2022 College Football Discussion & Pick'em Thread

[Illiniwek]

Week 1

Saturday, August 27th

Nebraska vs Northwestern at Avira Stadium in Dublin, Ireland 12:30 PM EDT FOX

North Texas @ UTEP 9 PM EDT

Vanderbilt @ Hawai'i 10:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Thursday, September 1st

West Virginia @ Pittsburgh 7 PM EDT ESPN

Penn State @ Purdue 8 PM EDT FOX

Friday, September 2nd

Illinois @ Indiana 8 PM EDT FS1 (Indiana will probably be favored in this game, but I will bank on the fact that Illinois should already have gotten a win under its belt in Week 0, and that Illinois was trending up at the end of last season while Indiana was trending down.)

TCU @ Colorado 10 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, September 3rd

Rutgers @ Boston College Noon EDT ACCN

North Carolina @ Appalachian State Noon EDT ESPNU

NC State @ East Carolina Noon EDT ESPN

Cincinnati @ Arkansas 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Oregon vs Georgia at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA 3:30 PM EDT ABC

Arizona @ San Diego State 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Tulsa @ Wyoming 3:30 PM EDT FS1

Houston @ UTSA 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Texas State @ Nevada 5:30 PM EDT

Utah @ Florida 7 PM EDT ESPN

Army @ Coastal Carolina 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Liberty @ Southern Miss 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Memphis @ Mississippi State 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Notre Dame @ Ohio State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

SMU @ North Texas 7:30 PM EDT

Louisville @ Syracuse 8 PM EDT ACCN

Boise State @ Oregon State 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

Sunday, September 4th

Florida State @ LSU 7:30 PM EDT ABC

[Illiniwek]

Illinois' win against Wyoming gives me hope that we might make a bowl game this year. Definitely room for improvement, but the offense seems to be on a much better trajectory compared to last year. The defense should once again be pretty solid, and Chase Brown is an absolute stud at RB. If Tommy Devito can continue to come along, I think we should have our best offensive season in almost 10 years.

Winning at Indiana is very possible, and if they do that I like their chances against Virginia. This could be the start of a really fun season. Now go out and beat the Hoosiers!

[Illiniwek]

Still not sure I have fully processed the Illinois-Indiana game yet. It feels very familiar to feel like the officiating, a coaching decision, and lack of execution each single-handedly lost the game. Everything had to go wrong for Illinois to lose that game, and it did. On the whole, I think the team will still be "good" this year, but I have to imagine that cost us our opportunity at a bowl game, which is the true measuring stick of this team. Ugh.


Week 2

Friday, September 9th

Louisville @ UCF 7:30 PM EDT ESPN2

Saturday, September 10th

#1 Alabama @ Texas Noon EDT FOX

South Carolina @ #19 Arkansas Noon EDT ESPN

Missouri @ Kansas State Noon EDT ESPN2

Duke @ Northwestern Noon EDT FS1

UTSA @ Army Noon EDT CBSSN

Western Michigan @ Ball State 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Tennessee @ #17 Pittsburgh 3:30 PM EDT ABC

Washington State @ #18 Wisconsin 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Colorado @ Air Force 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Memphis @ Navy 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

#24 Houston @ Texas Tech 4 PM EDT FS1

Iowa State @ Iowa 4 PM EDT BTN

Virginia @ Illinois 4 PM EDT ESPNU I definitely think the wrong team is favored here. I attempted to place a wager on the underdog when I was out of state this weekend, but forgot to pull the trigger... Nonetheless, it will be good to be the home team on a late afternoon game before what should be a good crowd on one of the best weather weekends on the calendar in Champaign. I'll back the boys to get revenge after experiencing A LOT of different scenarios so far going into week 2. The season really is make or break right here!

Kansas @ West Virginia 6 PM EDT ESPN+

Old Dominion @ East Carolina 6 PM EDT ESPN+

UAB @ Liberty 6 PM EDT ESPN+ boo.

