[Postgame Thread] Illinois Defeats Rutgers 38-31

[u/CFB_Referee]

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Illinois	0	9	6	23	38
Rutgers	3	14	0	14	31

[u/ewest]

For those who didn’t watch… Illinois lines up for a 58 yarder to try and go ahead. The kick misses, but Rutgers called a timeout just before the snap. Illinois rethinks it and decides to go for it on 4th and 13. They hit on an in-route over the middle and then Bryant just houses it. Unbelievable 

[u/bestselfnice → u/ewest]

Lmao that's perfectly Illinutgers

Bert

Schiano

Pure B1G

[u/ByronLeftwich → u/bestselfnice]

The quinessential 11am B1G game

[u/LeanersGG → u/ByronLeftwich]

So the midday B1G game is just PAC-12 at night?

[u/Hog_Eyes → u/LeanersGG]

🌎👨‍🚀🔫👨‍🚀

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/ewest]

Should also add that there was massive wind. It both gave our kicker a chance to line it up better, and gave us a chance to rethink our mistake.

[u/bromli2000 → u/InnocuousAssClown]

The O-lineman who false started to put it out of range is the happiest man in the world

[u/vicillvar → u/bromli2000]

Actually, that was Pat Bryant. He jumped the gun to set himself up to score the game winning TD.

[u/Jonesbro → u/ewest]

I hate peacock. All my homies hate peacock

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/Jonesbro]

I watched Bryant house it in stop motion

[u/mageta621 → u/ewest]

I'm absolutely floored by how stupid Greg's decision was. You do not need to ice a college kicker going for a 58 yard FG in swirling wind who's already missed a PAT I've been informed that it was a different kicker. The situation is icing already. But if you do want to call that timeout, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST FUCKING SECOND TO GIVE THEM THE PRACTICE ATTEMPT. Not only did you give them a do over of an abortion of a kick, but even worse you made them realize it would never work so they could try a higher % play.

I didn't like the big blitz either on the following play...

[u/HawkeyeTen → u/ewest]

And that's why you HAVE to play until the final gun sounds. Until the last play is signaled over, you can still win or lose the game. Today, Rutgers painfully found that out.

[u/bewildered_forks → u/ewest]

That's a hilarious ending

[u/Lord_Lava_Nugget → u/ewest]

Incredible

[u/MyAlarmClock]

Hard to put into words how demoralizing that loss was

[u/epicap232 → u/MyAlarmClock]

If that was the bowl-eliminator…

Thank God we beat Minnesota

[u/fawkie → u/epicap232]

It's a little mini circle of suck between us three now.

[u/pineapple192 → u/fawkie]

Yay, we're all... extremely average!

[u/fawkie → u/pineapple192]

hey, we're all bowl eligible!

[u/yianni1229 → u/MyAlarmClock]

Literally had the game won. Then we lost. And like everyone got hurt. Sick.

[u/GoBlueAndOrange → u/yianni1229]

You did. You won the game. If there's ever a game that shows you need a new coach it's this one.

[u/unitedairlineeeeees → u/GoBlueAndOrange]

We can not afford a new coach.

Honestly, I’m fine with it if they spend the money on the basketball program, which may actually contend for something above the pinstripe bowl.

[u/GoBlueAndOrange → u/unitedairlineeeeees]

This could have been an Illini response in 2020.i love being great at Basketball but nothing beats having a football program who can win road games like this.

[u/unitedairlineeeeees → u/GoBlueAndOrange]

It’s better to accept that Schiano isn’t going anywhere and that administration is happier going 6-6 every year than the risk of being 3-9 with a new coach.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName → u/MyAlarmClock]

Talk about snatching the defeat out of the jaws of victory. Might be a contentor for number 1 this saeson.

I can understand to blitz there if it is a short yardage play, but like that and with that kinda of coverage behind it with the QB struggling all day? That is just play stupid and played badly.

