Everything stolen from FightingIllini.com unless otherwise indicated!
#24 Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) at Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten)
Date/Time Saturday, Nov. 23 | 11 a.m. CT
Location Piscataway, New Jersey (SHI Stadium) {Start driving now, Judge Judy!}
Watch Peacock {QAnon97 will be posting his login so we can all watch at home!}
Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) returns home after picking up a 31-17 road win over Maryland on Nov. 16, a victory that saw the Scarlet Knights secure bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season and snap a four-game skid. Saturday's hosts have gone 4-2 at their home stadium this season, which includes Big Ten triumphs over Washington and Minnesota. {NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR BIELEMA}
The Illini hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series along with a 3-1 record in games hosted by Rutgers. Illinois makes its first trip to SHI Stadium since the 2020 season, when the Orange and Blue posted a 23-20 victory on Nov. 14, 2020 on a game-winning field goal by James McCourt. The Illini have won their last three road contests against the Scarlet Knights.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. RUTGERS
» Series: Illinois leads 5-3
» at Rutgers: Illinois leads 3-1
» Last: L, 20-14 (10/30/2021 at Illinois)
» at Rutgers: W, 23-20 (11/14/2020)
» Streak: L1
» at Rutgers: W3
» Bielema vs. Rutgers: 0-1
» as Illinois head coach: 0-1
Saturday's game will be broadcast on Peacock, NBC's streaming platform. Fans will need to purchase a Peacock subscription to watch the game {OR JUST GET QANON97's LOGIN INFO}, which is available starting at $7.99 per month. Peacock offers a student rate of $1.99/month and an military rate of $2.99/month.
Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Michael Robinson (analyst), Caroline Pineda (reporter) have the call on Peacock. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the statewide radio broadcast, with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline) on the call.
*Illinois is back in the AP Top 25 for the eighth time this season.
*Illinois' eight AP Poll appearances this season are the program's most since 2001, when the Illini appeared in 10 polls.
*Illinois finished its home schedule averaging 54,750 fans over seven home games, the highest average in a single season since 2009 (59,544)
{TIME TO GET DEPRESSED}
*Illinois is bowl eligible for the second time in the last three seasons. The Illini last went to a bowl following the 2022 season, when the Illini played in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.
*Illinois will play in two bowls over a three-year stretch for the first time since back-to-back bowl seasons in 2010 and 2011.
*Bret Bielema is the first Illini coach to go to two bowl games in his first four seasons since Lou Tepper {BARF} from 1991-94.
*Illinois has 20 wins over the last three seasons, the program's most in a three-year span since 2000-02 (also 20 wins).
*Bret Bielema is 25-22 during his Illinois career. Since Robert Zuppke went undefeated in two of his first three seasons at Illinois from 1913-15, Bielema's 25-22 start is the third-best through 47 games by an Illini head coach, behind only Mike White (1980-83) and John Mackovic (1988-91).
*Bielema has won at least seven games in two of his first four seasons at Illinois, becoming the first Illini head coach since John Mackovic (1988-91) to do so.
*Bielema's 16 Big Ten wins through his first four seasons at Illinois are the most since Lou Tepper also won 16 in his first four seasons (1992-95).
*Bielema's five ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the second-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and tied with Mike White (5, 1980-83).
*Bielema has three road ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons in Champaign. He is the second coach in Illinois history to win three ranked games on the road during his first four seasons, joining Lou Tepper (1992-96).
*Bielema has had the Illini ranked in 13 AP polls during his first four seasons in Champaign. Only John Mackovic (39 weeks, 1988-91) and Mike White (14 weeks, 1980-83) had the Illini ranked more during their first four seasons as Illinois head coaches. Pete Elliott also reached 13 AP poll appeaarances from 1960-63.
*Bielema joined John Mackovic (1988-91) and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 5+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.
*Bielema is 8-8 in Big Ten road games as head coach at Illinois. His eight Big Ten road wins are the fourth-most by an Illinois head coach in his first four seasons, behind only Mike White (11, 1980-83), Lou Tepper (10, 1992-95), and John Mackovic (10, 1988-91).
*Altmyer joined an impressive list of Illini QBs who have led the team to three Top 25 wins in a single season over the last 50 years: Jack Trudeau (1983), Jason Verduzco (1990), Kurt Kittner (2001), Juice Williams (2007), and Altmyer (2024).
GAMBLING! No lines on VSiN! Had to go to VegasInsider.com. (Hope I do not wind up in an Indiana cornfield like a Spilottro brother!) They have a nice charting system over there.
*Opened Illini +1! Can get it mostly at +1.5. Went up to +2 and then back down. WHAT DO THE SHARPS KNOW THAT WE DO NOT?
*Over/under opened at 47; now at 48. Was up to 48.5!
*ML was Illini +105. Got bet down to -125? Rutgers constant -125. Seems suspicious. Bet all the Christmas money on Rutgers!
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