#20 Kentucky @ Florida 7 PM EDT ESPN

Arizona State @ #12 Oklahoma State 7:30 PM EDT ESPN2

#14 USC @ Stanford 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Boston College @ Virginia Tech 8 PM EDT ACCN

New Mexico State @ UTEP 9 PM EDT ESPN+

#10 Baylor @ #25 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Oregon State @ Fresno State 10:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Mississippi State @ Arizona 11 PM EDT FS1

[Illiniwek]

Big win for the Illini last weekend. Yes Virginia is terrible. Yes, they had a number of mistakes. But Illinois teams under previous regimes would have found ways to lose that game. Instead, the defense absolutely stifled the opponent and we comfortably won, defending the home turf and getting revenge against a Power 5 opponent. My optimism for a bowl game is back on (uh oh...) considering the general weakness in the Big Ten West. There must be three wins among Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. We have back-to-back mini-bye weeks split with a Thursday night game against Chattanooga, and its looking like the students are coming out for that game. This time to prep should help us clean things up before the conference schedule starts. We can do this!


Week 3 (oof what a dismal schedule after a great Week 2)

Friday, September 16th

Florida State @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Air Force @ Wyoming 8 PM EDT CBSSN

Saturday, September 17th

#6 Oklahoma @ Nebraska Noon EDT FOX

Villanova @ Army Noon EDT CBSSN

Purdue @ Syracuse Noon EDT ESPN2

Cincinnati @ Miami (OH) Noon EDT ESPNU

Western Kentucky @ Indiana Noon EDT BTN

California @ Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC/Peacock

UNT @ UNLV 3 PM EDT

#12 BYU @ #25 Oregon 3:30 PM EDT FOX

#22 Penn State @ Auburn 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Vanderbilt @ Northern Illinois 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Troy @ Appalachian State 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

Kansas @ Houston 4 PM EDT ESPNU

Mississippi State @ LSU 6 PM EDT ESPN

Arkansas State @ Memphis 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Texas Tech @ #16 NC State 7 PM EDT ESPN2

#11 Michigan State @ Washington 7:30 PM EDT ABC

SMU @ Maryland 7:30 PM EDT FS1

UCF @ Florida Atlantic 7:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Louisiana @ Rice 7:30 PM EDT ESPN+

UTSA @ #21 Texas 8 PM EDT LHN

UTEP @ New Mexico 8 PM EDT

#13 Miami (FL) @ #24 Texas A&M 9 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #7 USC 10:30 PM EDT FOX

[Illiniwek]

Week 4

Thursday, September 22nd

West Virginia @ Virginia Tech 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Coastal Carolina @ Georgia State 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Saturday, September 24th

TCU @ SMU Noon EDT ESPNU

#5 Clemson @ #21 Wake Forest Noon EDT ABC

#17 Baylor @ Iowa State Noon EDT ESPN2

Duke @ Kansas Noon EDT FS1

#20 Florida @ #11 Tennessee 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#22 Texas @ Texas Tech 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Notre Dame @ North Carolina 3:30 PM EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Michigan State 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Toledo @ San Diego State 3:30 PM EDT FS1

#15 Oregon @ Washington State 4 PM EDT FOX

Arizona @ California 5:30 PM EDT PAC12

Arkansas State @ Old Dominion 6 PM EDT ESPN+

#10 Arkansas @ #23 Texas A&M 7 PM EDT ESPN

UNLV @ Utah State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Marshall @ Troy 7 PM EDT NFL Network

Wisconsin @ #3 Ohio State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Miami (OH) @ Northwestern 7:30 PM EDT BTN

Kansas State @ #6 Oklahoma 8 PM EDT FOX

Hawai'i @ New Mexico State 8 PM EDT

#7 USC @ Oregon State 9:30 PM EDT PAC12

#13 Utah @ Arizona State 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

Stanford @ #18 Washington 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Western Michigan @ San Jose State 10:30 PM EDT CBSSN

[Illiniwek]

Week 5

Friday, September 30th

Tulane @ Houston 7 PM EDT ESPN

UTSA @ Middle Tennessee 7:30 PM EDT CBSSN

San Diego State @ Boise State 8 PM EDT FS1

#15 Washington @ UCLA 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, October 1st

#18 Oklahoma @ TCU Noon EDT ABC

#7 Kentucky @ #14 Ole Miss Noon EDT ESPN

Texas Tech @ #25 Kansas State Noon EDT ESPN+

Illinois @ Wisconsin Noon EDT BTN I love the beloved, and I think Illinois covers. But I don't think I can pick them confidently up against a team that has run the West since its creation and in a stadium I have never seen Illinois win in. Prove me wrong, please.