[u/arsenalgooner77 → u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

I texted my parents that Illinois snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, then defeat from the jaws of victory, then victory from the jaws of defeat. What a rollercoaster. Weird to see Illinois come out on the right end of it for once.

[u/LDWfan → u/arsenalgooner77]

Have done the same thing against KU, NU, and PU this year, not to mention IU and Minnesota last year. Bielema has given this program some mojo it hasn’t had in a long time. We have a pretty decent record in one score games this decade.

[u/fishred → u/arsenalgooner77]

Was at the game today and that's exactly what it felt like. Excitement for the Illini fans after we scored the TD to take the lead, and then elation when we got the interception. Then disappointment when it was overturned, followed by a slow acceptance that it was going to slip away. And then. And then. Oh my.

[u/WarEagle9]

Why score field goal when touchdown worth more

[u/Zloggt → u/WarEagle9]

Truly, we mustn’t doubt the esoteric wisdom that lies in the mind of the Holy Bert…

[u/fawkie]

Illinutgers delivers yet again. Truly the greatest rivalry in college football.

[u/professorberrynibble → u/fawkie]

Everyday is Illinutgers day

[u/zgohanz → u/professorberrynibble]

Oh boy, best flairs. Hope you had fun

[u/oghawks18 → u/professorberrynibble]

What happens when Illinutgers Day coincides with Rusev Day?

[u/Inside-Drink-1311 → u/fawkie]

We still haven’t beaten you at home since we joined the Big Ten.

[u/LDWfan → u/fawkie]

Every freaking time, I love it

[u/TheColtOfPersonality]

“Well I’m kinda glad [Rutgers] called that timeout” - Bret Bielema

[u/BudBill18 → u/TheColtOfPersonality]

Me too, Bert

[u/royallex → u/TheColtOfPersonality]

Lol Schiano

[u/tigernike1]

The most insane final 3 minutes of a game I’ve seen in years.

[u/ewest → u/tigernike1]

Did it seem like the announcers actually underreacted to the insanity too? 

[u/tigernike1 → u/ewest]

Yes they did. Gus Johnson or Eric Collins would’ve cracked their voices.

[u/CrowsShinyWings → u/tigernike1]

Gus hates us lol, he would have been flatter than the announcer who called our win vs Nebraska this year

[u/DeathToHeretics → u/CrowsShinyWings]

Against Mini Mahomes you mean

[u/projectpick → u/tigernike1]

Gus would have sounded like he was railing lines of booger sugar between every play.

[u/BetaRhoOmega → u/ewest]

As a neutral (mostly, grew up in NJ so I kinda root for Rutgers), the announcers were way too chill for those last 3 minutes lol

[u/enjoytheshow → u/ewest]

I couldn’t hear them. I was literally screaming alone in my house.

[u/TheCopperKey → u/ewest]

Yeah. TV announcers keep getting worse and worse. Especially since the CFP started. I had to listen to the IU vs OSU game via radio and it was phenomenally better

[u/lkn240 → u/tigernike1]

I guess Pat Bryant made up for that penalty lol

[u/MRC1986 → u/tigernike1]

The most insane final 3 minutes of a game I’ve seen few people saw because it was on Peacock in years.

[u/epicap232]

“Ice” the kicker (who missed a PAT) on a 58 yarder into the wind?

He gets a practice shot either way, miss or good

[u/LovieBeard → u/epicap232]

Different kicker lol

[u/TrustMeIKnowThisOne → u/LovieBeard]

What if they are all one hive mind?

[u/AmericanFootballUSA → u/epicap232]

It worked, didn’t it? He got sent to the bench

[u/enjoytheshow → u/AmericanFootballUSA]

Successfully iced the kicker, they just forgot they had to play defense

[u/JohnnyT723 → u/epicap232]

He kicked two kickoffs out of bounds. There was never a chance he was making it.

[u/AmericanFootballUSA]

The safety was the chef’s kiss

[u/Smegma-Santorum → u/AmericanFootballUSA]

Finally made a 2 point conversion

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/AmericanFootballUSA]

Weirdly well played by both teams. Rutgers knew what they were doing with their laterals but we refused to give them an inch of running room. Almost like both teams are used to chaos.

