Huff is going to run into a ceiling if he doesn't show he can win for more than a single season.
Bowls/CFP Projections
Amen.
Don't think this year is very likely - a lot of teams look pretty good but no one looks great. I could see any of the top teams getting through the CFP in a series of close games.
Just checking the odds, it's GA, OSU, ND, Miami, Indiana, LSU.
Kinda surprised Miami isn't the favorite. ND and Miami play each other, so one of those teams is likely to have a shine and best odds going into the CFP.
Regarding Illinois, it doesn't help being a doormat for years. I gotta believe all things equal, recency bias pulls programs up or down. Bret is changing that in a good way thankfully.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
This is simply not true at all. Illinois lost too many times both seasons to get a CFP berth, especially last season. Illinois may have had an extreme outside shot at making CFP in '24, but with three losses, it is hard to make an argument that bias kept us out.
Last season, the Illini were highly overrated much of the season in the polls. The Illini were ranked in CFP polls going into Madison (even with 3 losses). Bias had absolutely no impact an the Illini missing out.
If anything, the B1G has been well represented in the CFP since the playoff expanded. Some polls may be biased, but the CFP committee is less biased, and if they were, it would be slanted in both SEC and B1G favor.
After how bad this team looked at start of season I'll take any bowl game. However, they still gotta win 2 games for that to happen
Now just one!
Let's just beat the Huskers and have no drama to get a bowl game, lol
Every win matters and yesterday’s is no different. 3 or 30 point margin of victory puts them in the same position to get to a bowl. While the “ceiling is the roof” isn’t quite the standard, a NYE/NYD bowl game is the floor. With that in mind, an invitation to a C tier game like Frisco Bowl must be turned down. Would rather see the resources needed to play a game like this be diverted towards ensuring CFP positioning.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Just for the record there are actually TWO Frisco Bowls.
The Frisco Football Classic, 8PM on Tuesday December 15, and the Frisco Bowl, 8PM on Wednesday December 23.
Both are played at Ford Center at The Star, a 12,000 seat indoor venue at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility.
Suffice it to say that's some pretty bottom-of-the-barrel stuff, the death rattle of the bowl system.
Enjoy it, we won't have these for long.
Thank you. I stand corrected. You turn BOTH Frisco Bowls down.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Never go full Notre Dame
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
1) Bowl game practices are still important for our program
2) If Illini make bowl eligibility, they will likely get a better bowl tie-in simply because they are in the B1G
3) It is a bad look to turn down a bowl game, especially in a year that was expected to be a rebuilding year. Unless the players decide to not play the game, it is petty to go Notre Dame on the bowl game
4) Pretty sure our program can multi task in prep for bowl season and looking forward to next season
I'm sorry. We are not in a position to turn down a bowl.
I don’t see us turning down any bowls .
it’s a terrible look . especially for a program with our history
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Josh and Bret respect the game and have built a culture in our building where the game is respected.
We aren't Notre Dame who think they're above the game, and you would certainly hope we're not in a position where portal defections would mean we run out of bodies. (It is possible the latter costs us an opponent though, that's an active threat to every G6 bowl team nowadays)
Latest ESPN.com projection:
-Bonagura: Frisco Bowl vs. Louisiana
-Schlabach: JLab Birmingham Bowl vs. Mississippi State
-Bonagura: Frisco Bowl vs. Louisiana
-Schlabach: JLab Birmingham Bowl vs. Mississippi State
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
Anyone but Mississippi State and those goddamn cowbells.
Honestly with Taylor done for the season it might not be the worst option.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
I promise, I will not complain at all about making a bowl this year, nor will I complain if we go 6-6. But Frisco and Birmingham? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy! Lets get to New York or Arizona at least please.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Still better than the Little Caesars Bowl from previous years.
I suspect that with the Illini travel base, we would still look good for New York or Arizona, especially if there are multiple teams with a similar record from the B1G.
The bowl practices are huge for developmental players. No way are we in a position to turn down the practices and game reps.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Pinstripe Bowl would require most Illini fans to travel Christmas night for a Noon Eastern kickoff on 12/26.
Seems like a year where it would really be best to invite one of the three East Coast schools, but Rutgers and Maryland would need to go undefeated and Penn State went last year. I think a 7-5 Michigan would end up as the best fit there.
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I found out the hard way in Tampa a few years back they let the fans bring them into a neutral site. It sucked.
I'd much rather go to Detroit than Birmingham, even in December.