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Bret Bielema

#20 Illinois Fighting Illini vs #15 South Carolina Gamecocks: Citrus Bowl Preview

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When the 2024 Citrus Bowl, featuring the #15 South Carolina Gamecocks vs the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini kicks off on Tuesday, it will be a bowl game where both sides will be near full strength. Lots of stars in both offensive backfields will be taking part, as this is a game with very few major opt-outs. Although it is worth noting that both sides will be without their … [Read more...] about #20 Illinois Fighting Illini vs #15 South Carolina Gamecocks: Citrus Bowl Preview

Citrus Bowl Opt-Outs: Illinois vs South Carolina

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In looking at the list of opt-outs for the 2024 Citrus Bowl, or any bowl game for that matter, one has to remember Christian McCaffery. For better or worse, the San Francisco 49ers star running back is considered the Godfather of the bowl game opt-out. He's the O.G. the who started it all. McCaffery skipped the 2016 Sun Bowl, where his Stanford side beat North Carolina … [Read more...] about Citrus Bowl Opt-Outs: Illinois vs South Carolina

Illini Record Setting WR Pat Bryant to Play in Bowl Game

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Finishing the regular season 9-3, the #22 Illinois Fighting Illini are set to play in the highest tier of non-College Football Playoff bowl games. When you're in a non-CFP bowl game these days, opt-outs, especially from those with high NFL Draft stock, are very common. Wide Receiver Pat Bryant is the player that Illini fans are keeping their eye on in this regard. His NFL … [Read more...] about Illini Record Setting WR Pat Bryant to Play in Bowl Game

Illini Torched By Oregon Ducks Historically Good QB, Dillon Gabriel

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No Bo Nix, no problem for the Oregon Ducks this season. In Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks once again have a superstar QB who transferred in from a SEC powerhouse program. In fact, Gabriel will end his college football career in a much more storied place than Nix did. The #20 Illinois Fighting Illini took on the nation's #1 team for the first time in 17 years yesterday. It did not go … [Read more...] about Illini Torched By Oregon Ducks Historically Good QB, Dillon Gabriel

Illini Football Replaying Their Unfortunate History

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The Illini football program just seems allergic to consistent success. The last time Illinois went to back-to-back bowl games was 2010-2011, and that was with two six-win regular seasons. The last time Illini football went bowling to consecutive years before that was 1991-1992, and again, it was with two six-win regular seasons. So there have been times when Illini Football … [Read more...] about Illini Football Replaying Their Unfortunate History

2023 Illini Football: Brutally Honest Season Preview

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You, the Illinois Fighting Illini football fan, are unfortunately, quite familiar with a certain phenomenon within this program's history. The miserably disappointing season that immediately follows a breakthrough campaign. Illini football broke out of the doldrums in 1999 to finish 8-4. The next campaign saw Illinois go 5-6. The 2001 10-2 Sugar Bowl, Big Ten champions preluded … [Read more...] about 2023 Illini Football: Brutally Honest Season Preview

Bret Bielema’s slight shot at Wisconsin is telling for the school and the Big Ten

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Arkansas' new head coach, Bret Bielema, has been anything  but shy in regards to expressing his feelings on almost anything via twitter. The former Wisconsin Badgers head coach has increased his online activity ten-fold since moving to Fayetteville and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. It's obvious that Bielema hasn't completely moved on from his former job, … [Read more...] about Bret Bielema’s slight shot at Wisconsin is telling for the school and the Big Ten

Can the Wisconsin Badgers pull off the ultimate upset in Pasadena?

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Story-lines run thick in the 99th installment of the Rose Bowl between the #8 Stanford Cardinal and Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers are playing in their third straight Rose Bowl and look to hall-of-fame coach Barry Alvarez to improve upon his perfect 3-0 record in Pasasdena. Stanford enters the game on a three-game streak in BCS Bowls (Fiesta in 2011 and Orange in 2010) as … [Read more...] about Can the Wisconsin Badgers pull off the ultimate upset in Pasadena?

Bielema to Arkansas puts the cherry on top of a bizarre year for Wisconsin

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If it wasn't weird enough to see a five loss Wisconsin Badgers team go to the Rose Bowl, Bret Bielema has shocked the college football community in taking the Arkansas Razorbacks' vacant head coaching job. Was it all about the money? Probably so, but let's not discount Bielema's urge to win a National Championship and we all know the SEC is ten times better equipped to do … [Read more...] about Bielema to Arkansas puts the cherry on top of a bizarre year for Wisconsin