2026 Season Predictions Thread

[Old.Edgy]

I do think Duke is being overlooked by our fan base by more than a bit. Game will really test our OL and an offense with a lot of new parts and relative inexperience with the Lunney playbook. I also still have a lot of questions about how good a fit Miller is with Lunney when it comes to blocking scheme, and Diaz is a coach that will prey on confusion and weakness up front. If we struggle upfront, this will almost certainly become a very uncomfortable game in a hurry and we'll need to rely on our new defense to show out, stand firm, and be the reason we win this game.

Personally I think that's a bigger ask than it will look on paper with Duke taking a step back, but it will be a big test early. If we get through it with flying colors, this could be another special season, but I expect a nailbiter that hopefully we can just eke out.

Marginally disagree... I don't think Duke will be all that good this year, but I'm projecting Maryland to be better than expected, and we could lose that game... I still think MSU, Nebby and Northwestern are wins with UCLA and Iowa tossups... If we split those we'll be in good shape...

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Marginally disagree... I don't think Duke will be all that good this year, but I'm projecting Maryland to be better than expected, and we could lose that game... I still think MSU, Nebby and Northwestern are wins with UCLA and Iowa tossups... If we split those we'll be in good shape...

Duke's running back is very good.

 

[TheChief4Life]

I do think Duke is being overlooked by our fan base by more than a bit. Game will really test our OL and an offense with a lot of new parts and relative inexperience with the Lunney playbook. I also still have a lot of questions about how good a fit Miller is with Lunney when it comes to blocking scheme, and Diaz is a coach that will prey on confusion and weakness up front. If we struggle upfront, this will almost certainly become a very uncomfortable game in a hurry and we'll need to rely on our new defense to show out, stand firm, and be the reason we win this game.

Personally I think that's a bigger ask than it will look on paper with Duke taking a step back, but it will be a big test early. If we get through it with flying colors, this could be another special season, but I expect a nailbiter that hopefully we can just eke out.

I'm sorry, but if any of the first three games are nail-bitingly close, we are going to have a long season. Duke is worse than they were last year, and we beat them by nearly 30... AT DUKE. I get it, anything can happen. But if we play close or lose to Duke, 5 wins is the ceiling of this team. And I refuse to believe that 5 wins is the ceiling.

 

[lstewart53x3]

I'm sorry, but if any of the first three games are nail-bitingly close, we are going to have a long season. Duke is worse than they were last year, and we beat them by nearly 30... AT DUKE. I get it, anything can happen. But if we play close or lose to Duke, 5 wins is the ceiling of this team. And I refuse to believe that 5 wins is the ceiling.

Not sure I agree.

Looking at the metrics. SP+ has us at #28 +10.4 and Duke at #45 +5.6, so at home we’ll likely be a ~7 point favorite.

Combine that with a new offensive line, new quarterback, new receivers, new defensive line, new linebackers, and a new defensive scheme entirely all playing in its second game of the season. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if it’s a close game.

I also wouldn’t use last year’s game as benchmark. Yes, we won by 26, but Duke had more yards (438 to 419) and more yards per play (7.0 to 5.7). We were simply +4 in the turnover margin. That’s ballgame. Had the turnovers been even (28.5% of Duke’s fumbles in 14 games came in their one game against us), we might have lost that game. It would have been close at least.

I have us beating Duke in week 2, but it’ll likely be close.