Did the Illini – and the rest of the conference – fall short, meet or exceed preseason expectations?
With the inaugural 18-team Big Ten season coming to a close last weekend and subsequently most of the conference’s squads hanging up their cleats for the year, let's take a quick look at each team – and whether they fell short of, met or surpassed expectations.No one expected much of this Boilermakers squad, which was projected for the Big Ten bottom in the preseason. But even for Purdue, zero FBS wins and an average Big Ten point differential of minus-29.2 was not on the docket.
It was a roller-coaster ride for the Scarlet Knights, who jumped out to a 4-0 start and snuck into the AP Poll ... before dropping four straight. Rutgers then won three of its last four, falling only to No. 21 Illinois in gut-wrenching fashion. But it meant back-to-back winning seasons for Rutgers for the first time in more than a decade.P.J. Fleck just always seems to get it done.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Illinois, Rutgers Rising as Saturday Clash NearsThe Illini are up two spots from last week, equalling their highest ranking of the season.
Read more »
Big Ten Football Week 14 Power Rankings: Illinois Cements Its StatusThe Illini are smelling Citrus after an epic finish led by Luke Altmyer and Pat Bryant
Read more »
No. 24 Illinois and Rutgers are climbing the Big Ten ladder heading into Saturday's showdownNo. 24 Illinois will try to take another step toward its first nine-win season since 2007 when it travels to New Jersey to face Rutgers on Saturday at SHI Stadium. The Illini (7-3, 4-3, No. 25 CFP) snapped a two-game losing streak last weekend with a win over Michigan State.
Read more »
Big Ten Basketball: Bruce Weber Gets Standing Ovation in Return to IllinoisFormer Illinois coach and Purdue assistant Bruce Weber received a standing ovation when he returned to Champaign as a broadcaster on Monday night.
Read more »
Big Ten Power Rankings: USC Trojans Back in Top Ten After Win Over Nebraska?The USC Trojans took down the Nebraska Cornhuskers 28-20 on Saturday afternoon. Was this win good enough to get USC back in the top ten of the Big Ten Power Rankings over the UCLA Bruins or Wisconsin Badgers?
Read more »
Russell Davis Rewarded by Big Ten for Big Night Against UCLAPlaying in his third Husky game, he collected 3 sacks in the 31-19 victory over the Bruins.
Read more »