After an unsuccessful trip to the Pacific Northwest, Illinois (5-3, 2-3) finds itself in a rut. The Illini have lost two games in a row and have almost certainly fallen out of playoff contention.
Being below .500 in conference play seems particularly bad after the high expectations entering the season. However, things only get easier for the Illini from here on out.
After starting the season with the third hardest strength of schedule in the country, Illinois’ final four games rank as the 76th hardest schedule. Three of the four teams are in the bottom third of the Big Ten standings.
So while 10 wins in the regular season and a playoff spot are out of the question, a successful season isn’t.
Illinois has never won nine or more games in a season in back-to-back years. The Illini have won 10 games in a season just five times before. They have a chance to make history yet again this year.
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The Illini can finish with nine wins if they win out. That would put them in contention for another high-profile bowl game, similar to last year’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Illinois could earn another chance to prove itself on a national level.
While its schedule is easier to close the season, it won’t be a cakewalk. Illinois’ first task comes on Saturday against Rutgers (4-4, 1-4). Despite its subpar conference record, the Scarlet Knights are coming off their first Big Ten win.
Rutgers features a high-flying passing attack that sits atop the Big Ten in yards. Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis leads the Big Ten in passing yards as well. He can air it out, but he’s also prone to interceptions.
It could be a good game to get the Illini’s secondary back into shape. The defense as a whole has had a rough time recently and could use a bounce-back performance.
On the other side of the ball, Rutgers’ defense hasn’t been so hot either. It is near the bottom of the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss. The Scarlet Knights have allowed 38 points per game against Big Ten opponents.
With both defenses struggling, the game will likely be high-scoring. It will be up to Illinois’ offense to stay ahead of Rutgers. The Illini will have to stay ahead of themselves as well.
Against Washington, Illinois has eight total penalties, including three personal fouls and multiple pre-snap penalties. It killed momentum throughout the game and was a big part of the loss.
“Before you expect to win a game, you gotta stop from losing it,” said head coach Bret Bielema.
If Illinois wants to break its two-game losing streak, it has to start cleaning things up.
This game will be a good test for the Illini to see if they can bounce back. The game is sold out, and it’s Dads Weekend, which should result in a good atmosphere. A win would go a long way for Illinois, while a loss could dismantle the season.
It’s still a long road until the end of the season. With four games to go, Illinois can still find success this season. Nine or 10 wins would be a very good season for Illinois, especially since that’s something it’s never done two years in a row.
Even though the Illini are a long shot for the playoffs, there is still plenty they can accomplish this season.
@ben_some16
