The USC game (particularly because I think they have one of the best coaches in the league and will probably be a better team at year's end than year's beginning) probably won't end up more than an unfortunate loss (I highly doubt it will be "bad" when it shakes out, probably Quad 2 or something). Two weeks ago it was different, but we wake up today, and there's not much difference between PSU, USC, and IU. You'd like to sweep them, but 2-1 isn't a disaster.
Where it hurts most is winning the B1G. Illinois seems to have the most juice in the league. I kind of expect us to win 2 of 3 against MSU and UM (all 3 would be glorious). But with 18 teams, it's not easy to overcome a loss to a team you should beat and still win the regular season title.
KJ didn't play on Saturday IMHO because those involved thought they could sneak past another game without him. Turns out USC was better than we thought and Illinois was probably flatter in an early start than we expected. I include the coaches in "we" there.
There are some real problems at IU. Can't see how Woodson survives to next season without a major turnaround. Buyout is about $8M, nothing to sneeze at but rather doable for them. I think he probably survives if his team figures it out and sneaks into the NCAAs, but that's a stretch right now.
Illinois just obliterating IU was really impressive. Yeah, they are beleaguered. But still, Illinois buried them. I'm pretty optimistic about the at MSU game; MSU has played a very soft schedule since the early non-con.
Where it hurts most is winning the B1G. Illinois seems to have the most juice in the league. I kind of expect us to win 2 of 3 against MSU and UM (all 3 would be glorious). But with 18 teams, it's not easy to overcome a loss to a team you should beat and still win the regular season title.
KJ didn't play on Saturday IMHO because those involved thought they could sneak past another game without him. Turns out USC was better than we thought and Illinois was probably flatter in an early start than we expected. I include the coaches in "we" there.
There are some real problems at IU. Can't see how Woodson survives to next season without a major turnaround. Buyout is about $8M, nothing to sneeze at but rather doable for them. I think he probably survives if his team figures it out and sneaks into the NCAAs, but that's a stretch right now.
Illinois just obliterating IU was really impressive. Yeah, they are beleaguered. But still, Illinois buried them. I'm pretty optimistic about the at MSU game; MSU has played a very soft schedule since the early non-con.