Oregon State @ #12 Utah 2 PM EDT PAC12

Northern Illinois @ Ball State 2 PM EDT ESPN+

#2 Alabama @ #20 Arkansas 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#9 Oklahoma State @ #16 Baylor 3:30 PM EDT FOX

#22 Wake Forest @ #23 Florida State 3:30 PM EDT ABC

Iowa State @ #26 Kansas 3:30 PM EDT ESPN2

Michigan State @ Maryland 3:30 PM EDT FS1

SMU @ UCF 3:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Miami (OH) @ Buffalo 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

#17 Texas A&M @ Mississippi State 4 PM EDT SECN

California @ Washington State 5:30 PM EDT PAC12

Liberty @ Old Dominion 6 PM EDT ESPN+

LSU @ Auburn 7 PM EDT ESPN

#10 NC State @ #5 Clemson 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Indiana @ Nebraska 7:30 PM EDT BTN

Virginia @ Duke 7:30 PM EDT ESPN3

Stanford @ #13 Oregon 11 PM EDT FS1

[Illiniwek]

I think Wisconsin is fooling itself that its better than what Chryst's resume is. Maybe he wasn't trending in the right direction, but any further falloff wouldn't be that bad. You have to give your coach one bad season. I'm just thinking Wisconsin is not realistic if they think some star coach is going to come in and win 10 games minimum every year. Plus when divisions go away they are going to be playing OSU, Michigan, and Penn State a whole lot more. Wisconsin had a nice run in the B1G West, but that is their ceiling. Just watch, this is their Nebraska firing Bo Pelini moment.

Paul Chryst is out as Head Coach at Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is still a very good job and should be able to get a great coach who can lead the Badgers to at least regular Big Ten West Division Titles.

My best guesses as to who will be the next Head Coach at Wisconsin.

Former Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer
Baylor Head Coach Dave Aranda
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Syracuse Head Coach Dino Babers
Kansas Head Coach Lance Leipold

My thoughts:

Meyer - No way they are able / willing to spend as much money to get coaches and players that he will want for his operation. I think Nebraska is much more insane and willing to write any check that he wants. Bielema left Wisconsin because the money just wasn't there. Do we expect that to change?
Aranda - Baylor is not that much worse of a job than Wisconsin, and the path to the playoff is going to be there for Baylor if the Big 12 has an auto bid for the champion. Its much more likely Baylor is top dog in the new Big 12 than Wisconsin getting a bid when OSU, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, and USC are ahead of them.
Narduzzi - I just don't see the appeal. How is he an improvement over Chryst? Just seems like a lateral move, if not a step down.
Babers - No thoughts, other than Wisconsin fans would be very underwhelmed.
Leipold - This could be the ticket. Probably the best fit coach for Wisconsin. Still, there is no way he is going to be able to compete at recruiting against the 5 schools I mentioned above. So where does that leave you? Maybe averaging 9 wins in the expanded and divisionless B1G and making the expanded playoff maybe once every 5 years? Kind of sounds like where you are right now...

[Illiniwek]

Week 6

Friday, October 7th

Nebraska @ Rutgers 7 PM EDT FS1

Houston @ Memphis 7:30 PM EDT ESPN2

Colorado State @ Nevada 10:30 PM EDT FS1

UNLV @ San Jose State 10:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Saturday, October 8th

#17 TCU @ #19 Kansas Noon EDT FS1

#8 Tennessee @ #25 LSU Noon EDT ESPN

Arkansas @ #23 Mississippi State Noon EDT SECN

Texas vs Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX Noon EDT ABC

Louisville @ Virginia Noon EDT ACCN

Buffalo @ Bowling Green Noon EDT ESPN+

Texas Tech @ #7 Oklahoma State 3:30 PM EDT FS1

#11 Utah @ #18 UCLA 3:30 PM EDT FOX

East Carolina @ Tulane 3:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Kent State @ Miami (OH) 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

Duke @ Georgia Tech 4 PM EDT ESPN3

North Carolina @ Miami (FL) 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Western Kentucky @ UTSA 7 PM EDT FS1

Wyoming @ New Mexico 7 PM EDT CBSSN

UConn @ Florida International 7 PM EDT ESPN3

UTEP @ Louisiana Tech 7 PM EDT ESPN+

#16 BYU @ Notre Dame 7:30 PM EDT NBC

#20 Kansas State @ Iowa State 7:30 PM EDT ESNU

Iowa @ Illinois 7:30 PM EDT BTN The better team will win. This year, that team is us!

