Yes - no chance we host in a couple weeks. Interestingly, if we keep winning and UM keeps winning, we could be the visiting team for Game Day on 11/19. Obviously, the prospect of GD at UM/OSU the following week probably negates that, but still fun to think about
Illini Football 2022
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Now that's fun.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Dren1
- Glenview, IL
More well deserved recognition for Chase Brown. We should thank our lucky stars that he decided to transfer from Western Michigan.
Brown leads the nation in rushing with 733 yards and has been the face of Illinois' 4-1 start. The Illini face Iowa's defense this week, but at this point it would almost be more surprising if Brown didn't surpass 100 yards rushing considering how well Corum ran against the Hawkeyes last week.
www.cbssports.com
Chase Brown, Illinois running back
Speaking of Big Ten running backs enjoying impressive performances against stingy Big Ten West defenses, how about Chase Brown? The Illinois junior ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as the Illini dominated in a 34-10 win at Wisconsin on Saturday. The outcome led to the dismissal of Badgers coach Paul Chryst and continued Brown's streak of five straight 100-yard performances to begin the season.Brown leads the nation in rushing with 733 yards and has been the face of Illinois' 4-1 start. The Illini face Iowa's defense this week, but at this point it would almost be more surprising if Brown didn't surpass 100 yards rushing considering how well Corum ran against the Hawkeyes last week.
College Football Star Power Index: Max Duggan shines for TCU, Big Ten running backs steal the spotlight
The Star Power Index highlights the biggest names breaking out around the college football world
www.cbssports.com
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illini defensive coordinator Ryan Walters calls Colorado head coach candidacy 'flattering'
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has had his name thrown out as a candidate for the Colorado football head coaching job.
By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters is in charge of the nation’s top scoring defense through five weeks in his second season in Champaign.
With that success comes murmurs and speculation of a move to a head coaching position. Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and 247sports have all mentioned him as a candidate for the recently opened Colorado head job, one Walters interviewed for the last time it was available.
Walters, a former Colorado defensive back and student assistant, downplayed any speculation and maintained that his focus is on the Illini’s seven upcoming games this fall.
“Obviously, it’s flattering,” Walters said. “The recognition is a direct result of what we’ve been able to do up to this point here, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. The nostalgia factor kind of goes out the window when you get into this profession.
“My home is in Savoy, Illinois. I am the defensive coordinator here at the University of Illinois, and I love my job. I love coaching for Coach B. I love the leadership here, and I love the direction we’re going in. This locker room is the most fun group that I’ve ever had the chance to coach. That’s pretty much it.”
When he left the defensive coordinator post at Missouri to go to Illinois under Bret Bielema, the possibility of career advancement was on his mind. Bielema has had Chris Ash, Paul Chryst and Dave Doren, among others, become head coaches from his staff.
I had never really picked up that Doeren worked for Bielema. Interesting and telling.Illini defensive coordinator Ryan Walters calls Colorado head coach candidacy 'flattering'
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has had his name thrown out as a candidate for the Colorado football head coaching job.www.stltoday.com
By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters is in charge of the nation’s top scoring defense through five weeks in his second season in Champaign.
With that success comes murmurs and speculation of a move to a head coaching position. Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and 247sports have all mentioned him as a candidate for the recently opened Colorado head job, one Walters interviewed for the last time it was available.
Walters, a former Colorado defensive back and student assistant, downplayed any speculation and maintained that his focus is on the Illini’s seven upcoming games this fall.
“Obviously, it’s flattering,” Walters said. “The recognition is a direct result of what we’ve been able to do up to this point here, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. The nostalgia factor kind of goes out the window when you get into this profession.
“My home is in Savoy, Illinois. I am the defensive coordinator here at the University of Illinois, and I love my job. I love coaching for Coach B. I love the leadership here, and I love the direction we’re going in. This locker room is the most fun group that I’ve ever had the chance to coach. That’s pretty much it.”
When he left the defensive coordinator post at Missouri to go to Illinois under Bret Bielema, the possibility of career advancement was on his mind. Bielema has had Chris Ash, Paul Chryst and Dave Doren, among others, become head coaches from his staff.
So it’s better if wd don’t win the rest of the regular season?Related to the second point I saw a comment on another site that said its our turn to get blown out in the conference championship gameI will happily accept that honor.
A not impossible scenario: Michigan bears the Buckeyes and wins the East. Illinois wins the West. We play Michigan twice.
Not impossible: we beat Michigan in the regular season. Not impossible: We beat Michigan in the championship game, beating them twice in one season. Not likely, but that’s why they play the game.
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Maryland gave Michigan all they could handle. I don’t believe we’ll win out, and we likely even find a way to not win the West … but we absolutely CAN beat anyone left on the schedule, however unlikely! At the beginning of the year, I never would have said that.
It all starts again with Iowa, but I love the football we are playing. Just! Keep! Winning! If we did somehow win the West, I hope to GOD Illini fans would do their part and show up to Indy in droves.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
"That defense has passed enough tests to believe it’s legit, and Brown, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, is a proven commodity. But I’m reluctant to put too much confidence yet in Syracuse transfer DeVito. My ever-changing Big Ten West power rankings have Illinois behind Purdue and Minnesota but slightly ahead of Iowa, which has its own dominant defense but no offense.
