Illini Football 2026

#30      
IlliniFan85
Joel Goodson said:
days of glory!
https://twitter.com/x/status/2097082642730487950

biased, but I think this was rock bottom
Click to expand...
I think this was pointless... I'll see my way out.
Grocery Store Comedy GIF by Dead Meat James
 
#35      
Mr. Tibbs
bluemountain said:
If it wasn't obvious during the '77 season that Moeller was a joke as a coach, this game left no doubt in anyone's mind
Click to expand...
Im two years ahead of you . I was a HS sr that year & I played prep ball so I couldnā€™t even think about getting my dad to go to a game then as we played on Sats too

but a buddy of mine did as his folks were alums . that dude was so sunburn Monday morning . He recounted the heat and how lousy the Illini were .

I recall vividly how bad NU was throughout the 70ā€™s, and that game meant we had dropped down to that level. Thank God Ikenberry was hired in Oct of my frosh year and he right away hired Stoner who then canned Moeller and hired White . coming from PSU, Ike knew the importance of a strong football program for so many reasons .
 
#36      
lstewart53x3
Changes in SP+ ranking for us and opponents based on week 1 results:

(1) Ohio St [+0]
(7) Oregon [-5]
(16) Iowa [+6]
(28) Nebraska [+5]
(36) UCLA [+10]
(37) Maryland [+12]
(40) Northwestern [+11]
(42) Illinois [-13]
(45) Duke [+0]
(68) Purdue [+11]
(71) Michigan St [-7]
(123) UAB [+2]
(139) SIU [FCS]

Honestly, not a great week 1 for Illini fans. We went from ranked ahead of 9 opponents on our schedule (everyone but Ohio St, Oregon, and Iowa) to now ranked ahead of just 5.

Straight chalk would now give us a 5-7 season.

If you remove Oregon (since thatā€™s a likely loss regardless of falling a few spots), UAB (since we already played the game), and SIU (FCS opponent), our opponents moved up a combined 48 spots in the rankings. Meanwhile, we dropped 13.

So our schedule appears to be quite a bit more difficult than anticipated preseason.

Of course, week 1 lies. Weā€™ll learn a lot more in week 2.
 
#37      
Det_Illini_fan
lstewart53x3 said:
Changes in SP+ ranking for us and opponents based on week 1 results:

(1) Ohio St [+0]
(7) Oregon [-5]
(16) Iowa [+6]
(28) Nebraska [+5]
(36) UCLA [+10]
(37) Maryland [+12]
(40) Northwestern [+11]
(42) Illinois [-13]
(45) Duke [+0]
(68) Purdue [+11]
(71) Michigan St [-7]
(123) UAB [+2]
(139) SIU [FCS]

Honestly, not a great week 1 for Illini fans. We went from ranked ahead of 9 opponents on our schedule (everyone but Ohio St, Oregon, and Iowa) to now ranked ahead of just 5.

Straight chalk would now give us a 5-7 season.

If you remove Oregon (since thatā€™s a likely loss regardless of falling a few spots), UAB (since we already played the game), and SIU (FCS opponent), our opponents moved up a combined 48 spots in the rankings. Meanwhile, we dropped 13.

So our schedule appears to be quite a bit more difficult than anticipated preseason.

Of course, week 1 lies. Weā€™ll learn a lot more in week 2.
Click to expand...
And Michigan only dropped -12 after losing to Western Michigan. I think Iā€™m good not caring about these numbers.
 
#42      
Chief Piasa
Joel Goodson said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2097996152733864407
Click to expand...
I literally bumped into him once in 1982. He has courting a woman (and so was the E. St. Louis mayor) who was a classmate at the prosecutorsā€™ school in Springfield. She was very attractive, needless to say.

Both guys sent that woman dozens of roses (to the State Police Academy) but Sorey must have won since he was at the graduation party (not to mention that the mayor was married). I was talking to someone else, turned, and walked into what I thought was a stone pillar. After bumping into him, I wouldnā€™t have wanted to compete with him over a woman.
 
