Don’t make me quote Bret….no touchdown, turnover or tackle from…lol
2026 Season Predictions Thread
Schedule is favorable, but it’s not the easiest schedule ever like Penn State.
Still need to play games like Oregon and Ohio State (in addition to a power 5 non conference in Duke who won the ACC last year).
Still need to play games like Oregon and Ohio State (in addition to a power 5 non conference in Duke who won the ACC last year).
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
The UCLA game isn’t a short week as the previous game (Nebraska) is also a Friday game.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
UAB, win
Duke, win
SIU, win
@OSU, loss
Purdue, win
@MSU, win
Oregon, loss
@Maryland, win
Nebraska; loss
@UCLA, win
Iowa, loss
@Northwestern, loss
…..
7-5 with a win in the bowl game to get to 8-5.
Duke, win
SIU, win
@OSU, loss
Purdue, win
@MSU, win
Oregon, loss
@Maryland, win
Nebraska; loss
@UCLA, win
Iowa, loss
@Northwestern, loss
…..
7-5 with a win in the bowl game to get to 8-5.
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Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
If it's all right I'll just piggyback on your post. I am thinking similarly. Maybe even slightly more worried than you about the bolded games, especially the last one, if the preceding two are both losses. Concerned about team morale, though granted the season-closing slumps were far more a pre-Bret thing than a Bret thing.
Also granted that I know zero about NW this year, if they are truly terrible then never mind.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I see a lot of people in this thread still have the pre-Bielema mindset. His “expect to win” mantra hasn’t rubbed off yet, I guess.
I think anyone saying 6-6 after losing the starting QB, the top pass rusher, the top O-Lineman and a very good DB from the prior season has taken that step forward.
Brand new QB, transitioning a RB to TE, having a suspect defensive line and linebacker corp.....pre-Bielema would have created a 2-10 prognostication.
6-6 is blind trust.
will we lose a game thats 50/50 ? yea
but nfw we lose to Iowa at home & I don’t think Fitz beats us in his first year , even if the game is up there.
I say 8-4, with a 10-20% chance of 9-3
The talent on the roster is nowhere close to 2-10.
We've upgraded the secondary from last season. Assuming Scott doesn't get hurt again, it's gone from weakness to strength.
I also think we upgraded at running back. Transferring Feagin's 122 carries and 4.2 YPG to Laughery (5.1 YPC) and Valentine (4.7) is additon by subtraction.
Reciever is the least of my concern. We lost Beatty, but brought in Platt; returned Dixon and Clement.
2023 --> IW emerges.
2024 --> IW departs, Bryant emerges.
2025 --> Bryant departs, Beatty emerges.
2026 --> one of Platt / Dixon / Clement will emerge. Stepp has that room rolling.
The weaknesses are O-Line and D-Line (and if things do go wrong, kicker).
Though, this is a bit of the new norm in college sports, with tons of change and uncertainty from a brand new line up of guys. Example: Indiana
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
And your clutch kicker
I really want to see your USC prediction now...
USC:
SJSU - win
Fresno - win
Louisiana - win
Rutgers - win
Oregon - loss
Washington - loss
Penn State - win
Wisconsin - win
Ohio State - loss
Indiana - loss
Maryland - win
UCLA - win
I agree with you about 2-10 not being the correct profile with this group.
Let's just say that we get good QB play....above average.
Saying that BOTH lines are weaknesses is pretty damning.
Weaknesses on both lines will net a losing season. It's where everything starts. If you can't block, I don't care how good the backs, receivers or QB is and it you can't rush the passer or be stout on the interior, I don't care how good the secondary is.
This is a great point. It's the position that's not talked about. Tough to win close games when you can't count on 3 from 45 yards and in.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Let's just get 6 every time, then you don't need 3