The Illini have one Big Ten loss already and will likely get a second at Michigan. If they can go 2-1 against Iowa/Purdue/Minnesota, they could finish 9-3 and possibly win the West. Their floor at this point is 8-4, a lot higher than I would have imagined six weeks ago." ($$)
theathletic.com
It's hard to believe we are in a position where our floor is thought to be 8-4, but jeez if it's not incredibly exciting.
The Illini have one Big Ten loss already and will likely get a second at Michigan. If they can go 2-1 against Iowa/Purdue/Minnesota, they could finish 9-3 and possibly win the West. Their floor at this point is 8-4, a lot higher than I would have imagined six weeks ago." ($$)
Mandel's Mailbag: Can UCLA fill the Rose Bowl? The Paul Chryst firing, Northwestern's new stadium
Which Big Ten opening is the better gig? What's going on in the state of Colorado?
theathletic.com
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
just watch that IU loss bite us in the arse, just like the 1983 loss to Miznoz did"That defense has passed enough tests to believe it’s legit, and Brown, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, is a proven commodity. But I’m reluctant to put too much confidence yet in Syracuse transfer DeVito. My ever-changing Big Ten West power rankings have Illinois behind Purdue and Minnesota but slightly ahead of Iowa, which has its own dominant defense but no offense.
The Illini have one Big Ten loss already and will likely get a second at Michigan. If they can go 2-1 against Iowa/Purdue/Minnesota, they could finish 9-3 and possibly win the West. Their floor at this point is 8-4, a lot higher than I would have imagined six weeks ago." ($$)
It's hard to believe we are in a position where our floor is thought to be 8-4, but jeez if it's not incredibly exciting.Mandel's Mailbag: Can UCLA fill the Rose Bowl? The Paul Chryst firing, Northwestern's new stadium
Which Big Ten opening is the better gig? What's going on in the state of Colorado?
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Inarguably, the loss was frustrating, but we've responded incredibly well. At this point, I'm too optimistic about the future to dwell on it. We have so much to play for.
Presuming us beating missouri would not have changed the outcome of the UCLA game the only thing that loss did is save us from the ignominy of the biggest upset loss in college football history.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
How a loss laid the groundwork for Illinois' hot start
Illinois felt confident after its loss to Indiana. It wasn't like losses in past years. The team has responded with three straight wins over the past month since then.
- By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
- 14 hrs ago
CHAMPAIGN — When Illinois lost on a late field goal to Indiana in early September, Isaiah Williams stood on the turf in Bloomington, having to talk to the media after a heartbreaking loss that wasn’t the first of his Illini career.
The Illini were 13-20 in his first three seasons as a quarterback and converted receiver, but he thought this one was different. He saw a team that would respond.
“We’re going to take away (from the game) differently, and we’re going to only grow from it.” Williams said.
Over the past month, Williams has been proven right. The Illini have won their past three games since then by a combined score of 89-13.
That includes rematch wins over Wisconsin and Virginia — two programs that beat them by over 20 points the year prior. It’s Illinois’ best five-game start since 2015 and has given a glimpse of a program turnaround under Bret Bielema and his staff.
That close call to the Hoosiers has ended up being a building block for the team to get to this point.
“I think the biggest thing was Week 2, the Indiana game,” quarterback Tommy DeVito said. “We all knew that we should have won that game as a team. ... I think that might have been one of the better things that happened to us early on. It really got us just to lock in and really just focus on every week.”
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
big feature on Chase Brown (The Athletic, $): https://theathletic.com/3662876/2022/10/06/illinois-chase-brown-leading-rusher/
And Indiana dead last. Dammit.
ILLINIShox24
Orange Krush '04 & '05
ESPN: Ranking College Football's Top 25 True Freshmen
Jacas is part of a surging Illinois team that's 4-1 on the season and seemingly ascending under head coach Bret Bielema. He was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Fort Pierce, Florida. Once a Tulane commit, he signed with the Illini and ranks fourth on the team in tackles for loss and is tied for the most sacks with three. He has 12 total tackles and two quarterback hurries in what has been a breakout season for Jacas and his team. The Illini lead the Big Ten in points allowed per game and rank 11th among all FBS teams in sacks, and Jacas' role cannot be understated.
15. Gabe Jacas, EDGE
Illinois | 2022 ESPN 300 ranking: unranked (three stars)Jacas is part of a surging Illinois team that's 4-1 on the season and seemingly ascending under head coach Bret Bielema. He was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Fort Pierce, Florida. Once a Tulane commit, he signed with the Illini and ranks fourth on the team in tackles for loss and is tied for the most sacks with three. He has 12 total tackles and two quarterback hurries in what has been a breakout season for Jacas and his team. The Illini lead the Big Ten in points allowed per game and rank 11th among all FBS teams in sacks, and Jacas' role cannot be understated.
What’s funny is we’re justifiably frustrated over that loss. We all know we should have won. If we keep trending up, and winning the games we should, that loss could be what keeps us out of a New Years bowl type game. But imagine how we would have reacted if anybody told us before the season we would be one loss out of a New Years bowl game.
Not only would we take it in a heartbeat, we wouldn’t believe the person telling us.
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