Illini Football 2026

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#51      
genevaillini39w
CMC said:
I am sure this has been discussed, but how did we get stuck with 3 non-Saturday games? For those of us on the East Coast, our opening game is a Thursday at 9?
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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.
 
#52      
Red77sng
I am sure this has been discussed, but how did we get stuck with 3 non-Saturday games? For those of us on the East Coast, our opening game is a Thursday at 9?
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Because the TV station !!!!! on us
 
#54      
illiniE
genevaillini39w said:
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.
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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.
 
#56      
Illini2010-11
illiniE said:
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.
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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.
 
#57      
Bucktown
Illini2010-11 said:
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.
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I like that UCLA game as a road trip; average November weather in Pasadena 75 high/50 low vs. 51/33 in Champaign.
 
#58      
fuddrules
Bucktown said:
I like that UCLA game as a road trip; average November weather in Pasadena 75 high/50 low vs. 51/33 in Champaign.
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Same. I've already booked my flight......twice considering the date change. I don't ever recall them changing a date that late in the season and got burned
 
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#63      
JKR
Now that I'm retired and living in the area, I don't care when they play. I can go. When I was working and driving in from out of state, it would have pissed me off when they put out a schedule like this after I had already purchased my season tickets.
 
#64      
IlliniWu
Saw some clips of Houser on Twitter and you can easily see the quick release, etc. Looks like another hit.

And one more thing, Boyd looks as advertised. The ball jumps out of his hand just as quick and has a live arm. Excited to see once he takes over as well.
 
#67      
aaeismacgychel
What's everyone's big Illini season prediction/hot take?

Mine is if he stays healthy and our OL isn't trash, Ca'lil Valentine ends the season as our 2nd 1000yd rusher since 2010. Hotter take: He averages over 100yds/game.
 
#70      
genevaillini39w
IlliniWu said:
Saw some clips of Houser on Twitter and you can easily see the quick release, etc. Looks like another hit.

And one more thing, Boyd looks as advertised. The ball jumps out of his hand just as quick and has a live arm. Excited to see once he takes over as well.
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Warner said a few days ago on a podcast that Boyd's spring was "not perfect". I'm guessing a coach told him that. I'm a little surprised that the #2 spot sounds like this large of a competition, I thought it was Boyd's for sure. Take everything with a grain of salt, but I think another transfer will be starting in 2027.
 
#71      
lstewart53x3
Fly Illini Fly! said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2085400913166885338
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If I were to rank the top 10 wins of the Bielema tenure:

10. 2024. 38-31 @ Rutgers
9. 2023. 27-26 @ Minnesota
8. 2025. 45-19 @ Duke
7. 2024. 23-17 #19 Kansas
6. 2024. 31-24 @ #22 Nebraska
5. 2025. 34-32 #16 USC.
4. 2021. 20-18 @ #7 Penn St
3. 2024. 21-7 #24 Michigan
2. 2025. 30-28 (@) Tennessee. Music City Bowl.
1. 2024. 21-17 #15 South Carolina. Citrus Bowl.

Honorable mentions:

2024. 50-49 Purdue
2023. 48-45 Indiana
2022. 9-6 Iowa
2022. 34-10 @ Wisconsin

What an incredible era of Illinois football.
 
#72      
IlliniWu
genevaillini39w said:
Warner said a few days ago on a podcast that Boyd's spring was "not perfect". I'm guessing a coach told him that. I'm a little surprised that the #2 spot sounds like this large of a competition, I thought it was Boyd's for sure. Take everything with a grain of salt, but I think another transfer will be starting in 2027.
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I'm sure there have been plenty of ups and downs. I'm just going off more of how I thought of him when they signed him. I've comped him to Demond Williams. The few clips I saw the release and the live arm alongside Houser isn't much difference (On one of those throws Boyd's route was deeper and still got there right at the same time as Howser's. All this isn't even taking account of the athleticism.

Nothing surprises me much with cfb these days, but I'm thinking it'll work out well.
 
#74      
Mr. Tibbs
aaeismacgychel said:
What's everyone's big Illini season prediction/hot take?

Mine is if he stays healthy and our OL isn't trash, Ca'lil Valentine ends the season as our 2nd 1000yd rusher since 2010. Hotter take: He averages over 100yds/game.
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I do think he busts out a really good year .

Would love to see him in the top 5 in the league in yards and carries . It fits with BB preferred game plan , all things considered.
 
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