Florida State @ #14 NC State 8 PM EDT ACCN

Oregon State @ Stanford 11 PM EDT ESPN

[Illiniwek]

Illini wins 9-6 over Iowa. Is bowl eligibility coming for Illinois?

Forget bowl eligibility, Illinois has to be the favorite in the Big Ten West now. They have a very soft remaining schedule, as they don't face Ohio State or Penn State at all, get Minnesota at home, at might already have the division wrapped up when they travel to Michigan (the only obvious loss remaining before the Big Ten title game.), And if they WIN the Big Ten Title game, presumably against Ohio State, we could be talking about Illinois going to the Playoff!!!

I'm obviously very amped up at how the season is going thus far. This defense is absolutely legit and other than the Indiana game (which we also had a touchdown wrongly taken away from us), the team is finding ways to win rather than lose the game. Chase Brown should be discussed as a Heisman candidate, even if he is just destined to be the 5th place guy last invite to New York.

Unfortunately the quarterback is out with an ankle injury re-aggravation that may keep him out this week against Minnesota. If that is the case, Illinois probably loses. Plus I think the Purdue and Nebraska games will be pretty tricky. All that being said, Illinois should be looking at 8 or 9 wins and being in every single game they place this year, unless they make the B1G Championship Game... I would sign up for that 11 times out of 10 going into Year 2 of the Bielema era.

Get healthy DeVito! We have a division to win!

[Illiniwek]

Week 7

Thursday, October 13th

Baylor @ West Virginia 7 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, October 15th

#10 Penn State @ #5 Michigan Noon EDT FOX I don't really like Michigan to cover the spread, but the home team usually wins this matchup. Should be a challenging test for Michigan though.

#19 Kansas @ Oklahoma Noon EDT ESPN2

Minnesota @ #24 Illinois Noon EDT BTN I'll assume Tommy DeVito doesn't play. Otherwise, I'd feel pretty good that we could win this game.

#3 Alabama @ #6 Tennessee 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#8 Oklahoma State @ #13 TCU 3:30 PM EDT ABC

#15 NC State @ #18 Syracuse 3:30 PM EDT ACCN

Arkansas @ BYU 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

Ohio @ Western Michigan 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Wisconsin @ Michigan State 4 PM EDT FOX

Rice @ Florida Atlantic 6 PM EDT ESPN+

LSU @ Florida 7 PM EDT ESPN

Arkansas State @ Southern Miss 7 PM EDT ESPN+

#4 Clemson @ Florida State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

#16 Mississippi State @ #22 Kentucky 7:30 PM EDT SECN

Stanford @ Notre Dame 7:30 PM EDT NBC

Nebraska @ Purdue 7:30 PM EDT BTN

Memphis @ East Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#7 USC @ #20 Utah 8 PM EDT FOX

North Carolina @ Duke 8 PM EDT ACCN

Washington State @ Oregon State 9 PM EDT PAC12

Air Force @ UNLV 10:30 PM EDT CBSSN

San Jose State @ Fresno State 10:45 PM EDT FS1

Nevada @ Hawai'i 11:59 PM EDT

[Illiniwek]

Week 8

Saturday, October 22nd

#14 Syracuse @ #5 Clemson Noon EDT ABC

#21 Cincinatti @ SMU Noon EDT ESPN

Kansas @ Baylor Noon EDT ESPN2

Indiana @ Rutgers Noon EDT ESPNU

Toledo @ Buffalo 1 PM EDT ESPN+

Eastern Michigan @ Ball State 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Northern Illinois @ Ohio 2 PM EDT ESPN+

West Virginia @ Texas Tech 3 PM EDT FOX/FS1

Rice @ Louisiana Tech 3 PM EDT ESPN+

#7 Ole Miss @ LSU 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#9 UCLA @ #10 Oregon 3:30 PM EDTFOX/FS1

