You can judge, but these aren't final, conclusive, forever judgments.
Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan State, Saturday, November 5th, 11:00am CT, ESPNews
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You can judge, but these aren't final, conclusive, forever judgments.
Agreed. I think many fans don't realize how much tougher this year's schedule is than last year's.
http://fightingillini.com/news/2016...-9-notes-vs-michigan-state.aspx?path=football
TOUGH ROAD
• Illini have played the 10th-toughest schedule in the nation based on winning percentage vs. FBS teams (.659).
• Illinois' six FBS opponents are combined 40-16 this season – No. 2 Michigan (8-0), No. 9 Nebraska (7-1), No. 17 Western Michigan (8-0), No. 18 North Carolina (6-2), Minnesota (6-2), Purdue (3-5) and Rutgers (2-6). When projecting out future games, the Illini schedule ranks as the ninth-toughest in the nation according to NCAA stats.
• Five Illinois opponents are ranked in the latest AP Top 25 (Oct. 30) – No. 2 Michigan, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 17 Western Michigan and No. 18 North Carolina.
• Only four college football teams will play against more 2015 bowl teams during the 2016 season. Illinois' nine bowl opponents are tied for fifth in the nation behind USC (11), BYU (10), Colorado (10) and Ole Miss (10).
Unfortunately, next year's schedule doesn't appear to get much easier with 3 non-conference games lined up against:
Ball State 4-4(1-3) 6th MAC West
w/ 4 games left could still be bowl eligible w/ 2 wins
@ USF 7-2(4-1) 1st American Athletic East
Just beat #22 Navy 52-45
WKU 6-3(4-1) 1st Conference USA East
w/ 1 point loss to Vanderbilt and a 3 point loss to La Tech
Fans are going to need to be patient. Lovie hasn't even had a chance to bring his own recruits into the program yet. This could take some time.
Given the state of the program, the Illini are fortunate to have Lovie and Josh building for the future.
There isn't going to be any word on anybody's availability any week during the Lovie era.
Having said that, the fact that he dressed last week has to reflect that he's getting closer.
Let's all pray that Taggert (USF) and Brohm (WKU) get plucked by Power 5 programs this offseason. And then follow up that prayer with one for Dudek's knees...
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Illinois plays a tough schedule every year if only for being in the Big Ten. If you buy in to this way of thinking, then you will also have to be critical of this team if they continue to lose badly going forward. The two crossover games from the other division last year were PSU on the road and OSU at home, both blowout losses. With the nine conference games on the schedule this year and in the future, the crossover games are/were @Michigan (blowout loss against very tough team), home against MSU (who is way way down this year) and @Rutgers (a win and a gift that keeps on giving for anyone's schedule). They also get Iowa at home who is down compared to last year, and NW on the road (only 4-4 this year).
As far as the games played this year, Murray State was basically as inept as Kent State I think most would agree. They got to play NC at home this year and still got blown out. They destroyed a bad Purdue team on the road last year and lost to them at home this year. Minnesota is not very good and they blew out the Illini this past week.
One thing you have to remember is that part of the reason the teams Illinois has played this year have such a good record is that they are 6-2 against the Illini.
Always a fine choice
So you thought we'd go to a bowl with a starting offensive line that couldn't get hurt, no 2's and no 3's? Are you new to football? What Butkus has done with the line to make them serviceable is impressive. You were maybe counting on the five amazing receivers we have? Or all the senior DB's? What koolaid were you drinking? This season had two wins written all over it but some thought with the massive improvement to coaching we might win 4 or 5. The question was never will we get to a bowl. The questions before Lovie and Co was where we'd be two years from now imho. I for one am interested to learn which coaches are let go from the staff that was cobbled together in 14 days or so and who we get to replace them. Next year's recruiting class will tell the tale. Bowl game... *chuckle* What did Vegas predict for us before the season? 4 wins max?
msu just lost their qb , right?
And if we get ours back and
Msu is deeply sad about losing to scUM at home and
Msu has to play on the road.........
Since this season is all about the future and Lunt hasn't proven to be a winner in the first place, I hope we keep JG Jr. at QB. I'm not saying JG Jr. is the answer at QB, but we know Lunt isn't and with no WRs expected to get open and the other team knowing full well that Lunt is a statue, there will be 8 in the box to stop the running game and to pressure whomever is at QB. Either way, it's not pretty. I'd rather see the Freshman who has 3 more years of eligibilty than the senior with 4 games left.
My two cents.
My two cents.
MSU is really terrible this year for some reason.
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