Where to start? I am not sure I've ever enjoyed an Illinois win more. I thought Illinois would beat Rutgers. Illini showing some nice signs against MSU and Rutgers very much in a letdown spot. So what happens? Illinois plays a terrible first half and trails 17-9. The offense was OK, but the D in the first half looked dead.
Then we get to a second half. Illinois wakes up. The offense looks great. The D is making some plays and getting some stops. And we still keep shooting ourselves in the foot, the insane Jacas penalty (a bit weak but still) that ultimately leads to a Rutgers TD versus a punt. Some other extremely ill-advised penalties. But the offense has figured it out, and Illinois scores 3 TDs in the second to take the 30-24 lead. The D appears to make a near game ending INT, but loses it on a (probably correct but very close) overturn. Rutgers scores with enough time left to give the Illini hope, but it's not a lot.
A nice drive stalls out at the 35 yard line before what turns out to be a huge (and later fortuitous) false start by the heroic Pat Bryant. Bret makes the (likely correct) decision to give it a shot from 58 yards, and a bad miss is saved by an again fortuitous Greg Schiano TO. To his credit, Bret notes the FG probably can't be made from 58 and so he sends out the offense hoping to convert 4th and long for a shorter FG. Incredible blocking by the OL on the blitz ... great calm and hurl from Luke Altmyer ... and the glorious Pat Bryant - who has a had a year of dreams - makes the catch over the middle. I am jumping up and down yelling for Bryant to "get down" so we can spike it and kick a makeable 35 yarder to win ... he's having none of it, abuses a Rutgers defender on the way to a legendary Illini TD. Absolute chaos in my living room. My wife and daughters were in a different room said they wish they had an audio recording of the yelling. I still am in a bit of shock.
Bottom line, Illinois has squeezed every bit out of this season. This team should have made a bowl, it is not an 8-3 level team. Every close game other than MN (which won by 8 but IL had a shot to tie late) has gone our way. Several in amazing fashion. Bret has overwhelmingly made the right strategic decisions throughout the year, including late today. The offensive is miles ahead of where it was 13.5 months ago, so much so I'm wondering how I could see this much change in running an offense (think about how absolute garbage the IL play calling was during the 2-4 start last season).
I said this last week, but I repeat it today. Kansas is the best win of the year. It's probably Michigan thereafter (they easily have the most talent of our victories), then Nebraska and Rutgers. All are solid football teams, none have the "2024 Illini luck." And some of that luck has been made via great coaching decisions.
Speaking of Kansas, Lance Leipold is one tough game away from one of the greatest bowl escapes of all times. That man can coach. Nebraska making a bowl for the first time in 8 years ... wow things are different than they were in 1995.
It will be interesting what NW brings to Wrigley. They sure didn't bring much to Ann Arbor, and they still had bowl hopes. I hope they are playing out the string next week, need to get on them early.
For anyone who saw what took place at the end of the Arizona State game, I still can't believe it. ASU was 2 yards away from losing a game they had a 99.99% chance of winning with 45 seconds left. Kenny Dillingham running 40 yards backwards and then not punting on 4th down is absolutely insane. The fact that anyone believed that plan was smart (with a 5 point lead too!) is beyond incredible.
IU got worked and isn't winning a playoff game. But with Ole Miss losing, IU is making the playoff. Amazing year for Cignetti and his transfer warriors. Ohio State has the most talent in CFB. Can Ryan Day capitalize? He's not the best IMHO, his loss to Clemson in a semi pre-Covid still irks me for the terrible coaching it took. The ACC and B12 getting only one slot each is a bit bemusing and also deserved, the committee is going to be pretty jacked to give literally every spot to the B1G/SEC/ND.
Then we get to a second half. Illinois wakes up. The offense looks great. The D is making some plays and getting some stops. And we still keep shooting ourselves in the foot, the insane Jacas penalty (a bit weak but still) that ultimately leads to a Rutgers TD versus a punt. Some other extremely ill-advised penalties. But the offense has figured it out, and Illinois scores 3 TDs in the second to take the 30-24 lead. The D appears to make a near game ending INT, but loses it on a (probably correct but very close) overturn. Rutgers scores with enough time left to give the Illini hope, but it's not a lot.
A nice drive stalls out at the 35 yard line before what turns out to be a huge (and later fortuitous) false start by the heroic Pat Bryant. Bret makes the (likely correct) decision to give it a shot from 58 yards, and a bad miss is saved by an again fortuitous Greg Schiano TO. To his credit, Bret notes the FG probably can't be made from 58 and so he sends out the offense hoping to convert 4th and long for a shorter FG. Incredible blocking by the OL on the blitz ... great calm and hurl from Luke Altmyer ... and the glorious Pat Bryant - who has a had a year of dreams - makes the catch over the middle. I am jumping up and down yelling for Bryant to "get down" so we can spike it and kick a makeable 35 yarder to win ... he's having none of it, abuses a Rutgers defender on the way to a legendary Illini TD. Absolute chaos in my living room. My wife and daughters were in a different room said they wish they had an audio recording of the yelling. I still am in a bit of shock.
Bottom line, Illinois has squeezed every bit out of this season. This team should have made a bowl, it is not an 8-3 level team. Every close game other than MN (which won by 8 but IL had a shot to tie late) has gone our way. Several in amazing fashion. Bret has overwhelmingly made the right strategic decisions throughout the year, including late today. The offensive is miles ahead of where it was 13.5 months ago, so much so I'm wondering how I could see this much change in running an offense (think about how absolute garbage the IL play calling was during the 2-4 start last season).
I said this last week, but I repeat it today. Kansas is the best win of the year. It's probably Michigan thereafter (they easily have the most talent of our victories), then Nebraska and Rutgers. All are solid football teams, none have the "2024 Illini luck." And some of that luck has been made via great coaching decisions.
Speaking of Kansas, Lance Leipold is one tough game away from one of the greatest bowl escapes of all times. That man can coach. Nebraska making a bowl for the first time in 8 years ... wow things are different than they were in 1995.
It will be interesting what NW brings to Wrigley. They sure didn't bring much to Ann Arbor, and they still had bowl hopes. I hope they are playing out the string next week, need to get on them early.
For anyone who saw what took place at the end of the Arizona State game, I still can't believe it. ASU was 2 yards away from losing a game they had a 99.99% chance of winning with 45 seconds left. Kenny Dillingham running 40 yards backwards and then not punting on 4th down is absolutely insane. The fact that anyone believed that plan was smart (with a 5 point lead too!) is beyond incredible.
IU got worked and isn't winning a playoff game. But with Ole Miss losing, IU is making the playoff. Amazing year for Cignetti and his transfer warriors. Ohio State has the most talent in CFB. Can Ryan Day capitalize? He's not the best IMHO, his loss to Clemson in a semi pre-Covid still irks me for the terrible coaching it took. The ACC and B12 getting only one slot each is a bit bemusing and also deserved, the committee is going to be pretty jacked to give literally every spot to the B1G/SEC/ND.