#20 Texas @ #11 Oklahoma State 3:30 PM EDT ABC

Memphis @ #25 Tulane 3:30 PM EDT ESPN2

BYU @ Liberty 3:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Purdue @ Wisconsin 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

North Texas @ UTSA 3:30 PM EDT

Arizona State @ Stanford 4 PM EDT PAC12

Florida Atlantic @ UTEP 4 PM EDT ESPN+

Southern Miss @ Texas State 5 PM EDT ESPN+

#24 Mississippi State @ #6 Alabama 7 PM EDT ESPN

Boise State @ Air Force 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Texas A&M @ South Carolina 7:30 PM EDT SECN

UCF @ East Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#17 Kansas State @ #8 TCU 8 PM EDT FOX/FS1

Utah State @ Wyoming 9:45 PM EDT

[Illiniwek]

Week 9

Thursday, October 27th

#15 Utah @ Washington State 10 PM EDT FS1

Friday, October 28th

East Carolina @ BYU 8 PM EDT ESPN2

Saturday, October 29th

#7 TCU @ West Virginia Noon EDT ESPN

#2 Ohio State @ #13 Penn State Noon EDT FOX

Notre Dame @ #16 Syracuse Noon EDT ABC

Arkansas @ Auburn Noon EDT SECN

Oklahoma @ Iowa State Noon EDT FS1

Miami (FL) @ Virginia 12:30 PM EDT ESPN3

Old Dominion @ Georgia State 3 PM EDT ESPN+

Florida vs #1 Georgia at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#9 Oklahoma State @ #22 Kansas State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

#13 Wake Forest @ Louisville 3:30 PM EDT ACCN

#17 Illinois @ Nebraska 3:30 PM EDT ABC Don't get me wrong, I think this is the sneaky trickiest game left on the schedule. I have no idea what to think of Nebraska at this point. But if Illinois is prepared, and after a bye week they should be, there is no reason they can't do to Nebraska what they did to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.

#20 Cincinnati @ UCF 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

New Mexico State @ UMass 3:30 PM EDT ESPN3

SMU @ Tulsa 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

Missouri @ #25 South Carolina 4 PM EDT SECN

#19 Kentucky @ #3 Tennessee 7 PM EDT ESPN

Coastal Carolina @ Marshall 7 PM EDT NFLN

UAB @ Florida Atlantic 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Michigan State @ #4 Michigan 7:30 PM EDT ABC

#15 Ole Miss @ Texas A&M 7:30 PM EDT SECN

Baylor @ Texas Tech 7:30 PM EDT ESPN2

Pittsburgh @ #21 North Carolina 8 PM EDT ACCN

San Diego State @ Fresno State 10:30 PM EDT

[Illiniwek]

The Michigan player got his ass beat learned not to f around or there’d be consequences.

The MSU players involved are the ones who will see some consequences.  They've been suspended and the police are investigating with the possibility of criminal charges being filed.

Because UM raises cowards, I bet he learned not to run his mouth anymore.

Lol not sure who this macho act is for but its pretty sad. Those players embarrassed themselves and their team. Sparty is toast. Tuck ain't comin.

[Illiniwek]

I'm stunned there isn't more serious talk about Urban Meyer. If I am him, I have to imagine this might be the best school that would be "desperate" enough to take a chance on him. He could land a top 5 recruiting class at Auburn, and it would give him the opportunity to go toe to toe with the best coaches in the country, which I'm sure his ego would love. Saban won't be around forever, so Meyer could be the person that "ends" Saban's run at Alabama.

If I am Auburn, the upside is obvious. You have a good chance of becoming a perennial top 3-4 team in college football, you have someone that can go up against Saban and Smart and win some recruiting battles. And for the downsides, I don't think they are really that bad. Everyone has forgotten about Zach Smith (not at all that they should have, but it is what it is). He's never failed in college, and the problems in the NFL really were NFL problems. Tell him you don't care about the nature of his relationship and just don't go out meeting up with coeds.

I'd love nothing more than Urban Meyer to disappear from college football because I think he is a piece of ____. But I'm stunned that there really isn't a program rushing to claim him as their piece of ______.