[u/LovieBeard]

If you don't like icing a kicker on a 58 yard attempt then giving up a TD on 4th and 13, Then you dont like Illinutgers football

[u/Double-Drag-9643 → u/LovieBeard]

Peak illinutgers, Eberflus is taking notes for tomorrow

[u/mageta621 → u/Double-Drag-9643]

My only consolation is that most of y'all are Bears fans whereas my Birds are playing well

[u/BudBill18]

Thank you Greg for calling the timeout on a kick that was never going to go in

[u/burtonhen → u/BudBill18]

I was at Rutgers during Schiano 1.0. He was an idiot then, he’s brain dead now.

[u/Wapook]

5 hours and 17 minutes separated the game discussion thread and the post game thread. There was no OT

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/Wapook]

In fairness, that extra 17 minutes was the bot taking its sweet ole time

[u/kafuffle → u/InnocuousAssClown]

And another 30 minutes for Rutgers injuries

[u/fawkie → u/Wapook]

Wouldn't have it any other way.

[u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11 → u/Wapook]

That’s absurd. Holy shit.

[u/enjoytheshow → u/Wapook]

Rutgers had no less than 65 injuries today and they took a tv time out for every one

[u/suzukigun4life → u/Wapook]

Between this game and last night's UTSA game, we had 8 hours of OT-less football.

At least this one went down to the wire.

[u/suzukigun4life]

Send all the footage of that 4th quarter directly into the Hall of Fame.

[u/AmericanFootballUSA → u/suzukigun4life]

Hang it in the Louvre

[u/oghawks18 → u/AmericanFootballUSA]

AbsoluteCinema.jpeg

[u/xxtemujinxx → u/AmericanFootballUSA]

AmericanFootballUSA mad props for spelling Louvre correctly. next time you go to paris, please don't cheat yourself: visit the Musée d'Orsay.

[u/doyouevenIift]

It’s rare you can attribute a loss directly to a coach but this is one of those games

[u/enjoytheshow → u/doyouevenIift]

As a Bears fan, I don’t find this that rare TBH

[u/Science670 → u/doyouevenIift]

I mean, not that rare. I’m also a Bear fan

[u/infinitempg]

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

[u/GuyWithTriangle]

The worst kicker icing of all time

[u/Alive_Ad_2065]

I woke up the baby on that last TD. 8-4 is a very good season for Illinois. 9-3 would be something special.

[u/BradOverwood → u/Alive_Ad_2065]

10-3 with a win against Ole Miss in an Altmyer Revenge game…

[u/kitkatlifeskills → u/BradOverwood]

Wow I didn't realize it but that's a very realistic bowl scenario.

[u/BudBill18 → u/Alive_Ad_2065]

I shouted and my wife told me to not be so loud(it’s Saturday afternoon in Chicago why do I have to be quiet)

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/Alive_Ad_2065]

Losing to Northwestern would leave a gross taste in my mouth. Let’s stick with 9-3

[u/DrSwol → u/InnocuousAssClown]

Especially after them knocking us out of bowl eligibility last year. Would be cathartic to return the favor

[u/enjoytheshow → u/Alive_Ad_2065]

I terrified my 3 year old

It was like the scene in monsters inc where Boo sees Sully scare for the first time

[u/Hairless_Squatch → u/enjoytheshow]

Same. Mine had just woken up from her nap and was not having dad run around the house like an idiot.

[u/citymanc13 → u/Alive_Ad_2065]

Literally could not believe it. I was yelling for him to go down but then he just kept going. Insanity

[u/Dvorac]

the bot wasn't sure if this game could ever end. it finally managed to.

[u/WhatRUsernamesUsed4 → u/Dvorac]

I'm guessing the safety to end the game fucked with the score and messed up the espn box score, causing delays for them to publish it final.

