Illini Football 2026
We're always going to have a game that we're favored in and "should win," that we lose. It's going to happen; so I don't think 10-2 is on the table.
Last year it was Wisconsin. Year prior it was Minnesota.
If we hit our absolute ceiling, like in 2024, I could see 9-3.
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I think our schedule is alot like the 2024 year. Two playoff teams that you're not going to beat, but everyone else a "meh" team who we'll play in alot of close games.
2025 was two playoff teams as well, but AT WASHINGTON was a very difficult game. Much harder than road games of AT Nebraska and AT Rutgers in 2024.
2025 was two playoff teams as well, but AT WASHINGTON was a very difficult game. Much harder than road games of AT Nebraska and AT Rutgers in 2024.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Schuster: Is he ever healthy? No. Am I overly hopeful because the reports of his training camp every year are positive? Of course. It's simply gut feel but I would feel better about him starting or at least getting serious reps more than most of the newcomers.
Mercilus is a great choice. I think an argument can be made for Newton or Liuget as well as that DT spot might be of even more value in the new system. Opponents need to account for them, opening up our LBs
Sucks about Grant, glad our WR room is so much deeper than it was a few years ago.
What about Simeon Rice?
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Hail to the Orange Out and Hail to the Blue Out just sound... clunky.
Just call it the Hail to the Orange Game and/or the Hail to the Blue Game.
Just call it the Hail to the Orange Game and/or the Hail to the Blue Game.
The BIG has many slots to fill in the large TV contract. Certain top level big ten teams are not going to be put into those slots, certain mid-level big ten teams are then placed into those slots as they should get good ratings. People across the country will watch Illinois (right now) on a Friday night, much less interest to watch Purdue or Rutgers.
The first Thursday game, wouldn't be shocked if the Coach and AD asked for that to give them more time to prepare for week 2 against Duke. Lots of games played that Thursday night across the whole country.
The back to back Friday's in November, see my first run-on thought. lol. I also wouldn't be shocked if the Coach and AD also asked for a Friday game at UCLA to allow them to fly home and have more time to recover for what could (should) be a massive game against Iowa. That extra 24 hours is very important.
Jim Rome got the Walter White thing going on.
You might be right that they requested Thursday for the first game, but I doubt if they requested UCLA to be on a Friday. They probably did not request for Nebraska on Dad's weekend to be moved to Friday. I agree that being the middle of the pack gets you more non-Saturday games vs bad Saturday times for the bottom teams. And Ohio State is not playing on Friday.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Fox 100% wanted to have Nebraska @ Illinois in primetime on a Friday night. The last time they faced each other was a Friday Night B1G Opener on Fox, and it was an absolute home run game for the network. Similarly, with UCLA being on the West Coast, they were likely looking for a more late game to put on their calendar (happy to see that they think the Illini team will bring eye balls). The reality is that the tv networks have the most sway on days and gametimes. I am just happy that of the non-Saturday games for us, only one of them is before Friday.
I sit here and see back-to-back games on primetime Fox (with few other games being played) in November as a super plus for the program. It also allows for a more relaxed day of watching other programs play on Saturday, but that may be just me.