Auburn is not a better job than Wisconsin lol, but I'd say Auburn is #2.

It depends on what you want. If you want to win a national title, Auburn is the only option. If you want a comfy position with a high standard of living and great job security you choose Wisconsin.

I feel like when you are talking "better jobs", especially from the prospective of a majority of the coaches out there, its where can I win a national title. Auburn just has a far, far superior recruiting territory that it doesn't matter if it gets Alabama and Georgia's leftovers. Those players are going to be way more fit for elite football than who is coming out of Wisconsin.

Now you might get chased out of town far sooner at Auburn than at Wisconsin, but that's a calculated risk you might take. Personally, I'd probably choose Wisconsin just because that's more my style. But if you are, say, Lane Kiffin, you take Auburn 10 times out of 10 over Wisconsin.

[Illiniwek]

Week 10

Saturday, November 5th

Air Force vs Army at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, TX 11:30 AM EDT CBS

#19 Tulane @ Tulsa Noon EDT ESPNU

Kentucky @ Missouri Noon EDT SECN

Florida @ Texas A&M Noon EDT ESPN

Iowa @ Purdue Noon EDT FS1

Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech 12:30 PM EDT ESPN3

South Florida @ Temple 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Marshall @ Old Dominion 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Baylor @ Oklahoma 3 PM EDT ESPN+

Middle Tennessee @ Louisiana Tech 3 PM EDT ESPN+

#2 Tennessee @ #1 Georgia 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#18 Oklahoma State @ Kansas 3:30 PM EDT FS1

#22 Syracuse @ Pittsburgh 3:30 PM EDT ACCN

#25 UCF @ Memphis 3:30 PM EDT ESPN2

Washington State @ Stanford 3:30 PM EDT PAC12

West Virginia @ Iowa State 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+

Troy @ Louisiana 5 PM EDT ESPN+

#6 Alabama @ #15 LSU 7 PM EDT ESPN

Texas @ #13 Kansas State 7 PM EDT FS1

UNLV @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Houston @ SMU 7 PM EDT

#5 Clemson @ Notre Dame 7:30 PM EDT NBC

James Madison @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

Florida State @ Miami (FL) 7:30 PM EDT ABC

#20 Wake Forest @ #21 NC State 8 PM EDT ACCN

[Illiniwek]

Week 11

Saturday, November 12th

#10 LSU @ Arkansas Noon EST ESPN

Purdue @ #16 Illinois Noon EST ESPN2 Look: If you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted (a division championship), in one moment, would you capture it, or just let it slip?

Oklahoma @ West Virginia Noon EST FS1

Pittsburgh @ Virginia Noon EST ACCN

James Madison @ Old Dominion 1 PM EST ESPN+

Louisville @ #4 Clemson 3:30 PM EST ESPN

#6 Alabama @ #11 Ole Miss 3:30 PM EST CBS

Iowa State @ #18 Oklahoma State 3:30 PM EST ESPNU

#25 UCF @ #19 Tulane 3:30 PM EST ESPN2

Arizona State @ Washington State 3:30 PM EST PAC12N

Army @ Troy 3:30 PM EST NFLN

Wisconsin @ Iowa 3:30 PM EST FS1

Miami (FL) @ Georgia Tech 3:30 PM EST ESPN3

Appalachian State @ Marshall 3:30 PM EST ESPN+

North Texas @ UAB 3:30 PM EST

South Carolina @ Florida 4 PM EST SECN

Washington @ #8 Oregon 7 PM EST FOX

#13 Kansas State @ Baylor 7 PM EST FS1

Kansas @ Texas Tech 7 PM EST ESPN+

Wyoming @ Colorado State 7 PM EST CBSSN

#7 TCU @ #24 Texas 7:30 PM EST ABC

#17 North Carolina @ #21 Wake Forest 7:30 PM EST ESPN2

Texas A&M @ Auburn 7:30 PM EST SECN

Florida State @ #20 Syracuse 8 PM EST ACCN

San Jose State @ San Diego State 10:30 PM EST FS1

[Illiniwek]

Absolutely gutted at how the Illini have squandered a program changing opportunity to win the division. Beat Northwestern and an 8-4 season still exceeds preseason expectations by quite a bit. But these two losses have been inexplicable and utterly pathetic. Idk if they ran out of gas, or got too confident, but they have absolutely blown it. What a shame.

