IlliniBoard

I'm standing outside the Walgreens at Windsor and Duncan, which is a normal thing that normal people do (while I waited for a prescription to be filled, my wife ran home real quick to get something she forgot and my prescription was ready before she got b…

I took that photo at halftime, so don't hold it over the Cincinnati fans.

I have no idea how this is going to go.

I've done this each of the last 17 years.

All signs were pointing to an Illini win.

Here's your warning.

I'm not really sure what words to put here tonight.

Quick, name the Michigan State football coach in 1982.

Coming Up Who: Michigan State Spartans When: Saturday, October 10, 2026; 2:30pm Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI How: FS1 Opponent Primer: Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald.

That moment right there is the moment that has bothered me this week.

I've referenced this several times this year, but I rewatched Mad Men over the last six months.

I'm absolutely freezing right now.

I need to note a moment here.

This won't mean anything to you, but I'm in this groove where I write the SOC and the postgame post in the exact same spot.

Coming Up Who: Purdue Boilermakers When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 3:15p CDT Where: Home Sweet Home How: BTN Opponent Primer: Head Coach: Barry Odom.

What's the purpose of the weekly NERDstats post?

I gave it 24 hours.

I don't have time to look up the study right now.

Isn't the whole point of the credential so that security people know who has permission and who does not?

I feel like this SOC might be a little longer than usual.

During the podcast episode with Carey Davis this week, I had this thought that the "fullback in the flat" game at Ohio State might have been 1999 (right as I was telling him that I remember it from the 2001 game).

Coming Up Who: Ohio State Buckeyes When: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11:00 AM CT Where: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH) How: FOX (Big Noon Saturday) Prepare yourself for Gus Johnson (Play-by-play), Joel Klatt (Color Analyst), and Jenny Taft (Sideline Report…

Three games down, nine games to go. 3-0 was the goal, 2-1 the result.

In lieu of an "other stuff" post, I'm going to answer a question from the comments from yesterday.

All I can say is that there's a disconnect.

My plan is to upload this before I leave the stadium.

Is this going to be the earliest SOC in years?

Which SIU game will Detlef choose?

Coming Up Who: Southern Illinois Salukis When: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1:00pm Where: Home Sweet Home How: Peacock Opponent Primer: Head Coach: Nick Hill Nick Hill is the real‑life embodiment of the classic “local hero returns to coach the local team”

First, a yearly housekeeping note.

Nathan has a billion things going on right now so he's been unable to write his usual Monday "Postscript" column.

The first thing I googled when I got home: "Steve Weatherford college stats."

I only put the From The Stands in the podcast feed last week and a bunch of people responded asking where to find From The Stands.

First off, let's acknowledge that this is the final game in a series of home-and-home matchups that was scheduled more than a decade ago.

Would you believe I'm setting this up on WEDNESDAY to publish on FRIDAY MORNING?

Coming Up Who: Duke Blue Devils When: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 2:30 PM Where: Home Sweet Home How: FS1 Opponent Primer: Head Coach: Manny Diaz.

First off, big ups to me for remembering that it's "complementary" and not "complimentary."

I've had Illini stuff bouncing around in my head all weekend and I want to write some of it out.

I left the house at 6:45 and got home at 2:45 so if I've done some proper math this was a 20 hour football day.

There's my office for the day.

We're back.

Coming Up: Who: UAB Blazers When: Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 8:00 PM Where: Home Sweet Home How: BTN Opponent Primer: Head Coach: Alex Mortensen Alex Mortensen (obligatory note, yes, he’s Chris Mortensen’s son) is the man in charge for his first full…

Two more of these: one right now, and one on Thursday.

Can I write out some of my injury concerns here?

Someone asked on Slack about how many more revisions I'd be making to the 88 Illini list (I change it CONSTANTLY all summer) and I wanted to share my answer here as well as there.

I think I'm realizing that I wear three Illini hats.

This isn't an official NERDstats post.

I've gone back and forth over the years regarding the month of August.