Illinois at Nebraska, Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
I feel the game opens up considerably once we demonstrate that Luke can and will run. I'd like us to do that no later than 2nd quarter in every game.
Idk man, picking 7-8 in general is pretty reasonable in my opinion but saying “at least” 7-8 wins is hard for me to buy into.
You have to finish 4-5 to get to 7 wins. On its face, expecting that when we’re 3-0 sounds simple. But, of those 9 games, 4 of those teams (@22NEB, @10PSU, 16UM, @9UO) are currently ranked above you. Let’s say you “expect” to grab one of these (which is bold). You’ve got 3 losses there. You have to go 3-2 against the other 5 to get to 7. Don’t snag one and you can only afford one loss against the rest.
MSU, Rutgers have shown themselves as capable teams this far.
NW, Minnesota, Purdue don’t look good, but when’s the last time we’ve avoided every toe-stubbing opportunity laid in front of us?
I think 7-8 wins is doable (if we’re as good as no-context games make us look), but I don’t think you can treat that as the minimum.
Our OL has been MUCH improved since the Frost days... I am expecting a good game against a well coached team. Definitely our toughest challenge yet. Hopefully we'll come out on top, we are 3-0 ATS this year, but Husker fans are riddled with PTSD
“... Our OL has been MUCH improved since the Frost days...”.
EVERYTHING has been much improved since the Frost days. What a train wreck and dark period in Husker history.
“I am expecting a good game against a well coached team.”
Lyell Bremser would have approved this message. Such a great broadcaster during a great time in Husker history.
As for the PTSD... it’s amazing how fast and deeply the Huskers fell into the depths in the new Century. Husker fans are not used to this and would not have expected it. After some poor hiring choices the last 20 years the Huskers finally brought in the right guy to lead the team. Honestly, I don’t know how long he’ll stay with the Big Red (since he seems to like to move around). But at least he has put the program back on the right track.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
An eternal refrain of all struggling programs.
Too early to call on Rhule. Initial signs promising.
When Luke runs it makes the linebackers freeze and it opens up passing lanes. He’s definitely got speed but he doesn’t have the body to take a ton of hits.
You're not wrong hahaha!
Yeah, I don't know how long he'd stay either. My gut tells me PSU would be the only thing that could drag him out of here (if you believe how he speaks about Lincoln, his wife opened up a business here, etc) but obviously who knows if the really big fish come calling (Mich, tOSU, Bama, Georgia, etc).
I am a HUGE fan though. There's just such a difference in the way he attacks everything. Man seems to have unlimited energy. Hopefully it works out.
Frost seemed like a lock at first too, I'm still in disbelief how epically bad that failed.
Josh Kreutz has got the CoachSpeak down pat.
Don’t think that’s a Nebraska narrative…that’s on the national press. Matt Ruhle is definitely a “one game at a time” type of coach. I think he has respect for the Illinois program. Friday night game stadiums…going to rocking. Should be a good game between two decent teams and two excellent coaches.
He just gives me the "I don't wanna talk I wanna go block somebody" vibes, I love it.Josh Kreutz has got the CoachSpeak down pat.
It seems like there is a really big story behind this epic Frost fail that probably a few (real) insiders know -- but that the rest of us will never find out.
How does he go from being this rising stud Assistant -- and then successful Coach (before he returned to Lincoln to his beloved home State team) and then flame out so badly? And he had plenty of time to turn things around for the Big Red but the program just stalled out in a bad place.
As a human being... you have to feel a bit sorry for him. This has to be personally embarassing for him.
I would think that many Husker fans over time will remember his better days for the Huskers and not emphasize how his coaching gig went.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Tough, tough call this week. I'm hoping Aaron Henry and BB can put together a defensive game plan similar to what the Texans did to Caleb Williams this past Sunday night. Blitz the crap out of the young and inexperienced QB.
19-17 Illini
We kick a game winning FG at the buzzer. If it's 50 yards or less, Olano gets the call. If it's 51 yards or longer, Moczulski is the hero.
So far --- 2-1 against the spread, and 3-0 in predicting the winner.
19-17 Illini
We kick a game winning FG at the buzzer. If it's 50 yards or less, Olano gets the call. If it's 51 yards or longer, Moczulski is the hero.
So far --- 2-1 against the spread, and 3-0 in predicting the winner.
I think it's fair to say this would be Bielema's biggest win? All eyes are on Nebraska right now. The fans think they are back, pretty much every media network has been talking about if they are back. They have a star (but young) QB. It's on national TV on Friday night so no other games competing with it. This is the perfect opportunity to send a message to the country that Illinois is legit.
2021 - Beat PSU in the 9OT game. It was no doubt an incredible win. But we were 2-5 and it was more of a "we are a mediocre team that stole a game against a team that was overlooking us."
2022 - Incredibly fun season, but not really any marquee wins. Throttling Wisconsin in Madison was a blast, but everyone said "Wisconsin is bad" instead of "Illinois is good". We were so close in Ann Arbor, but came up short.
2023 - No big wins.
2021 - Beat PSU in the 9OT game. It was no doubt an incredible win. But we were 2-5 and it was more of a "we are a mediocre team that stole a game against a team that was overlooking us."
2022 - Incredibly fun season, but not really any marquee wins. Throttling Wisconsin in Madison was a blast, but everyone said "Wisconsin is bad" instead of "Illinois is good". We were so close in Ann Arbor, but came up short.
2023 - No big wins.
Yeah. That time we lost a close one at Nebraska and the refs almost purposely marked the ball wrong on one of our drives deep in their territory was creepy.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
First road game of the year hasn't usually gone well. I'm not going to die if the Illini lose this one.
Probably.
Probably.
I am an optimist. Illinois 24-23
Anyone know if there is a watch party in the Libertyville area?
It is now 7.5
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
That game still rankles me. I even had two screen shots showing how the near-side official changed the spot by nearly two full yards. It was so obvious that something else was in play for that game.