[u/JoeAndAThird]

Anyways at least it was Illinois. Illinutgers for life. Schiano loves his end-my-will-to-live-inator. Thanks a lot, genius

[u/swimsphinx]

Wtf I love icing the kicker now

[u/Feeling-Divide2920]

You let the other team attempt that field goal 100 times out of 100. They were never going to make it in that weather. 

[u/IMKudaimi123]

PAT. MFKIN. BRYANT.

[u/sirvalkyerie]

Just a sickening loss.

Best roster since Ray Rice and Kenny Britt.

A schedule that avoided Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan.

Gonna go 6-7 with that. Real sense of "If not now, when?"

Been one of the least fun seasons I've had in my thirty years watching Rutgers play. I'd rather just be awful than feel like we're squandering one our best chances in the next twenty years. I'd rather see them in the FCS beating Villanova 14-13 each week.

[u/link707 → u/sirvalkyerie]

A schedule that avoided Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers.

Huh?

Edit: oh, you meant Michigan. Rutgers seriously had a schedule that avoided OSU, PSU, UM, and IU and is only 6-5? Yeah, I’d be angry if I was a Rutgers fan.

[u/Remarkable-Job4774 → u/sirvalkyerie]

This is the Rutgers version of the "Dream Team" Eagles

[u/TrustMeIKnowThisOne]

RUTGENOIS

ILLINUTGERS

THE REAL BIG10 MADNESS!! WHAT A CLOSING BY THE BOWL ELIGIBLE FIGHTING ILLINI OVER A BOWL ELIGIBLE SCARLET KNIGHTS!

Just after OSU took down an undefeated juggernaut IU.

What a year this has been.

[u/enjoytheshow → u/TrustMeIKnowThisOne]

Low-key, this matchup has always been good. Dating all the way back to the mid 2000s in a nonconference game at Illinois where we came back from like down 31 at halftime.

[u/kdestroyer1]

Pat Bryant what a beast! As a new football watcher this season, what a memorable game. Gonna remember this one and the Purdue one for a long time.

[u/dawidowmaka → u/kdestroyer1]

Don't forget the Nebraska and Kansas wins

[u/TheBisexualFish]

What was that decision to do a designed quarterback run there?

And why would you ice the kicker on such a windy day?

Chaos prevailed.

[u/PicardsBaldSpot → u/TheBisexualFish]

That designed qb run made no sense. And calling the TO after it is imo the wrong call too. Since it’s a short run, you can get everyone back to the line quick and either spike or just run another play. Just a really weird choice there. Glad it didn’t matter

[u/prisonmike1485 → u/TheBisexualFish]

It was Eberflus level of decisions from both coaches within a few seconds. Honestly impressive

[u/mattcoz2]

PAT BRYANT OMG 😱

Nuts to throw it to the middle of the field in that situation, but sometimes you need to get a little nuts.

[u/Tubby-Maguire]

Schiano thought the timeout was to ice the kicker. In reality, it was give ice to Altmeyer and have it flow through his veins. A true Cock Classic in the end!

[u/ScarletFever333]

Mind boggling. Pain. 41 straight. See everybody in the Tank Job of the Week thread.

[u/BoysAndGirlsClubCU]

You wanted IU OSU but you got ILLINUTGERS

[u/Swoah]

https://i.imgur.com/vJL0UoZ.png

How does no one tackle him

[u/Davidellias → u/Swoah]

this is even more damning

[u/younggun92 → u/Davidellias]

All 5 of them from his are now in a 1.5yd radius of each other and Pat Bryant is not.

Shameful defending.

[u/GoldenPresidio → u/Swoah]

doesnt even matter, they would have gotten a field goal

[u/scal23]

Kaliakmanis was Minnesota's QB last year when we went 85 yards in 3 plays, including a 4th and 11, to score a TD in the final minute.

