This was a GREAT year at Illinois.

It wasn't about the fact that Illinois won 9 for the first time since the 2007 Rose Bowl season ... it was more about getting everything out of the year. A great last 20 minutes against Kansas, an extremely well played game (especially second half and OT) at Nebraska, the avoidance of total disaster against Purdue (and another gut check OT win), controlling Michigan in a street fight type game with few passing yards, and the miracle at Rutgers (which was an all-timer for Illini fans), this season couldn't have gone almost any better.

It was a season about offense. Excellent QB play and a great 1-2 WR punch with Bryant & Franklin. A RB by committee that legit improved as the year went on. A final three games where Illinois put up 38 - 38 - 38 (including the incredible 4 straight TDs to beat Rutgers in brutal conditions). Aggressive play calling when it was a must. A team that decided it was going to win with the ball in the QB's hands most weeks.

It was a season where the defense was opportunistic. I personally think the defensive play calling needs work - we MUST become more aggressive on 3rd down and 6 plus - but the players were disciplined and well coached game in and game out. They generated a whole lot more TOs than the offense gave up. I am not sold on the long term of this defensive style, but it was consistently good enough in 2024. I hope, as with last year, the defensive coaches take the opportunity to get better.

Illinois is likely to play Alabama or Ole Miss in a bowl game. Alabama or Ole Miss!!! That's completely insane for a team that came in to the year with a Vegas O/U of 5.5.

Onto a quality bowl and a 2025 season where the schedule really does set up to continue the momentum. Time to get it done.

And Ryan Day sucks. If tOSU had real guts, they'd can him and hire Urb for the playoffs. Can still have the season they want, but it's not happening with Day.

Michigan upset Ohio State on Saturday? I can hardly believe I'm thinking this because I can't stand Michigan - but after hearing Ryan Day's comments over the last 7-10 days I would really like to see the Buckeyes knocked down a notch. I really don't think Day is all that smart - after all, he was pretty much put on 3rd base as a pinch runner and acts like he hit a HR after scoring on a SAC fly. He has a huge talent advantage every year and has underperformed his talent, and then whines like a 4th grader when things don't go his way. His reaction to Lou Holtz's comments last year was infantile. And if he loses to UM again this year that seat in Columbus is going to be scorching!

And this would mean Oregon vs IU in the B1G championship game, where IU would get hammered by the Ducks and probably fall out of the Top 12 in the CFP. Just my rambling thoughts on the day before Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and go Illini!

It sure seems to me that the number of charging fouls are greatly diminished. Don’t see many blocking fouls either. Am I just imagining this?

Could be one of the Juco kids who visited.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team moved up one spot to #21 in this week's AP Top 25. The Fighting Illini are also ranked #21 in this week's Coaches Poll.

Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) won nine or more regular-season games for the eighth time in program history. The Illini won nine games for the first time since 2007, which was also the last time Illinois finished the regular season ranked in the AP Top 25 (#15).

This is the 13th time in program history that Illinois has finished the regular season ranked in the AP Top 25. It marks the third time in the last 30 years that the Illini have finished the regular season as a ranked team (2001 #8, 2007 #15).

The Illini finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak, including a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday. It was Illinois' fifth win while ranked this season, the program's most since 1990.

Illinois, which won three games in November for the first time since 2007, will now wait for its postseason fate. The College Football Playoff and bowls announce pairings on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Illinois' History in the Final Regular Season AP Poll

2024 — #21
2007 — #15
2001 — #8
1990 — #16
1989 — #11
1983 — #4
1963 — #3
1959 — #13
1953 — #7
1951 — #4
1950 — #13
1946 — #5
1944 — #15

Ryan Day has to be in trouble right??

38-0 Indy late 3rd quarter and Indy hits Purdue with a fake punt to move the chains and keep the ball and punch in another TD to make it 45-0. 22-3 first downs and 445-47 total yards. This is brutal.

I wonder if Mockabee is having thoughts of moving on…he’s getting killed tonight.

As discussed multiple times the past several weeks I just don’t see how Walters can be brought back.

All of them. So fricking incompetent.

2024 stats. 228 passes completed 285 attempts for an 80% completion ratio. Good for 3243 yards and 27 tds and 9 interceptions. He rushed 88 attempts for 1162 yards and 9 tds. For a whopping 13.2 average. I hope he brings those number to the Illini !!!

knows Matt Eberflus has been fired.

I just checked and at game time it will be 22!!! With the wind it will be bone chilling!!

Are there any official events or Illini Bars?

Anybody coming to visit as we whoop up on those Wildcats? Surely there are some Chicagoland players wanting to check out those soon to be 9-3 Illini !!!!

I assume Jacas is headed to the draft. Does Briggs or Edward’s have a shot? Maybe Pat Bryant?

I’m trying to figure out what they will try to pull from the portal. I assume DL / OLB and OL will be a priority.

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90 points against this Arkansas team is a hell of a performance.

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Miracle win. What a game from Pat Bryant.

Final: Illinois 38 Illinois 31.

Any chance this kid commits to us? He would be a great compliment to Beerman. 2 big linebackers who can clog up the middle.