Illini Football 2025
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Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
GameJokes........SEC , next to last place, 1 and 7 in SEC. 4 and 8 overall. All join hands and make the T sign.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Not bad fan fiction Fighter. This was not your point but I'm not sure we beat USC if we play them at the end of the season, they seemed to me to get better as the season went on. Conversely, I suppose, it would have been a lot colder in Champaign for an LA-based team.
Thought it was interesting to look at my predictions (and others) for the season:
Post in thread '2025 Season Predictions Thread'
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/2025-season-predictions-thread.39342/post-2285652
I didn’t believe in Indiana so I missed this loss.
I had USC and Wisconsin reversed.
In summary, I picked losses to Ohio State and Washington. Picked loss to USC (Win). Picked win against Indiana (L) and Wisconsin (L).
Post in thread '2025 Season Predictions Thread'
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/2025-season-predictions-thread.39342/post-2285652
I didn’t believe in Indiana so I missed this loss.
I had USC and Wisconsin reversed.
In summary, I picked losses to Ohio State and Washington. Picked loss to USC (Win). Picked win against Indiana (L) and Wisconsin (L).
Yeah. I think parents in general are touched in a deep place when think back to their little ones and their transition to adulthood.
I called every game except Indiana.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
(1) I agree the narrative would be different
(2) The vitriol after starting 3-3 on here would have been strong. The stands for that Rutgers game (and the fear of "what if we lose this one too?") would have been concerning. So many pieces would have been written about "same ole Illinois". I even think the USC win would have been discussed purely as a terrible loss for USC instead of a good Illinois win.
(3) This exercise was informative for me. It's made me realize this season was forever scarred by that Indiana score. If you make that a competitive loss, it feels sooooo different even if the rest of the results stand firm.
I know we all wanted a shot at the CFP, or even a 9-win regular season, but the trajectory the program is on is so exciting. Indiana is an anomaly with their instant rise to prominence. Building and sustaining football success is hard, especially with our history. Bret and Josh are building a real program here, with a chance to consistently be one of the top 10-20 programs in the county, possibly even surpassing it every few years if the stars align.
Exciting times!!
Exciting times!!
Hehe....I pretty much nailed it at 8-4. I had losses to OSU, UW and Wisky, with a toss up between Duke and IU for the 4th loss
My year in review is Illini only beat USC because it was the week after the Indiana beat down. USC only had game film of Duke moving the ball easily, and Indiana destroying the Illini. Came in unfocused, overconfident. Started slow and still almost pulled off the win.
If moved to later in the year, think that game is a loss.
Edit:battle89 pretty much same thought
Keep in mind Illini had two fumbles inside 3 yard line. Could have been two touchdown win.
I'm just now seeing this and haven't seen anything here (sorry if it's been posted), but any indication on who the started could be or even which side of the ball they'd be on?
Props to the Bielemas and the players who participated. Stuff like this never gets old.
At this point there's only five guys I'd really, really hate to see portal: Dixon, Clement, Clarke, Bailey, X Scott. If the last goes pro, not too bad, but portal would stink.
X is the one that seems most likely to me. Other than maybe one of our RB's, but I really don't want to see Valentine go.
Oooh I forgot Valentine. 6!
Bowick, Trimble
JMHO, but I think that would be a bad idea for Trimble. He has the opportunity to see a lot of playing time over the next 3 yrs.
Bowick's interesting. His start to the year was very nice, but was never quite the same guy consistently. After Dixon and Clement, can he be a 400-450 yard type guy (think sophmore year Pat Bryant or Brian Hightower)? I actually think there's a chance Trimble starts over him.
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I commented on a post on guys he’d hate to see portal and added them to the list…..
He’s not portaling
I only included guys who played this year, and I don’t think Trimble's leaving.
Bowick's probably in the next grouping, along with some of the backs. If we add another piece (or if Trimble's really good), he could be in a Malik Elzy situation.
being a visual learner, I'll be pushing the following for this season of transition
yes?
or
no
def hope Trimble stays a
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