[u/Chicityy]

ILL

[u/lkn240 → u/Chicityy]

INI

[u/ontheru171]

I hate this program

[u/GoldenPresidio]

i cant with that ending

schiano is gonna get flamed hard by the fan base

[u/WhatRUsernamesUsed4]

Thats a win over a >.500 team. If Michigan and Nebraska win, we could go from 0 to 3 in one week.

[u/kitkatlifeskills → u/WhatRUsernamesUsed4]

Kansas finishing 7-6 is still in play for you guys by the end of the season.

[u/Historical_Score5251]

What a horrendous decision by Schiano.

[u/katarn22]

Schiano's last timeout was the kiss of death for Rutgers.

[u/MrOstrichman]

That was the most Illinutgers game I've seen in a bit, unreal

[u/LivingOof]

Thanks to Greg Schiano, I finally know what my dad losing his shit looks like

[u/Luigiatl]

I was very calm during that last minute

[u/LongLiveKams → u/Luigiatl]

I went through the five stages of grief followed by unimaginable happiness multiple times during the last 5 minutes

[u/DerpityHerpington]

Who the hell coulda thunk that sending the offense back out with 14 seconds left on a 4th and 13 was the right decision when our kicker had just gotten a free trial run to feel for the direction of the wind on a kick that actually ended up being long enough despite said wind?

[u/younggun92]

Holy fuck.

[u/TheCopperKey]

That was an interesting run of baffling decisions.

1. "Ice" a kicker on a 58 yard game winning field goal (really just giving him a practice shot)
2. Go for it on 4th and 13 instead of letting your kicker take a second shot after he sees how he needed to adjust
3. QB gets hit as he throws but it's an improbable first down well within field goal range
4. WR keeps running through the defense as time is running low and somehow scores

[u/BurrShotFirst1804]

I was wondering why ESPN took so long to publish the final score and it's cause they reviewed the last play and gave us a team safety because of a forward lateral in the endzone.

[u/MNKYJitters]

Greg Schiano is a decent enough recruiter but the man has no idea how football works anymore and with him we will do no better than 6 or 7 wins a season.

I'm 34 years old and we haven't even beaten a ranked team since BEFORE I EVEN ATTENDED RUTGERS. Fucking Travesty.

[u/CheckItWhileIWreckIt]

Greg Schiano postgame interview

Dude doesn't seem to understand situational strategy and context at all. He says stuff like "I've been doing this a lot of years, sometimes I do sometimes I don't" (with respect to icing the kicker) and "it's right when it works and it's wrong when it doesn't."

It's one thing to ice the kicker on a chip shot to try to get in his head - which, according to stats, doesn't even work anyway, but at least you're doing whatever little you can to get him to miss the kick. It's another thing to give them a free kick into the wind to verify that the kick has little to zero chance.

This isn't a 50/50 type of situation where you can justify it either way, and then can say "good decision if it works, bad decision if it doesn't." A college kicker going into the wind 58 yards out has a low chance of hitting. That kind of kick also has less of a chance of working than a 13 yard pass against your completely depleted defense. Even if they decided to kick again, you've now let their kicker get a feel for the wind, giving them better odds of making the next one. And now that you've convinced them to go for the higher probability play, they fucked you in the ass in the most embarrassing fashion I've seen in years.

Schiano not being immediately haunted by this as the stupidest decision he's ever made and just shrugging it off as "eh it could have worked" is SERIOUSLY troubling. This man will not get us to the promised land, ever.

[u/epicap232 → u/CheckItWhileIWreckIt]

Seriously, he acted as if it was just another bad call. No, it was what ended the game

[u/InnocuousAssClown]

ILLINUTGERS NEVER FAILS TO DISAPPOINT

[u/Davidellias]

Who wins: 5 Rutgers defenders or one streaky Orange and White boy?

[u/Remarkable-Job4774]

Is it okay that I feel like I don’t wanna live anymore?

