By far my favorite.
Illinois 21, Oregon 10 Postgame
BZuppke
- Plainfield
I’m in NYC at my daughter’s wedding. I’m so jacked! All those of little faith. I didn’t predict a win, but I also didn’t think we were falling. We have a great head coach and OC. Don’t discount them. They outcoached Lanning and company. Old school Big Ten. Boo Rah!!!!
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Captain 14
- The Last Best Place
Lanning was asked in the post-game if he'd replace the OC. He said everything is on the table.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
One more thing about today's game:
I know Oregon isn't having the season they expected to have and they're without their QB and starting receivers. But! They're still ranked #11 in SP+ and #10 in FPI. That might be the highest ranked team in the metrics that Bret's beat here so far? USC last year finished #13 in FPI. Michigan in '24 was #29. Tennessee last year was #19. South Carolina was #15 in '24.
So yeah, I think that's the best win on paper in Bret's tenure, unless I'm forgetting one.
I know Oregon isn't having the season they expected to have and they're without their QB and starting receivers. But! They're still ranked #11 in SP+ and #10 in FPI. That might be the highest ranked team in the metrics that Bret's beat here so far? USC last year finished #13 in FPI. Michigan in '24 was #29. Tennessee last year was #19. South Carolina was #15 in '24.
So yeah, I think that's the best win on paper in Bret's tenure, unless I'm forgetting one.
Never doubted the Illini!
(Okay, only a little… but, can you blame me?)
(Okay, only a little… but, can you blame me?)
Did we give X Scott (a little bit of a tough year so far) a lot of credit for running down the Oregon guy, saving a very long, sure TD that eventually limited it 10-0 instead 0f 14-0, and we shut them out the rest of the game. Gave us a nice boost on D when we really needed it then complemented it with Aiden's TD run a little later that boosted the O
Two huge reasons we won, IMO
Two huge reasons we won, IMO
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
As I said earlier in this thread. Or the game thread. Bret is the best coach of my lifetime and I’m 55 on Monday. No question about it. Such a good in game coach. He just seems to know how to manage the clock and the game. He is good at recognizing what his team can and can’t do and avoiding the stuff they can’t do.
Fun with numbers!
The 225 rushing yards Illinois put up was the most a Big Ten opponent had put up on Oregon since the 2024 Big Ten Championship win over Penn State when the Nits put up nearly three bills on the ground.
The last time Illinois passed for two touchdowns and less than 100 yards was a win over Indiana in 2007 when Juice Williams threw for 98 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 200+ that day.
I looked back at least as far as 1994 and didn't find a game where Illinois threw for 2TD and fewer yards. Someone with a media guide might be able to find an example.
The 225 rushing yards Illinois put up was the most a Big Ten opponent had put up on Oregon since the 2024 Big Ten Championship win over Penn State when the Nits put up nearly three bills on the ground.
The last time Illinois passed for two touchdowns and less than 100 yards was a win over Indiana in 2007 when Juice Williams threw for 98 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 200+ that day.
I looked back at least as far as 1994 and didn't find a game where Illinois threw for 2TD and fewer yards. Someone with a media guide might be able to find an example.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I have a hard time seeing the team we watched today ending up with those metrics, but we'll see.
Hopefully Dante Moore is able to come back and have an impact, it's a shame what happened to him obviously and that has hugely impacted them.
They only played with 4 scholarship wr. With that being said it’s still a team with a ton of talent and it’s a very good win for the program.
Tyrone Wheatley affect?
Definitely agree with your first statement. Definitely disagree with your second. White had a dip after '83 but was rebounding until the NCAA and a weak kneed Illinois administration torpedoed him. Just look how successful Mackovic was with White recruits.
Oline affect.
The line is playing a lot better. At the same time the backs are starting to hit the hole and get up field. Barnett and Anderson are both very physical runners
He was a track guy in high school and known for speed. The rest of his game has caught up some.
Contrast this with what looked like the Oregon defenders slowing up in the last five yards on Laughery's TD.
Illinois just wanted it more.
10.5 speed. Its shown throughout his career but as you said his game has caught up (He's already been good).
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
To honor Tom Skerritt (who passed away earlier this week) in his role as Viper in Top Gun……
“Keep sending him up!”.
He’s the guy. He’ll make mistakes, but he’s a playmaker. The rest of this season has to be all about giving him the long-term confidence to lead this team.
purcy51
- Louisville, KY
I'll be honest, I did let the all talk of how athletic Oregon is affect my expectations for this game. And I didn't think we'd win. I was hopeful, but...you know the rest.
When Laughery broke that run outside I at first thought, "he's got a long way to go, they'll catch him". It's funny how one play can change your outlook on a game.
But it wasn't just that play. It was the changes on defense, finally getting into the backfield against the "mighty ducks" OL and the way our guys were flying around creating havoc. Much improvement in tackling too! It was our OL opening holes for our RBs. The way Lunney used both QBs. So much improvement over the bye week.