It is going to be a minute before I can get over the Illinois football loss to Penn State on Saturday night.
The Illini had so many opportunities to take that game, but we let it slip away in the second half. I was proud of how the team fought, but at the same time, I was disappointed with the result.
A loss always hurts no matter the significance of the loss. At the end of the day, a loss to the then-No. 9 team in the country Penn State doesn’t change much for the Illini in 2024.
Coming into the season, I had high hopes for the Orange and Blue. I thought this team was good enough to finish 8-4 this season. In that prediction, I had us losing to Kansas, Nebraska, and Penn State in the first five games of the season. The projection had us starting 2-3 and finishing the season strong at 6-1.
So, when I break down what Illinois has done thus far, not only are we on track to get to 8-4, as I projected, but we are way ahead of schedule.
To begin the season, if someone said to an Illinois fan that we start 4-1 with two wins over top 25 programs, I would imagine everyone would have said yes, please.
In an article after the win over Nebraska, I published a new set of expectations for the Illini. I had this program not just winning eight games anymore. I upped the mark to 10 wins in 2024. We are two games ahead of schedule, so 10 wins seem plausible now.
Getting to 10 wins meant the Illini could lose two games the rest of the way out. I had in the expectations article that Illinois was likely to drop games to Penn State and Oregon. So, we are right on track with that as well.
There are plenty of opportunities for big wins the rest of the way out for the Illinois football team
It is really tough to go undefeated in any sport. No one in their right mind had the Illini winning every game this season, and we just went on the road against a top-10 program and had them on the ropes.
A 4-1 start to the 2024 season is ahead of what anyone projected. The great thing about the Illinois schedule is the fact there are plenty of games left to help us get to 10 wins and a possible berth in the College Football Playoff.
After the bye week, Illinois has Purdue and No. 12 Michigan at home. If a CFP trip is in order, both of those need to be wins. Purdue is reeling, and this is one of the more beatable Michigan squads in recent memory.
I have Illinois projected to lose against No. 8 Oregon in Eugene. Following that game is Minnesota and Michigan State at home and then Rutgers and Northwestern on the road. I have Illinois winning those four contests.
Opportunities are plentiful for the Orange and Blue. The loss to Penn State was painful, as all losses are, but it doesn’t change anything. Illinois is still on course for a great season and heights we haven’t seen in a long time.