Stolen from the same places as usual....
[UNRANKED] Illinois vs. Maryland
Date/Time Saturday, Nov. 15 | 2:30 p.m. CT
Location Champaign, Illinois (Gies Memorial Stadium) [TURN BACK, JUDGE JUDY!]
Tickets Limited Tickets Remain [BOOOOOOO!]
TV FS1
Radio SiriusXM (162/196)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After the team's second bye week of the season, Illinois returns to Gies Memorial Stadium on Saturday to take on Maryland. The game, which is Illinois' annual Military Appreciation Game [TEMPO AND JOBU SHOULD GET FREE TICKETS THEY WOULD NOT USE ANYWAY], is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
Illinois (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) will celebrate veterans, active-duty military, and their families at Gies Memorial Stadium on Saturday, as nearly 2,000 tickets have been distributed to service members and organizations that support them. Other military day initiatives include a special coin for the coin toss, ROTC cadets rappelling off the stadium during the Illini Walk, and an Army swearing-in ceremony on the field during the first timeout of the first quarter.
Maryland (4-5, 1-5 Big Ten) is led by quarterback Malik Washington, who has been one of the top freshmen players in the nation. He became one of three Power Conference true freshmen since 2000 with 200+ passing yards in each of his first six career games. [HE SHOULD BE LICKING HIS CHOPS WATCHING THE ILLINI D GAME FILM!]
The game will be broadcast nationally on FS1. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline). [WHO IS ON THE CALL FOR FS1?
?? FIGTHINGILLINI.COM IS LAZIER THAN MONTY SWEAT AND THEPATHEY COMBINED!]
Limited tickets remain available at FightingIllini.com. [BOOOOOOOO ILLINI FANS! DON'T YOU KNOW THIS IS THE GOLDEN ERA OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLINI FOOTBALL?]
Notes
Military Appreciation Game
• In recognition of the annual Military Appreciation Game, head coach Bret Bielema pledged to personally match tickets purchased by Fighting Illini fans to bring veterans, active-duty military, and their families to Gies Memorial Stadium. [BUT WILL HE SHARE LASAGNA WITH THEM?] The initiative, announced July 3, aimed at filling the stands with heroes from across the state and beyond. The matched tickets were donated directly to service members and organizations that support them through VetTix.
• Over 1,300 tickets were distributed through Bielema's campaign, then another 350+ Military Appreciation Game tickets were claimed through University of Illinois campus groups. [WHERE IS TEMPO'S FREE TICKET?]
• Saturday's coin toss will feature a special military coin representing all military branches.
• Prior to Saturday's Illini Walk, four ROTC cadets will rappel off of Gies Memorial Stadium.
• During the first timeout of the first quarter, an Army swearing-in ceremony will take place on the field.
Winning Ways
• Illinois is postseason eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11. [SAD!]
• Illinois is postseason eligible three times in a four-year span for the first time since 1991-94. [SAD!]
• Illinois has 21 Big Ten wins in Bret Bielema's first five seasons at Illinois. It is Illinois' most Big Ten wins in a five-year period since winning 23 Big Ten games from 1990-94. [SAD!]
• Illinois has 29 wins over the last four seasons, its most wins over a four-year period since winning 30 games from 1988-91. [SAD!]
• Illinois has 16 wins over the last two seasons, the program's most wins over a two-year stretch since 1989-90, when the Illini went 10-2 then 8-4 under John Mackovic. [SAD!]
• Illinois' most wins over a two-year stretch:
18 — 1989-90; 1902-03; 1901-02
17 — 1983-84; 1982-83; 1903-04
16 — 2024-25; 1988-89; 1950-51 [SAD! I'M LAZY AND I'M BUSY]
• Illinois is 16-6 over the last two seasons, including 12 Power-4 wins, nine Big Ten wins, and wins over teams from every other Power-4 conference: the SEC (vs. South Carolina, 2024), the ACC (at Duke, 2025), and the Big XII (Kansas, 2024). [YAY US!]
• Illinois is 11-2 against unranked teams over the last two seasons (2024-25). [JINX!]
• Illinois is 10-2 at home over the last two seasons (2024-25). [YAY US!]
Attendance Continues to Rise
• Illinois is on track for a season attendance over 400,000, which would be the sixth time in program history and the first time since 1994 that the Illini have passed the 400,000 fans mark in a single season. [SAD!]
• Limited tickets remain for Saturday's Maryland game. [SAD!]
• Illinois sold out four straight games this season, tying the program's longest sellout streak since 1982-87 (28 straight). The Illini also sold out four straight games during the 2008 season. [SAD!]
• Illinois sold out games against Western Michigan (Sept. 13), USC (Sept. 27), Ohio State (Oct. 11), and Rutgers (Nov. 1). [C'MON HQ2, BUY UP THE REMAINING TICKETS!]
• Illinois announced on May 21 that its season tickets had sold out for the first time in at least 20 years. The Fighting Illini's final season ticket total is over 42,000, including student season tickets sold out.
The Illinois Offense
• The Illinois offense has improved every year since offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.'s arrival. The Illini averaged 24.2 points per game in Lunney's first year in 2022, followed by 24.5 in 2023, 28.3 in 2024, and now 33.1 in 2025. [WHEN IS HE LEAVING FOR GREENER PASTURES?]
• Illinois is averaging 33.1 points per game, currently the highest mark in Illinois history (record 32.5 set in 2010). [YAY US!]
• Altmyer has led Illinois to a 20-11 record as the team's starting quarterback, the third-most wins in Illinois history, behind only Kurt Kittner (24) and Jack Trudeau (23). [SAD!]
[NO NOTES ON THE DEFENSE? HMMMMMM.]
Gambling brought to you by VSiN! Take it away Brent and Greek!
Greek: I do not have time for your crap. Let's get to it.
Brent: Illinois started -13.5. Now -14.5 to 15.5 with various vig. Moneyline started Maryland +440 and Illinoisi -600. Now can get Maryland +475-500 and Illinois -650 to 750. Over/under started 54.5. Has gone down. Can get 52.5 to 53.5. Give us your usual anti-Illinois take, Greek.
Greek: Do not like the wind conditions for this game despite the warm weather.
Brent: Mr. Roberts has not given us his forecast though.
Greek: You asked for my take so shove it, muskrat. Illinois is 6-3 against the spread and now 5-4 on the over/under. Locksley hates Illinois. Take Maryland and the under, even with these terrible defenses.
Brent: What a shocker you are negative on Illinois. Until next week, Brent and Greek signing off.
Greek stepping on your toes, Mr. Roberts!
Mr. Roberts: No time for Babe hijinks. Going to be a nice day Saturday! It will be like 411 - close to all time highs! Average high temp is 51°. Last Year 54° Record was 76° back in 1971 before all this global warming bullshit! The low 12° in 1916 when the Babe was still pitching and banging whores for Boston's Red Stockings!
Your morning tailgate:
66°! RealFeel® 63° RealFeel Shade™ 62°
Partly sunny, breezy and warm
Wind SSW 13 mph
Wind Gusts 29 mph
Humidity 87%
Dew Point 57°
Probability of Precipitation 5%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 68%
Visibility 10 mi
Game:
70° RealFeel® 67° RealFeel Shade™ 67°
Partly sunny, breezy and warm
Wind WSW 14 mph
Wind Gusts 30 mph !!!!!
Humidity 67%
Dew Point 55°
Probability of Precipitation 5%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 64%
Visibility 10 mi
Anyone going to the game? Go Illini!
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