Illini Football 2026

#503      
the juiceman cometh
mhuml32 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2092280919281258696


It's not just a pre-cautionary rest for week 1.
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I wonder if this is the type of thing that will finally push college sports to accept a employee/collective bargained for situation. Pro teams routinely buy insurance on player contracts that pays them back a chunk of the player salary if they miss a significant amount of time to injury. Because NIL and revenue share aren't direct compensation for playing, college programs can't really do that. With NIL numbers rising and medical redshirts gone, some program is inevitably going to spend a ton of money on like a senior transfer QB and then lose him for the season, and thereby lose their entire investment.
 
#510      
Joel Goodson
just want to thank the scheduling Gods for giving us a favorable schedule. beyond OSU and Oregon, no powerhouse rushing attacks. very fortuitous timing
 
#514      
Joel Goodson
genevaillini39w said:
The Wisconsin OLs that were really good…were huge….but could also move very well.

Haliman looks that way. Champ smith looks that way. Pritchard looks that way. Fifer they are going to have to work on, he’s a little top heavy and will need to change his body. Von seggeren looks that way.

Matalau looks extremely quick. Martin pretty athletic. Knapik long and athletic.

I’d love to know what’s behind the shift. It’s very welcome in my eyes.

I think Lunney was finally given control.
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I think athletic types were always the goal, but getting those kids was tough because we were a doormat's doormat. as we've progressed out of the abyss, convincing athletic kids is no longer a pipe dream
 
#519      
Curbelo Fanboy
Homecoming 2019 said:

Wow, are our pre-forward pass championships a joke to you??
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If Bret can maintain what he has built here, he could have some cracks at it over the next 10ish years. It'd have to be a lightning in a bottle kind of scenario where we capitalize on a great QB & then find the NIL resources to push a good team over the top. I have no doubt Bret has the coaching chops to keep us at a level where it is at least plausible that we could attain that level. Especially with the expanded playoff model a 2 loss season most likely gets you in a playoff. And then it's about matchups, injuries & a little bit of the right luck at the right time.
 
#521      
illinoistradition
mhuml32 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2093401731501641860

I’m officially closing the door on Boyd as 2027 Illinois starting QB.
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More reason to not throw millions to an incoming freshman QB. You just never know what will happen, and it is easier to throw those same millions at a proven product (Houser, in this case). I think Michigan may end up wasting that money on Lopati, and while they may be able to afford it now, those same donors are going to be sick of seeing their money go to people who do nothing at their school and go on to great success.
 
#524      
Fly Illini Fly!
genevaillini39w said:
I agree 100% They are going to hit the portal. Will be a very attractive destination for another 1-year rental.
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I think there’s little issue with using the transfer market as the main catalyst to recruit quarterbacks.

1) it’s such an important position to not only be talented, but to be ready and have the experience.

2) we’re not going to get the 5 stars in the HS ranks.

3) the QBs we will get from the HS market are not going to be ready right away. It’ll be a development process, and it’s always going to be a boom or bust scenario to hand the starting spot to a guy with no prior experience.

Feasting on very good 1-year-rentals like Houser, will never be a bad investment for our program.

Or maybe you get someone like a Luke Altmyer, and have him for 2-3 years.
 
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