[Illiniwek]

Week 12

Saturday, November 19th

#4 TCU @ Baylor Noon EST FOX

Virginia Tech @ Liberty Noon EST ESPN+

Duke @ Pittsburgh Noon EST ACCN

#19 Kansas State @ West Virginia 2 PM EST ESPN+

Washington State @ Arizona 2 PM EST PAC12

Houston @ East Carolina 2 PM EST ESPN+

Georgia State @ James Madison 2 PM EST ESPN+

Oregon State @ Arizona State 2:15 PM EST ESPN

#16 NC State @ Louisville 3:30 PM EST ACCN

#18 Texas @ Kansas 3:30 PM EST FS1

Coastal Carolina @ Virginia 3:30 PM EST ESPN3

South Alabama @ Southern Miss 3:30 PM EST NFLN

Louisiana Tech @ Charlotte 3:30 PM EST ESPN3

Florida Atlantic @ Middle Tennessee 3:30 PM EST ESPN+

Iowa @ Minnesota 4 PM EST FOX

Arkansas State @ Texas State 5 PM EST ESPN3

Stanford @ California 5:30 PM EST PAC12

Marshall @ Georgia Southern 6 PM EST ESPN+

Texas Tech @ Iowa State 7 PM EST FS1

#11 Ole Miss @ Arkansas 7:30 PM EST SECN

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma 7:30 PM EST ABC

#8 USC @ #12 UCLA 8 PM EST FOX

UAB @ #7 LSU 9 PM EST ESPN2

San Jose State @ Utah State 9:45 PM EST FS1

#13 Utah @ #6 Oregon 10:30 PM EST ESPN

[Illiniwek]

I can't get over Illinois ____ing the bed the last two weeks. Each of those games were very much winnable, despite horrendous refereeing. But they shot themselves in the foot play after play after play after a month and a half of extremely disciplined football. I don't get it man. I should be going to Ann Arbor tomorrow with no pressure at all, just enjoying the potential for a good game. Now, I think its just going to be a freezing cold sad experience that will highlight a 3 game losing streak and really damper what truly has been a step forward season. Hopefully they can beat Northwestern and get a decent draw in a mid-tier bowl game. A bowl win would really look good and help keep the momentum going into next year. They haven't won a bowl game since my freshman year 11 years ago...

[Illiniwek]

Being in Ann Arbor on Saturday to see Illinois hold the lead for most of the 4th Quarter only to give it up with less than a minute to go has had me feeling the most extreme emotions. I am beyond proud that we held our own as an 18 point underdog that no one gave us a shot in, which bodes well for the future of the program. But at the same time I am growing more and more disappointed that we had a top 5 all time program win in our hands and basically willingly gave it away. It could have been so special...

[Illiniwek]

Deion Sanders is reportedly in talks with both Colorado and South Florida for their head coaching vacancies.

He can do better that those 2...

Pretty much anywhere is better than South Florida.

I would expect Deion to be in the mix for Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State, if and when any of those jobs come open. He's not leaving Jackson State for a G5 job.

It would seem very silly for him to take Colorado or USF because yeah I'm sure he could get a job like Ole Miss or something at that level if he is just a tad patient. He obviously doesn't need an incremental step up to USF just for the money. So why burn the good graces he's earned by coaching an HBCU by taking a bad AAC job?

[Illiniwek]

Virginia Virginia Tech cancelled, should we replace it?

