Will Leitch on the effect of the Playoff on CFB fan expectations
$: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6820920/2025/11/20/college-football-fans-playoff-championships-expectations/ I am a proud graduate of Illinois, which means I have watched a lot of terrible college football in my life. (Illinois lost the last 17 games of my time in college, and that was before Ron Zook and Tim Beckman.) The Illini, under coach Bret Bielema and athletic director Josh Whitman, have turned the program around; there’s a real chance Illinois will reach double-digit wins for the second straight season for the first time ever. But when Illinois beat Maryland 24-6 last Saturday for its seventh win (a figure the Illini have reached only eight times in the past 30 years), I didn’t see a single snap of it. Why? Because, with their loss to Washington last month, the Illini were effectively eliminated from the CFP chase, which meant the only thing that Maryland game really affected was bowl consideration.
I hope you’ll forgive me, but, sorry: I’m not gonna skip a Georgia-Texas tailgate to see a game that’s determining whether Illinois plays in the Pinstripe Bowl or the ReliaQuest Bowl. Is that lame? Probably: This is, after all, as good as Illinois football has ever been. But that’s the thing about winning: It just makes you want more.
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“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.
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 Illinois v Wisconsin game week thread - Taz November 17, 2025, 7:40:08
- Good breweries in Madison? - Taz Yesterday, 22:32:55
- Can’t argue with facts - biclops Yesterday, 21:45:58
- See you in section W on Saturday* - EffinIllini Yesterday, 21:10:32
- Will Leitch on the effect of the Playoff on CFB fan expectations - ATL Yesterday, 16:09:52
- James White to Benet Academy (catholic school in Lisle IL) - biclops Yesterday, 13:45:49
- Now Wiscy +8. - redgrange77 November 19, 2025, 13:45:26
- New 247 rankings out. Hankins all the way up to #157 overall # 5 in state - illini21 November 19, 2025, 12:56:58
- Bielema show will air tomorrow because of basketball game tonight* - Poldark November 19, 2025, 9:06:33
- Penn State is 1-6 in B1G? Wow.* - cpsteine November 19, 2025, 8:37:09
- Tulane is 25 and in the playoff* - Mrap24 November 18, 2025, 19:55:19
- Ranked 21 in playoff top 25* - Mrap24 November 18, 2025, 19:47:13
- Hey roughy - ATL November 18, 2025, 13:45:12
- Dave Wischnowsky will be there.* - Poldark November 18, 2025, 13:12:50
- B1G equity deal on pause - biclops November 17, 2025, 18:29:15
- Need to get two tix still, anyone know what section the away section is?* - reggiedunlop November 17, 2025, 16:30:49
- James Franklin to Virginia Tech, per Thamel* - AintHatin November 17, 2025, 15:04:35
- Given that we are now bowl eligible, I want to talk about bowl possibilities. I assume we're likely - ATL November 17, 2025, 14:14:34
- I think Vegas when we win out.* - Phytynlini November 19, 2025, 5:58:48
- 'd love to be in a top non-playoff tier game against Texas* - RSMBob November 18, 2025, 15:39:55
- Why are we assuming Orlando is out? - Illiniphil November 17, 2025, 14:51:36
- Vegas and Nashville seem to be the leading destinations if we win out* - snipes824 November 17, 2025, 14:36:02
- Current CBS bowl prediction: - ibdoc November 17, 2025, 14:34:43
- Would be better than being shitpumped by LSU.* - Warrin'_Illini November 17, 2025, 14:51:38
- I didn't think I'd have to worry about playing my wife's school, but here we are.
 - tvillini November 17, 2025, 14:44:56
- If we lose the last two games of the season, we deserve Detroit.* - ATL November 17, 2025, 14:38:27
- GTOOH with that bowl* - LovetheChief November 17, 2025, 14:38:22
- Look at us, finally on the right side of the success rate graph - biclops November 17, 2025, 10:55:55
- I'm parking at my brother's house and walking over* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes November 17, 2025, 9:34:08
- you already forgot our conversation lol* - Poldark November 17, 2025, 8:06:45
- Tailgating non-existent. Be prepared to park and walk a long way* - JeffFrank November 17, 2025, 7:46:30
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