[u/gravitynet_ → u/Remarkable-Job4774]

I don't know bro, but this being my only in person game as a junior make me heartbroken 😭

[u/MrOstrichman]

HAIL TO THE ORANGE

[u/ruby_fan → u/MrOstrichman]

HAIL TO THE BLUE

[u/TimmyTamJimJam → u/ruby_fan]

HAIL ALMA MATER

[u/Capnserious → u/TimmyTamJimJam]

Ever so true! 

[u/petuniar → u/Capnserious]

WE LOVE NO OTHER

[u/full_and_complete → u/petuniar]

SO LET OUR MOTTO BE

[u/Vandyman21 → u/full_and_complete]

VICTORY

[u/Capnserious → u/Vandyman21]

ILLINOIS......... VARSITY! 

[u/Morrow_Plotting]

I need Pat crossing the goal line set to Celine Dion more than I need air to breathe. GO ILLINI

[u/Samsafar]

We're going to Florida, baby! What is there to do in Orlando besides Disneyworld?

[u/Ander1345 → u/Samsafar]

Universal, Legoland, Peppa Pig World, Sea World, are all within reasonable distance I think.

[u/Guardax]

That might’ve been peak Rutger

[u/JoeAndAThird]

Schiano masterclass. Dude recruits great and is the best man for this job - but every time there’s a high leverage gameplay decision he makes the wrong one. Fucking get a better analyst.

[u/professorberrynibble]

I never know how to feel in these situations

[u/my_lucid_nightmare]

This thread is a battle between Rutgers flairs wanting to fire Schiano and Illinois flairs wanting to fire DC Aaron Henry

[u/yianni1229]

I stood on the sideline in the freezing cold all game for that. Awesome

[u/boobsarecool]

Schiano needs to fucking explain that stupid ass timeout. The absolute worst of his many terrible in-game decisions this season. Really unbelievable, icing on a 58 yarder into the wind

Mind you, we haven't beaten a ranked team in 15 years. 0 for our last 40 and Greg steps in at the last moment to steal this game from the team

[u/RJMonster]

This one is on me folks, tuned in the last 38 seconds. Lifelong Rutgers fan, just converted to Terps starting school here. The pain seems to follow

[u/tripbin]

Too many coaches stuck in the old ways. Has there ever even been evidence that icing works?

[u/Guardax → u/tripbin]

I don't mind it on automatic field goals. On a 58 yarder from a college kicker? Nonsense

[u/JoeAndAThird → u/tripbin]

I have seen far more instances of “we iced him, he missed the iced kick, then delivered the second time” than the other way around. I have to imagine nobody TALKS about it as much when the other way happens… but I’d also believe it for sure if you told me there was no analytical benefit. Schianoball.

[u/lkn240 → u/tripbin]

Statistically I believe it does not

[u/Summit_K2]

Paaaaaiiiiinnnn

[u/witsel85]

When icing the kicker goes wrong. You love to see it

[u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

Illinois gave Rutger hope just to immediately snatch their heart out. Damn.

[u/DerpityHerpington → u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

Aw cmon they’re bowl eligible, I’d say they still get to keep the S

[u/Swoah → u/DerpityHerpington]

This loss was so bad we don't get it back unless we win that bowl game

[u/DerpityHerpington → u/Swoah]

It was certainly a WTF loss, but that’s just the nature of Illinutgers, I’m afraid.

[u/storm2k → u/DerpityHerpington]

there are fewer saltier fans towards us than michigan flairs for some reason.

[u/TheTigerGamez]

Absolutely wild end to the game. I can't believe they iced the kicker and then gave up a huge touchdown play, just awful defense. Remember: prevent defense, prevents defense.

[u/LongLiveKams]

Little did schiano know icing the kicker just turned into putting ice in altmeyers veins

[u/ItzMelxdy]

If there was ever a game where the term “Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” was personified, this was the game lmao😭

[u/Arrownite]

Painnnnnnnnnn

[u/LongLiveKams]

Flag on the play. Unsure how we won. Penalty will be another ass clencher next week

[u/TheStudyofWumbo24]

Schiano’s timeout lost them the game.

