Buffalos go down 56-14 to Washington State. They’ve managed to lose five straight in dropping to 4-7 on the year. They finish the season at #16 Utah and it looks like LOTS of creaning will be needed.

Wonder if Aflac will photoshop him out of their commercials now.

Doug, any word on transfer targets? I see kids are committing quickly to other programs.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior Jackson Buchanan, who was recognized earlier this week as a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Conference first team, has also been named Big Ten Golfer of the Year.

"I am so happy for Jackson to be recognized as the Big Ten Golfer of the Year," head coach Mike Small said. "Jackson has had a very successful and consistent season, and his record speaks for itself. As his coach, it is great to see his dedication and outstanding play recognized by the conference."

Buchanan's recognition marks the 15th Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor for the Fighting Illini program, and the fourth straight for the Orange and Blue dating back to 2021.

Buchanan, a native of Dacula, Georgia, is the Big Ten's top-rated golfer in the NCAA Division I individual rankings where he ranked 11 spots ahead of the next-highest rated league contender prior to balloting. Building on his sophomore campaign in which he earned All-America status as the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Championship, Buchanan has continued to improve and posted a career-best season stroke average of 70.65, on pace for the sixth-best mark in Illinois' program history.

Entering play at the NCAA Stanford Regional, Buchanan has recorded two individual tournament victories on the season – at the Purdue Fall Invitational in September and the Duck Invitational in March – tied for the top mark in the Big Ten. He narrowly missed out on a third as runner-up at the Big Ten Conference Championship last weekend. Buchanan has posted four top-three finishes, eight top-10s, and has closed as the Illini's top finisher in a team-leading four tournaments, while pacing the Orange and Blue with 11 rounds in the 60s and 13 rounds under par.

Buchanan shares the 2023-24 Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor with Purdue's Herman Sekne, who was recognized in the conference's initial announcement before an update was issued Friday due to an incorrect ballot submission.

according to CollegeFootballNews.com is:

the 33rd hardest schedule in the FBS division. 134 teams in FBS

We are tied with Washington.

Our 2024 FBS opponents schedules (from easiest to hardest):
110 Central Michigan
53 Nebraska
49 Kansas
39 Rutgers
24 Michigan State (tied with Virginia)
19 Northwestern
14 Penn State
12 Minnesota
11 Oregon
5 Michigan
4 Purdue

Other B1G teams:
62 Indiana
57 Ohio State
44 Maryland
22 Iowa
18 Wisconsin
3 UCLA
1 USC

A look across the conference here:

Home Only – Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC,
Away Only – Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington
Home & Away – Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin

J J McCarthy Michigan
Tyler Nubin Minnesota
Keith Randolph Belleville Illinois
Who else?

Former Illinois running back Dre Brown talks about joining Bret Bielema's staff as the Director of Player Personnel.

Login to view embedded media

Give us something to smile about? Hope he commits on the visit!!!!

We break down the game film on new Illini commit Ben Humrichous, transfer forward from Evansville.

Visiting Illinois this week. Just off of a visit to Louisville.

I have a call in to a couple of Louisville contacts to try to find out where the Cardinals stand. My guess is this is very competitive.

Expected this for a while.

Login to view embedded media

The Ben Humrichous visit went "well" and Illinois feels pretty good heading into the week.

Ben had some questions about his role, especially with Illinois also bringing in another face-up 4 in Notre Dame transfer Carey Booth. I think those concerns were answered, for the most part

The report from the Evansville media was premature. I have heard that someone close to Humrichous tipped off the reporter and suggested that he committed on his visit.

No specific timetable for a commitment. I think it will be in the next day or so. Not 100% a done deal but I would still say 1. Illinois 2. Villanova 3. Louisville. Villanova is thought to be the main competition.

There are just two more days until the portal window closes. Memphis wing David Jones reportedly wanted to stretch it out as far as he could, explore the NBA Draft, and get as much feedback as possible. Memphis people are 50/50 on whether or not he will portal.

I think it's a mistake to zero in on just the names that have been thrown around on web sites and social media, though. Illinois is very active not just in the portal, but high school ranks, overseas prospects, etc. Something to watch.

I'll update as I hear more.