Illinois football projected to face SEC powerhouse in bowl game on New Year’s Eve

The 2024 campaign has been one of the most fun Illinois football teams to watch in recent years.

It has been a long time since the Illini have been able to win at a high clip. It has been even longer since the program has won at a high clip consistently.

With the win last week, Illinois has now won eight games in two out of the past three seasons. That hadn’t happened since the 1999 and 2001 campaigns. On Saturday, Illinois has a chance to beat Northwestern in what could be our ninth win of the season. That would be the most wins in a campaign since the 2007 season.

Bret Bielema has Illinois football playing at a high level, and with success comes better matchups in bowl games. We aren’t taking on MAC programs or someone who isn’t a power-four team. Getting to eight and nine wins elevates the Illini to playing big-time programs.

While we are likely not to make the College Football Playoff, the projected bowl landing spot for the Illini is pretty intriguing.

This past Sunday, CBS Sports posted a list of the potential bowl matchups heading into December. They had the College Football Playoff bracket laid out, and they also put together the bowl matchups of teams that aren’t making the 12-team playoff.

It looks like Illinois could be heading to Florida to play in the Citrus Bowl. Which program is projected to play the Illini? The Alabama Crimson Tide, of course.

Illinois football doesn’t have a long history against the historically great Alabama Crimson Tide

Let me tell you, if Illinois does play Alabama in the Citrus Bowl, it would be exciting. That is one of the big boys of the college football world even if they are a bit down this season.

Illinois is always looking to elevate its profile, and going up against Alabama would do that instantly. It would be a rare sight to see these two programs battle too.

In the history of college football, Illinois has only played Alabama once. It was back in 1982. Illinois finished that year 7-4 and made the Liberty Bowl against the Crimson Tide.

It was a tight game with Alabama winning the contest, 21-15. Illinois quarterback Tony Eason threw for 423 yards but also had four interceptions. This was also Bear Bryant’s final game as the head coach of Alabama.