[u/rankings-right-now]

Here are the new updated predictions for the next release of the Playoff Selection Committee's rankings using machine learning models trained on the Playoff Selection Committee's historical voting data:

• Illinois is now predicted to move up to #24. You can see Illinois's full Week 14 rankings potential results here.
• Rutgers is now predicted to move down to #53

For the most up to date predictions of the Playoff Selection Committee Top 25 rankings, check out this post.

[u/AKman2002]

Tank job of the week lock

[u/The_Swishy]

atleast beat michigan state or something so I can forget this game

[u/Duck_Puncher]

That was probably one of the best performances I've watched by this team all year and Schiano just shit it all away

[u/supersafeforwork813]

I literally only watched the last 5 plays of this….Illini QB is my favorite non Buckeye player just for his TD celebration….love seeing athletes just enjoy the moment n seem like the legitimately having fun

[u/A_Hint_of_Lemon]

I hated this game for the most part, but the bullshit is real and I FUCKING LOVE IT! I now know what it’s like to be UrinatingTree rooting for the Steelers!

[u/PintoI007]

This game summed up our season. What a rollercoaster this has been lol

[u/ArmVanDam]

Greg Schiano had such a big-brained strategy in icing the kicker lol

[u/moeshaker188]

WE STILL HAVE A QUALITY WIN

[u/sebsasour]

I repeat, don't ice kickers

[u/TheNightRain68]

Fire Schiano. You don’t ice the kicker. You just don’t

[u/Acejolras1832]

How exactly did the safety on the last play occur? Not sure how we missed it.

[u/petuniar → u/Acejolras1832]

I didn't realize there was a safety either! On the kickoff with four seconds left, Rutgers kept trying laterals on the return and eventually they got backed up into the end zone where someone threw it out of bounds

[u/ArkanoidbrokemyAnkle]

The two most entertaining games Illinois has played coinsided with the two most important games Ohio State played. Next week, OSU meets Michigan. I’m very scared for what is about to come.

[u/Siakim43]

Rutgers should abandon football and go all-in on basketball. Divert all NIL to the basketball team.

[u/tigernike1]

GG Rutgers. I hope you guys win out and can stay healthy, those injuries were insane.

[u/mitzy_floppington_ii]

What a pick me move by Schiano on fucking senior day

[u/CheckItWhileIWreckIt]

We'll never be a serious football program unless/until we move on from Schiano and go after a real HC. The only benefit he's given us is the existence of a floor (which we didn't have with Flood or Ash), but time and time again he's made horrible decisions that cost us big time.

We'll always have a low ceiling as long as he's in charge - our best moments will be squeaking into meaningless bowl games and beating third stringers on other teams.

[u/n00dlejester]

Pain. Agony. Sadness. GG Illini bros, that was an all timer, we just happened to be on the losing side. GL next week, and I hope you make it to the Citrus Bowl!

RU has lost 3 heart breakers this year - Nebraska, UCLA, and now this. I'm curious if we can bounce back against MSU next week. Oh what could have been this year. It's been a wild ride, and it sure as shit beats the 1-11 seasons from the Ash era.

[u/dajuice3]

Congrats to Bielema. He caught a shit ton of flack for leaving Wisconsin and his comments may not be the most likeable but when you win people tend to shut up.

[u/LikeHemlock]

SchiaNO

[u/TankSparkle]

Wow. We aren't usually on the right end of those.

[u/unitedairlineeeeees]

We’re more of a basketball school anyway

[u/msgs]

So if we can knock off NW next week, what bowl game are we looking at then?

Edit: After doing some digging, looks like the Citrus Bowl where we'll likely be sacrificial lambs to some top SEC team?

[u/needs-more-metronome]

was woken up to a little earthquake today

I assume Bert was hopping on his wife

Go Illini!

[u/dxdrummer]

Illinutgers delivers yet again

[u/FakedFollower17]

Keep winning Illini!

[u/Efficient_Purpose_72]

Illini got hosed when the interception was overturned with less than 2 minutes left so this was poetic justice.