#46      
Fighter of the Nightman
Not sure I have the energy to TRULY dive down this rabbit hole right now :ROFLMAO: ... but for anyone trying to play the guessing game of game times and TV spots, here is what we have so far for the Big Ten time slots that are part of the preseason draft (i.e., Big Noon Kickoff, CBS at 2:30 pm CST and NBC primetime). The date is the Saturday, by the way.

Also, games that are not "Big Ten games" in the eyes of the networks are in red italic font. For example, when NBC picked up MSU at Notre Dame in Week Three, my understanding is that is NOT one of their "draft picks" for the Big Ten games, as it is part of their deal with Notre Dame. Similarly, if FOX picks a Big XII home game for Big Noon, that isn't one of their "Big Ten picks."

I'm also including the Saturday Big Ten games underneath the weeks where some spots are still TBD (or at least not public).

Week One | September 5
11:00 am FOX - North Texas at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS - Boise State at Oregon
6:30 pm NBC - Western Michigan at Michigan

Week Two | September 12
11:00 am FOX - Oklahoma at Michigan
2:30 pm CBS - Mississippi State at Minnesota
6:30 pm NBC - Iowa State at Iowa

Week Three | September 19
11:00 am FOX - Kent State at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS - USC at Rutgers
6:30 pm NBC - Michigan State at Notre Dame

Week Four | September 26
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Oregon at USC
---> Iowa at Michigan
---> Illinois at Ohio State
---> Wisconsin at Penn State
---> Nebraska at Michigan State
---> Notre Dame at Purdue
---> Minnesota at Washington
---> UCLA at Maryland


Week Five | October 3
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Indiana at Rutgers (confirmed for 7:00 pm CST, so probably BTN / FS1)
---> Ohio State at Iowa
---> Washington at USC
---> Michigan at Minnesota
---> Michigan State at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Nebraska
---> Purdue at Illinois


Week Six | October 10
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - USC at Penn State
---> Indiana at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Oregon
---> Maryland at Ohio State
---> Illinois at Michigan State
---> Minnesota at Purdue
---> Ball State at Northwestern


Week Seven | October 17
11:00 am FOX - Ohio State at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Penn State at Michigan
---> Nebraska at Oregon
---> Wisconsin at UCLA
---> Northwestern at Michigan State
---> Rutgers at Maryland


Week Eight | October 24
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Iowa at Minnesota (confirmed for 2:00 pm or later)
---> Indiana at Michigan
---> Oregon at Illinois
---> USC at Wisconsin
---> Michigan State at UCLA
---> Rutgers at Northwestern


Week Nine | October 31
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Ohio State at USC
---> Washington at Nebraska
---> Wisconsin at Iowa
---> Michigan at Rutgers
---> Purdue at Penn State
---> Minnesota at Indiana
---> Illinois at Maryland
---> Northwestern at Oregon
---> Nevada at UCLA


Week Ten | November 7
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS - Oregon at Ohio State
6:30 pm NBC - Miami (FL) at Notre Dame
---> Penn State at Washington
---> Michigan State at Michigan
---> Iowa at Northwestern
---> UCLA at Minnesota
---> Rutgers at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Purdue


Week Eleven | November 14
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Michigan at Oregon
---> USC at Indiana
---> Northwestern at Ohio State
---> Washington at Michigan State
---> Purdue at Iowa
---> Nebraska at Rutgers
---> Minnesota at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Maryland


Week Twelve | November 21
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - SMU at Notre Dame
---> Indiana at Washington
---> Ohio State at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Michigan
---> Iowa at Illinois
---> Maryland at USC
---> Rutgers at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Purdue


Week Thirteen | November 28
11:00 am FOX - Michigan at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Washington at Oregon
---> USC at UCLA
---> Purdue at Indiana
---> Penn State at Maryland
---> Illinois at Northwestern
---> Michigan State at Rutgers


I know folks would mostly be interested in gametimes so they could plan out their Saturdays and / or actually attend a game, but I also hope we can continue the trend of playing in more and more non-BTN / FS1 games ... the exposure is essential in this day and age!
 
#49      
RabidDawgClassic
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not sure I have the energy to TRULY dive down this rabbit hole right now :ROFLMAO: ... but for anyone trying to play the guessing game of game times and TV spots, here is what we have so far for the Big Ten time slots that are part of the preseason draft (i.e., Big Noon Kickoff, CBS at 2:30 pm CST and NBC primetime). The date is the Saturday, by the way.

