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Greetings from “Can’t Wait For Saturday,” your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He’ll give you his views each day on the game he loves
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After spending the 2023 postseason home for the holidays, it now seems likely the Illinois football team will be back in the bowl business this year.
The upset win against Kansas on Saturday, which moved Illinois within a whisker of the Top 25, also meant Bret Bielema’s team was a third of a way to the postseason.
If favored Illinois takes care of Central Michigan on Saturday in the homecoming game at Memorial Stadium, the team will be halfway there.
It is reasonable to expect three more wins among the final nine games of the season, with Northwestern, Purdue and Minnesota at the top of the victim list.
Something I didn’t think I would write two weeks ago: Illinois can beat anyone on its remaining schedule. Doesn’t mean it will happen, but it can.
So, if the six wins come — and they will — where will Illinois go?
The good people at ESPN currently have Illinois playing a rematch against Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Interesting. USA Today says Illinois is going to the Detroit Bowl to face Miami (Ohio). At 247 Sports, they forecast an Illinois-Appalachian State matchup in the First Responder Bowl.
The ultimate goal for Big Ten teams has always been the Rose Bowl. And that’s a good idea this year as the game is hosting one of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Ohio State is at the top of most lists for that game.
Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at 217-393-8248 or asmussen@news-gazette.com.
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Publish date : 2024-09-11 01:00:00
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