Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[Illini Dylan]

It may just be a me problem, but my favorite thing about the game, aside from the win obviously is I don't have to hear ALL ABOARD HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" every fucking play over the Rutgers PA...I swear I heard it on TV 10 times not even halfway through the 1st qtr...it almost made me not like Crazy Train anymore, seriously, fucking change it up Rutgers. Surely their fans even get tired of it too.

 

[ScriptOhio]

10 college football teams poised to disappoint this season

For some higher-level programs, there may be slippage from CFP contention. But other teams could be looking at more serious regression.

sports.yahoo.com

10 college football teams poised to disappoint this season​

Illinois (2024: 10-3, 6-3 Big Ten)​

Illinois is getting plenty of pub as the Big Ten dark horse this offseason. That’s a recipe for disappointment — even if the Fighting Illini end up having a pretty good season! And that’s where I fall on this version of Bret Bielema’s team. Another 10-win season could be hard to replicate against a slate of opponents that’s not as intimidating as it is selectively dangerous. The Illini’s schedule includes road tests at Duke and Indiana in the first four weeks. Then Ohio State visits later on, and the week after that Illinois travels to play a Washington team we're high on. Factor in a possible Big Ten misstep, which the Illini had last year against a decent Minnesota team, and eight regular-season wins feels more realistic. Getting to nine regular-season wins, like last year, is possible. But even then, Illinois would be on the outside of the College Football Playoff looking in. Is that a disappointment? It feels like it, with the way Illinois is being talked about right now.

Look, there’s a lot to like up and down the roster. Gabe Jacas is listed as an EDGE, but more than anything he’s a nightmare for opposing offenses. There’s stability in the back end. Luke Altmyer quietly posted the third-most “Big Time Throws” (Pro Football Focus’ metric for passes “with excellent ball location and timing) of any Big Ten quarterback last year. Without last year’s top-two receivers, namely third-round pick Pat Bryant, Altmyer will need West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement and Ball State transfer Justin Bowick to step up. Still, the Illini are fourth nationally in ESPN’s returning production rankings. It’s no gimme, though, they'll bring back the good fortune that helped make 2024 so magical. In addition to dodging serious injury issues, Illinois won two overtime games and beat Rutgers on the final play of regulation. Kansas and South Carolina both had chances for game-winning drives late, and Illinois held. We're not predicting an Illinois collapse. We just don’t see a run to the CFP, either.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Re: Illinois #9, Illinois has its first top-10 ranking since it was No. 7 in December 2001.

Just sayin': Hey, give Fat Bert some credit here; he ran up the score in beating 2 garbage teams (W. ILL 52-3 and Duke 45-19) and has the Illini in the TOP TEN. He has a very favorable schedule, i.e. 3 cupcakes and only has to play 2 B1G teams that are currently ranked (Ohio State and Indiana). He could easily have another 10-3 year.

 

[Illini Dylan]

Re: Illinois #9, Illinois has its first top-10 ranking since it was No. 7 in December 2001.

Just sayin': Hey, give Fat Bert some credit here; he ran up the score in beating 2 garbage teams (W. ILL 52-3 and Duke 45-19) and has the Illini in the TOP TEN. He has a very favorable schedule, i.e. 3 cupcakes and only has to play 2 B1G teams that are currently ranked (Ohio State and Indiana). He could easily have another 10-3 year.

Bielema hit a big milestone as an Illinois coach with his 30th win yesterday.




Say what you will about Bert, but he's taken a dead ass dumpster fire program and building into something kind of decent. Even in the NIL era, Illinois football is not an easy job.

And the Illini had to go to Penn State and Oregon last year, unlike Indiana who got the luckiest cream puff schedule possible outside of 1 game, so if Illinois gets in the playoff because of that, I'm good with it.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

Bielema hit a big milestone as an Illinois coach with his 30th win yesterday.




Say what you will about Bert, but he's taken a dead ass dumpster fire program and building into something kind of decent. Even in the NIL era, Illinois football is not an easy job.

And the Illini had to go to Penn State and Oregon last year, unlike Indiana who got the luckiest cream puff schedule possible outside of 1 game, so if Illinois gets in the playoff because of that, I'm good with it.

Agreed, he's a sloppy douche who's highly unlikeable, but he's not a bad head coach.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Bielema hit a big milestone as an Illinois coach with his 30th win yesterday.




Say what you will about Bert, but he's taken a dead ass dumpster fire program and building into something kind of decent. Even in the NIL era, Illinois football is not an easy job.

And the Illini had to go to Penn State and Oregon last year, unlike Indiana who got the luckiest cream puff schedule possible outside of 1 game, so if Illinois gets in the playoff because of that, I'm good with it.

Google AI: The Illini NIL program refers to how the University of Illinois supports it student-athletes in leveraging their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for financial opportunities, primary through endorsements and partnerships. Under the leadership of head coach Bret Bielema, Illinois operates an NFL-style program, utilizing one-year NIL deals to provide a professional-level experience for its athletes. The program faces challenges in funding compared to other power conference schools, with Bielema highlighting a significant resource gap, though Illinois has shown competitive results despite a smaller NIL budget. In May 2025, Coach Bret Bielema stated that the Illinois football program's NIL budget was about $5 million.

Just sayin': Agree, Bert pulled a competitive program out of the dumpster fire he inherited. In addition, operating on a $5M a year NIL budget isn't going to let you compete for the highest ranked athletics. In looking at a typical Illini recruiting class in 24/7 it looks like Bert ends up with just 1 4-Star and 20 TO 25 3-Stars. He then supplements it with some transfers, (and none of the transfers are the "cream of the transfer crop" either) etc.