Also, games that are not "Big Ten games" in the eyes of the networks are in red italic font. For example, when NBC picked up MSU at Notre Dame in Week Three, my understanding is that is NOT one of their "draft picks" for the Big Ten games, as it is part of their deal with Notre Dame. Similarly, if FOX picks a Big XII home game for Big Noon, that isn't one of their "Big Ten picks."

I'm also including the Saturday Big Ten games underneath the weeks where some spots are still TBD (or at least not public).

Week One | September 5
11:00 am FOX - North Texas at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS - Boise State at Oregon
6:30 pm NBC - Western Michigan at Michigan

Week Two | September 12
11:00 am FOX - Oklahoma at Michigan
2:30 pm CBS - Mississippi State at Minnesota
6:30 pm NBC - Iowa State at Iowa

Week Three | September 19
11:00 am FOX - Kent State at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS - USC at Rutgers
6:30 pm NBC - Michigan State at Notre Dame

Week Four | September 26
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Oregon at USC
---> Iowa at Michigan
---> Illinois at Ohio State
---> Wisconsin at Penn State
---> Nebraska at Michigan State
---> Notre Dame at Purdue
---> Minnesota at Washington
---> UCLA at Maryland


Week Five | October 3
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Indiana at Rutgers (confirmed for 7:00 pm CST, so probably BTN / FS1)
---> Ohio State at Iowa
---> Washington at USC
---> Michigan at Minnesota
---> Michigan State at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Nebraska
---> Purdue at Illinois


Week Six | October 10
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - USC at Penn State
---> Indiana at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Oregon
---> Maryland at Ohio State
---> Illinois at Michigan State
---> Minnesota at Purdue
---> Ball State at Northwestern


Week Seven | October 17
11:00 am FOX - Ohio State at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Penn State at Michigan
---> Nebraska at Oregon
---> Wisconsin at UCLA
---> Northwestern at Michigan State
---> Rutgers at Maryland


Week Eight | October 24
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Iowa at Minnesota (confirmed for 2:00 pm or later)
---> Indiana at Michigan
---> Oregon at Illinois
---> USC at Wisconsin
---> Michigan State at UCLA
---> Rutgers at Northwestern


Week Nine | October 31
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Ohio State at USC
---> Washington at Nebraska
---> Wisconsin at Iowa
---> Michigan at Rutgers
---> Purdue at Penn State
---> Minnesota at Indiana
---> Illinois at Maryland
---> Northwestern at Oregon
---> Nevada at UCLA


Week Ten | November 7
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS - Oregon at Ohio State
6:30 pm NBC - Miami (FL) at Notre Dame
---> Penn State at Washington
---> Michigan State at Michigan
---> Iowa at Northwestern
---> UCLA at Minnesota
---> Rutgers at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Purdue


Week Eleven | November 14
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Michigan at Oregon
---> USC at Indiana
---> Northwestern at Ohio State
---> Washington at Michigan State
---> Purdue at Iowa
---> Nebraska at Rutgers
---> Minnesota at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Maryland


Week Twelve | November 21
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - SMU at Notre Dame
---> Indiana at Washington
---> Ohio State at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Michigan
---> Iowa at Illinois
---> Maryland at USC
---> Rutgers at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Purdue


Week Thirteen | November 28
11:00 am FOX - Michigan at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Washington at Oregon
---> USC at UCLA
---> Purdue at Indiana
---> Penn State at Maryland
---> Illinois at Northwestern
---> Michigan State at Rutgers


I know folks would mostly be interested in gametimes so they could plan out their Saturdays and / or actually attend a game, but I also hope we can continue the trend of playing in more and more non-BTN / FS1 games ... the exposure is essential in this day and age!
Click to expand...

I look forward to seeing what you come up with when you DO have the energy. šŸ˜‰
 
#50      
phats22
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not sure I have the energy to TRULY dive down this rabbit hole right now :ROFLMAO: ... but for anyone trying to play the guessing game of game times and TV spots, here is what we have so far for the Big Ten time slots that are part of the preseason draft (i.e., Big Noon Kickoff, CBS at 2:30 pm CST and NBC primetime). The date is the Saturday, by the way.

