Illinois vs UAB, Thursday, September 3rd, 8:00pm CT, BTN

#52      
CDRUSN
Let's start the season off strong by beating these dragons until they beg for mercy. Go Illini!

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#53      
IlliniInBuckeyeState
Here is the first Gies Memorial Stadium Sellout Watch of the 2026 season.

The tickets website it up to its usual shenanigans; I'm currently working to analyze and dial in my assumptions. It feels like the tickets sold estimates for some of the conference games are especially light. That said, 8pm Thursday night games on a long holiday weekend are notoriously tough to draw. It would not surprise me at all if we fail to break the 50k mark. The last such game (Eastern Illinois 2024) drew less than 44k.

Last thing, I've got a lot going on right now, so no promises that I'm able to keep up with this little hobby this fall...

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#56      
Illini-Rule
I'm going to be Nashville that night. Does anyone know of any Illini friendly bars where I can watch the game?
 
#61      
UDillini
Really stoked for this year.. love that it feels like Bret has a chip and more to prove even after 10 and 9 win years

Illini 39
UAB 9

Noticed 14 pages of pregame for the WIU opener last year, 3 pages now but a week to go!
 
#62      
lstewart53x3
UDillini said:
Really stoked for this year.. love that it feels like Bret has a chip and more to prove even after 10 and 9 win years

Illini 39
UAB 9

Noticed 14 pages of pregame for the WIU opener last year, 3 pages now but a week to go!
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Big part of that is we were #12 AP preseason with top 5 returning production coming off a 10 win season and a Citrus Bowl victory.

This season projects to be a bit more… up and down. So not quite as much excitement around the program so far. Win those first 3 games though and show a competent defense and I could see the excitement building.
 
#65      
Illini-Rule
Rooftop said:
Just go to Barstool. It's great. A block off of Broadway.
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Thank you Rooftop! I haven't been to Nashville in 15 - 20 years, looking forward to seeing all the changes and enjoying an Illini victory while hanging out with friends.
 
#67      
UDillini
lstewart53x3 said:
Big part of that is we were #12 AP preseason with top 5 returning production coming off a 10 win season and a Citrus Bowl victory.

This season projects to be a bit more… up and down. So not quite as much excitement around the program so far. Win those first 3 games though and show a competent defense and I could see the excitement building.
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I totally get that but we were also just at 9 wins with a bowl win over a good SEC program.. we were in the gutter for the majority of the last 25 years.. feels like there is much more pressure/ at stake in these rebuild transition years to keep things rolling
 
#68      
Old.Edgy
Anybody have a link for the UAB coaches presser pre -Illinois ? I always like to hear what opposing coaches say...
 
#70      
EmeraldCityIllini
UDillini said:
Really stoked for this year.. love that it feels like Bret has a chip and more to prove even after 10 and 9 win years

Illini 39
UAB 9

Noticed 14 pages of pregame for the WIU opener last year, 3 pages now but a week to go!
Click to expand...

I'll be into it once the season gets going - and it seems there's some really nice buzz on Houser which is great. I'm aware the general direction of the program is positive.

But last year was frustrating for me. Partly because how invested in it I was going into it. The Good news for me is the recent Illini football years ive enjoyed the most is the ones I come into with slightly less expectations.

For what any of that is worth in speaking for myself.
 
#71      
pvaughn8
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I'll be into it once the season gets going - and it seems there's some really nice buzz on Houser which is great. I'm aware the general direction of the program is positive.

But last year was frustrating for me. Partly because how invested in it I was going into it. The Good news for me is the recent Illini football years ive enjoyed the most is the ones I come into with slightly less expectations.

For what any of that is worth in speaking for myself.
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That IU game did a number on me
 
#72      
Ander1345
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I'll be into it once the season gets going - and it seems there's some really nice buzz on Houser which is great. I'm aware the general direction of the program is positive.

But last year was frustrating for me. Partly because how invested in it I was going into it. The Good news for me is the recent Illini football years ive enjoyed the most is the ones I come into with slightly less expectations.

For what any of that is worth in speaking for myself.
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The Washington loss was devastating for me. Couldn't watch them the same.
 
#73      
lstewart53x3
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I'll be into it once the season gets going - and it seems there's some really nice buzz on Houser which is great. I'm aware the general direction of the program is positive.

But last year was frustrating for me. Partly because how invested in it I was going into it. The Good news for me is the recent Illini football years ive enjoyed the most is the ones I come into with slightly less expectations.

For what any of that is worth in speaking for myself.
Click to expand...
Ander1345 said:
The Washington loss was devastating for me. Couldn't watch them the same.
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Yeah, that's the other thing headed into this year.

Even though we won 9 games last year including a bowl win over Tennessee, the fan vibes weren't great much of the year.

Since we were #12 to start the year, a playoff berth became the expectation. Then we had 63-10 against Indiana, 42-25 against Washington, 34-16 against Ohio St, and 27-10 against (4-8) Wisconsin.
 
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