favorite.

ESPN’s FPI, which certainly isn’t perfect, but is a data point, gives us a projected win total of 6.7 games and these odds of each record total:
  • 12 - 0: 0.01% chance
  • 11 - 1: 0.25% chance
  • 10 - 2: 2.24% chance
  • 9 - 3: 8.93% chance
  • 8 - 4: 19.66% chance
  • 7 - 5: 26.55% chance
  • 6 - 6: 23.12% chance
  • 5 - 7: 13.17% chance
  • 4 - 8: 4.84% chance
  • 3 - 9: 1.09% chance
  • 2 - 10: 0.14% chance
  • 1 - 11: 0.01% chance
  • 0 - 12: 0.00% chance
According to this, 7-5 is the most likely outcome of any individual record. But if you add up the percentages, there’s a 42.37% chance we go 6-6 or worse and just a 31.09% chance we go 8-4 or better.

Maybe my comment of 7-5 being the ceiling is a big exaggerated but if there’s a 40% chance of 6-6 or below, 7-5 certainly isn’t the floor.
 
Last edited:
#174      
Scoregasm
lstewart53x3 said:
Yes, and Vegas set the under on 7.5 at -160, making the under the favorite.

ESPN’s FPI, which certainly isn’t perfect, but is a data point, gives us a projected win total of 6.7 games and these odds of each record total:
  • 12 - 0: 0.01% chance
  • 11 - 1: 0.25% chance
  • 10 - 2: 2.24% chance
  • 9 - 3: 8.93% chance
  • 8 - 4: 19.66% chance
  • 7 - 5: 26.55% chance
  • 6 - 6: 23.12% chance
  • 5 - 7: 13.17% chance
  • 4 - 8: 4.84% chance
  • 3 - 9: 1.09% chance
  • 2 - 10: 0.14% chance
  • 1 - 11: 0.01% chance
  • 0 - 12: 0.00% chance
According to this, 7-5 is the most likely outcome of any individual record. But if you add up the percentages, there’s a 42.37% chance we go 6-6 or worse and just a 31.09% chance we go 8-4 or better.

Maybe my comment of 7-5 being the ceiling is a big exaggerated but if there’s a 40% chance of 6-6 or below, 7-5 certainly isn’t the floor.
Click to expand...
That data pretty much sums up my gut feel for the season as well.
 
#175      
Mr. Tibbs
lstewart53x3 said:
Yes, and Vegas set the under on 7.5 at -160, making the under the favorite.

ESPN’s FPI, which certainly isn’t perfect, but is a data point, gives us a projected win total of 6.7 games and these odds of each record total:
  • 12 - 0: 0.01% chance
  • 11 - 1: 0.25% chance
  • 10 - 2: 2.24% chance
  • 9 - 3: 8.93% chance
  • 8 - 4: 19.66% chance
  • 7 - 5: 26.55% chance
  • 6 - 6: 23.12% chance
  • 5 - 7: 13.17% chance
  • 4 - 8: 4.84% chance
  • 3 - 9: 1.09% chance
  • 2 - 10: 0.14% chance
  • 1 - 11: 0.01% chance
  • 0 - 12: 0.00% chance
According to this, 7-5 is the most likely outcome of any individual record. But if you add up the percentages, there’s a 42.37% chance we go 6-6 or worse and just a 31.09% chance we go 8-4 or better.

Maybe my comment of 7-5 being the ceiling is a big exaggerated but if there’s a 40% chance of 6-6 or below, 7-5 certainly isn’t the floor.
Click to expand...
so we have a 55% chance to go anywhere between 9-3 and 7-5.

I’m still thinking realistically we go 8-4.
3-0 in non-con
5-4 in conference
 
Back