A few options:

Michigan State-Penn State
Kansas-Kansas State
Purdue-Indiana

[Illiniwek]

Week 13

Thursday, November 24th

Mississippi State @ #14 Ole Miss 7 PM EST ESPN

Friday, November 25th

#21 Tulane @ #25 Cincinnati Noon EST ABC

Baylor @ Texas Noon EST ESPN

Central Michigan @ Eastern Michigan Noon EST CBSSN

Arizona State @ Arizona 3 PM EST FS1

#24 NC State @ #13 North Carolina 3:30 PM EST ABC

Arkansas @ Missouri 3:30 PM EST CBS

Nebraska @ Iowa 4 PM EST BTN

#16 UCLA @ California 4:30 PM EST FOX

Florida @ #19 Florida State 7:30 PM EST ABC

Virgnia @ Virginia Tech TBD

Saturday, November 26th

#3 Michigan @ #2 Ohio State Noon EST FOX

West Virginia @ #22 Oklahoma State Noon EST ESPN2

Louisville @ Kentucky 3 PM EST SECN

Auburn @ #8 Alabama 3:30 PM EST CBS

#12 Oregon @ #23 Oregon State 3:30 PM EST ABC

Minnesota @ Wisconsin 3:30 PM EST ESPN

Wake Forest @ Duke 3:30 PM EST ACCN

Memphis @ SMU 3:30 PM EST

Louisiana @ Texas State 5 PM EST ESPN+

#6 LSU @ Texas A&M 7 PM EST ESPN

#18 Notre Dame @ #7 USC 7:30 PM EST ABC

Oklahoma @ Texas Tech 7:30 PM EST FS1

#17 Washington @ Washington State 10:30 PM EST ESPN

BYU @ Stanford 11 PM EST FS1

[Illiniwek]

Luke Fickell is apparently taking the open job at Wisconsin.

Wow, maybe Wisconsin did know what they were doing when they fired Paul Chryst, if they can land one of the best coaches in the country to replace him.

Anyways, Cincinnati will probably be one of the favorites in the Big Twelve when they join the conference next season, so this will be a good vacancy to get.

My best guesses as to who the next head coach at Cincinnati will be:

Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema
Former Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm

Respectfully, GTFOH. WHY would Bielema leave a B1G job for Cincinnati?? WHY would Brohm?? Why would Narduzzi leave Pittsburgh??? Yes Cincinnati is an improving job but these names are just preposterous.

[Illiniwek]

I haven't addressed it yet here but what a glorious day Saturday was. Way to go Jim Harbaugh for completely flipping the script and establishing yourself as the best coach in the conference with the best team in the conference. ~16 years of pain make back-to-back years of tears from ohio fans all that much sweeter. I just love that they are going to have to be irritable about these two losses for a-whole-nother year. Let's go for three next year!

As for Illinois, its been said by me in the past and by JGibson earlier, it was a remarkably impressive season on the grand scheme of things. Those losses to Purdue and Michigan State (and Indiana) are tough pills to swallow seeing that a trip to Indy was in their hands. But if you look at the trajectory of the program, I'll take being a regular 8 win team 10 times out of 10 if thats what we can become. That is really the most important thing. Now just need to close out with a bowl win and this will be an all time great season.

Luke Fickell is apparently taking the open job at Wisconsin.

Wow, maybe Wisconsin did know what they were doing when they fired Paul Chryst, if they can land one of the best coaches in the country to replace him.

Anyways, Cincinnati will probably be one of the favorites in the Big Twelve when they join the conference next season, so this will be a good vacancy to get.

My best guesses as to who the next head coach at Cincinnati will be:

Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema
Former Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm

Respectfully, GTFOH. WHY would Bielema leave a B1G job for Cincinnati?? WHY would Brohm?? Why would Narduzzi leave Pittsburgh??? Yes Cincinnati is an improving job but these names are just preposterous.

In the case of Brohm and Bielema, they've hit their ceilings with their respective programs. In Narduzzi's case, Cincinnati offers him a better chance to win a conference and presumably make an expanded playoff.

Both Bielema and Brohm have potentially very cushy jobs if they can keep their teams qualifying for bowls most years, and with the new media rights deal Illinois and Purdue will be able to pay them way more than Cincinnati could. Cincinnati may have an easier road to the playoff, but even in the Big 12 Cincinnati will never truly be a national title contender. Plus, Bielema learned lessons how taking a lateral job can lead to disaster (Arkansas) and Brohm has already turned down going to his alma mater which is a very similar school to Cincinnati. They just will not take that job this year.

Narduzzi would be making a fairly even jump by taking the job. But I ask when has such a lateral move ever really been successful for a coach. Plus Pitt will not have a very daunting schedule in the ACC moving forward, as their permanent rivals couldn't have been a better draw (Syracuse, BC, VT).