Bowls/Playoff Projections
- Status
Highly likely. So much so that I've grabbed a hotel room there.
3 point girl
- texas
We have also.
band camp
- STL City
Yes.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Illinois v. Tennessee? Yes
Illinois v. Vanderbilt? Probably
Illinois v. Missouri? Coin toss
a Music City Bowl will have a very very good turnout of Illini fans
I would expect a sell out or nearly one against any of the above mentioned SEC programs
its an easy drive and fun destination for the fandom of most schools in either conference
the weather being normally expected in the mid-low 50's helps. its not low 70's like Tampa, but its great for football
I would expect a sell out or nearly one against any of the above mentioned SEC programs
its an easy drive and fun destination for the fandom of most schools in either conference
the weather being normally expected in the mid-low 50's helps. its not low 70's like Tampa, but its great for football
Looks like Vegas or Nashville for us bowling. Iowa and Michigan will get the Reliquest and Citrus Bowl unless Iowa loses again. Citrus will not take us back to back years as Michigan is more attractive to them. We need USC to beat Iowa and then Iowa to beat Nebraska for us to have a chance at a Florida bowl. We do not have to worry about the west coast teams as they have Pac12 tie-ins until next year.
Id 'd be very surprised if USC didn't steamroll Iowa, that's just a bad matchup for them.
ESPN.com's updated projections as of today:
-Bonagura: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Texas
-Schlabach: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Louisville
-Bonagura: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Texas
-Schlabach: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Louisville
Does score differential or the competitive nature of the game come into play? We don't want to talk about any of those games. I'm guessing that's going to be part of the equation. Thinking there are plenty of teams that have a top 25 win, but those same teams didn't get curb stomped in the other "tough" game they played. Wisconsin beating Washington doesn't help matters.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
I would love a shot at Texas.
The Tx matchup would be a good measuring stick where for the program. Shoot Tx was 1 at the beginning of the year. ESPN also has us in the Pin Stripe bowl against Louisville. Living in Louisville it would be great. Beat Md on Saturday.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
| Marquee | |||||
| Rank | Team | Conf | Record | Win | YTD Losses |
| 1 | OSU | Big Ten | 9-0 | Texas | - |
| 2 | IND | Big Ten | 10-0 | @OREG | - |
| 3 | TXA&M | SEC | 9-0 | @ND | - |
| 4 | ALA | SEC | 8-1 | Georgia | FSU |
| 5 | UGA | SEC | 8-1 | Mississippi | @ALA |
| 6 | MISS | SEC | 9-1 | Oklahoma | @UGA |
| 7 | TTU | Big 12 | 9-1 | BYU | @ASU |
| 8 | OREG | Big Ten | 8-1 | @Iowa | IND |
| 9 | OKLA | SEC | 7-2 | Michigan | TEX; MISS |
| 10 | ND | IND | 7-2 | USC | TEXA&M; @MIA |
| 11 | TEX | SEC | 7-2 | Vanderbilt | @OSU; @FLA |
| 12 | VANDY | SEC | 7-2 | @Missouri | @ALA; @TEX |
| 13 | BYU | Big 12 | 8-1 | Utah | TexTech |
| 14 | USC | Big Ten | 7-2 | Michigan | @ILL; @ND |
| 15 | MICH | Big Ten | 7-2 | Washington | @OKLA; @USC |
| 16 | UTAH | Big 12 | 7-2 | Arizona St | TTU; @BYU |
| 17 | GT | ACC | 8-1 | @Duke | @NCST |
| 18 | MIA | ACC | 7-2 | Notre Dame | LOU; @SMU |
| 19 | ILL | Big Ten | 6-3 | USC | @IND, OSU, @WASH |
| 20 | TENN | SEC | 6-3 | Kentucky | @UGA; ALA; OKLA |
| 21 | PITT | ACC | 7-2 | NC State | LOU; @WVU |
| 22 | HOU | Big 12 | 8-2 | @Arizona St | TTU; WVU |
| 23 | CIN | Big 12 | 7-2 | @WVA | NEB; @UTAH |
| 24 | LOU | ACC | 7-2 | Pittsburgh | UVA; CAL |
| 25 | IOWA | Big Ten | 6-3 | Minnesota | IND; OREG; @ISU |
| 26 | MIZZ | SEC | 6-3 | @Auburn | TXA&M; VANDY; @KY |
| 27 | WASH | Big Ten | 6-3 | Illinois | OSU; @MICH; @WISC |
| 28 | NEB | Big Ten | 7-3 | CIN | MICH; USC;@MINN |
| 29 | USF | Group of 5 | 7-2 | @FLA | @MEM; @MIA |
| 30 | VIRG | ACC | 8-1 | @Lou | @NCST; WF |
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Even though she's no longer on the CFP Committee, Condoleeza Rice shared with me (above) her "mock CFP rankings" that she continues to draft each week during NCAA football's final two months of the season. Too bad she's no longer casting a real vote! (She also mentioned that she didn't take the time to fully audit all of the head-to-head match-ups listed on her ballot.)
I would attribute this result to the fact that unlike most of the voters, the former Secretary of State does not spend 10 hours a day on ESPN platforms.
I didn't listen but the SEC knows they will win the PR battle for CFP, regardless of the results on the field. You see it in the polls every week.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
College football Week 12 bowl projections: Rivalry games loom large for postseason hopefuls
For several teams, rivalry games will determine whether they earn a postseason nod or stay home for December.
www.nytimes.com
| Music CityDec. 30, 2025 | 
BIG TEN 5 Illinois | 
SEC 3-8 Vanderbilt |
Predicting matchups for the CFP and every bowl game after Week 11's thrillers
How Texas Tech's win over BYU and narrow escapes by Indiana and Oregon shake up the bowl picture.
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Texas
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Illinois
Texas moves into CFP field in this week's college football bowl projections
This week's forecasted College Football Playoff field got changed after the results of Week 11 of the season with one notable addition.
www.usatoday.com
| Dec. 30 | Music City | SEC v. Big Ten | Missouri vs. Illinois |
College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26
CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.
www.cbssports.com
| Dec. 30 | Music City | 
Illinois | vs.
Tennessee | Big Ten vs. SEC |
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 27)
Location: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y.Tie-In: ACC vs. Big Ten
Projection: NC State vs. Illinois
College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections After Week 11: Where to Slot Miami
How the selection committee views the ACC could impact the remaining bowl games, which also may not fill up with eligible teams.
www.si.com
| ReliaQuest Bowl | Dec. 31 | Illinois vs. Tennessee |
ReliaQuest Bowl
Wednesday, December 31, 202512:00, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC, ACC
Last Season: Michigan 19, Alabama 13
Projection: Illinois vs Vanderbilt
College Football Bowl Projections 2025: Latest Playoff and Bowl Game Predictions After Week 11
With just three weeks of the regular season to go, our latest college football bowl projections are standing to show a clear postseason picture.
www.profootballnetwork.com
Utah vs. Illinois
SEC bowl projections after Week 11: Does anyone want to go bowling?
SEC bowl projections following Week 11, a slate where a lot of teams missed out of great opportunities to take a step toward a bowl game.
www.saturdaydownsouth.com
- Status