Also, games that are not "Big Ten games" in the eyes of the networks are in red italic font. For example, when NBC picked up MSU at Notre Dame in Week Three, my understanding is that is NOT one of their "draft picks" for the Big Ten games, as it is part of their deal with Notre Dame. Similarly, if FOX picks a Big XII home game for Big Noon, that isn't one of their "Big Ten picks."

I'm also including the Saturday Big Ten games underneath the weeks where some spots are still TBD (or at least not public).

Week One | September 5
11:00 am FOX - North Texas at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS - Boise State at Oregon
6:30 pm NBC - Western Michigan at Michigan

Week Two | September 12
11:00 am FOX - Oklahoma at Michigan
2:30 pm CBS - Mississippi State at Minnesota
6:30 pm NBC - Iowa State at Iowa

Week Three | September 19
11:00 am FOX - Kent State at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS - USC at Rutgers
6:30 pm NBC - Michigan State at Notre Dame

Week Four | September 26
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Oregon at USC
---> Iowa at Michigan
---> Illinois at Ohio State
---> Wisconsin at Penn State
---> Nebraska at Michigan State
---> Notre Dame at Purdue
---> Minnesota at Washington
---> UCLA at Maryland


Week Five | October 3
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Indiana at Rutgers (confirmed for 7:00 pm CST, so probably BTN / FS1)
---> Ohio State at Iowa
---> Washington at USC
---> Michigan at Minnesota
---> Michigan State at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Nebraska
---> Purdue at Illinois


Week Six | October 10
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - USC at Penn State
---> Indiana at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Oregon
---> Maryland at Ohio State
---> Illinois at Michigan State
---> Minnesota at Purdue
---> Ball State at Northwestern


Week Seven | October 17
11:00 am FOX - Ohio State at Indiana
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Penn State at Michigan
---> Nebraska at Oregon
---> Wisconsin at UCLA
---> Northwestern at Michigan State
---> Rutgers at Maryland


Week Eight | October 24
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Iowa at Minnesota (confirmed for 2:00 pm or later)
---> Indiana at Michigan
---> Oregon at Illinois
---> USC at Wisconsin
---> Michigan State at UCLA
---> Rutgers at Northwestern


Week Nine | October 31
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Ohio State at USC
---> Washington at Nebraska
---> Wisconsin at Iowa
---> Michigan at Rutgers
---> Purdue at Penn State
---> Minnesota at Indiana
---> Illinois at Maryland
---> Northwestern at Oregon
---> Nevada at UCLA


Week Ten | November 7
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS - Oregon at Ohio State
6:30 pm NBC - Miami (FL) at Notre Dame
---> Penn State at Washington
---> Michigan State at Michigan
---> Iowa at Northwestern
---> UCLA at Minnesota
---> Rutgers at Wisconsin
---> Maryland at Purdue


Week Eleven | November 14
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Michigan at Oregon
---> USC at Indiana
---> Northwestern at Ohio State
---> Washington at Michigan State
---> Purdue at Iowa
---> Nebraska at Rutgers
---> Minnesota at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Maryland


Week Twelve | November 21
11:00 am FOX -
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC - SMU at Notre Dame
---> Indiana at Washington
---> Ohio State at Nebraska
---> UCLA at Michigan
---> Iowa at Illinois
---> Maryland at USC
---> Rutgers at Penn State
---> Wisconsin at Purdue


Week Thirteen | November 28
11:00 am FOX - Michigan at Ohio State
2:30 pm CBS -
6:30 pm NBC -
---> Washington at Oregon
---> USC at UCLA
---> Purdue at Indiana
---> Penn State at Maryland
---> Illinois at Northwestern
---> Michigan State at Rutgers


I know folks would mostly be interested in gametimes so they could plan out their Saturdays and / or actually attend a game, but I also hope we can continue the trend of playing in more and more non-BTN / FS1 games ... the exposure is essential in this day and age!
Click to expand...
thanks for the brief overview
giphy (1).gif
 
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