Illinois Football Schedule 2016: 5 Keys For The Fighting Illini
The 2016 Illinois football schedule has too many tough road games to win the West, but it’s doable if the goal is to just get to a bowl game.
The 2016 Illinois football schedule has too many tough road games to win the West, but it’s doable if the goal is to just get to a bowl game.
2016 Illinois Fighting Illini Football Schedule
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2016 Illinois Fighting Illini
Sept. 10 North Carolina
Sept. 17 Western Michigan
Sept. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 1 at Nebraska
Oct. 8 Purdue
Oct. 15 at Rutgers
Oct. 22 at Michigan
Oct. 29 Minnesota
Nov. 5 Michigan State
Nov. 12 at Wisconsin
Nov. 19 Iowa
Nov. 26 at Northwestern
Non-Conference Games Murray State, North Carolina, Western Michigan
Games vs. the East at Rutgers, at Michigan, Michigan State
5 Keys to the Schedule
– Last year the Illini had to go to North Carolina and got whacked. This time around, the Tar Heels have to come to Champaign, as do Murray State and Western Michigan for a not-that-bad non-conference slate.
– The first road game doesn’t come until October, and there’s a week off before facing Nebraska. The Illini need that week off with three of the next four games on the road going to Lincoln, Rutgers and Michigan. The Purdue game is the home oasis.
– Illinois doesn’t have to play Ohio State from the East, but it has to go to Michigan and has to face Michigan State. Playing Rutgers helps, but it’s still a hard break to get the Wolverines and Spartans.
– The game against Iowa is at home but the date with Nebraska, Wisconsin and Northwestern are on the road – forget about winning the East.
– WATCH OUT FOR … the road game at Rutgers. If Illinois wants to go bowling, it can’t lose this game. It might be the underdog in every other Big Ten game but the home date against Purdue. Drop the date against the Scarlet Knights, and it’s going to take a big upset elsewhere to have a shot at six wins.
2017 Non-Conference Games Ball State, WKU, at USF
