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Bowl or bust? What the experts think about Illinois football in 2024

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Bowl or bust? What the experts think about Illinois football in 2024


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The Illinois Fighting Illini are college football’s version of a Rorschach test. Those who are optimistic see opportunity and a likely bowl game. The pessimists see danger lurking.

The truth is probably somewhere in between.

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Such is predicting the outcome of the Fighting Illini season in the new-look Big Ten Conference for 2024. Nearly every expert prognosticator picks Illinois to finish between five and six wins, with betting sites laying out the ever-so-tempting 5.5 over/under line for Illini victories.

How will Illinois football do in 2024? Best-case scenario | Worst-case scenario

We took a spin around the Internet to find out what some of the top college football news sources had to say about the Illini in 2024:

The longtime college sports publication picked Illinois to finish 15th of 18 in the Big Ten Conference, which added four west coast teams in 2024 — Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

“Both sides of the ball need attention after 2023,” Athlon wrote of the Illini. “The defense gave up 12.8 points a game in 2022 but watched that total climb to 29.4 last fall.”

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Athlon pointed out defensive losses, but also that a few key transfers should stabilize. The offense, meanwhile, gets three offensive line starters back and Athlon says quarterback Luke Altmyer is “expected to take a step forward” while running back Kaden Feagin is a “rising star.”

“More optimism surrounds the offense going into 2024,” wrote Athlon.

The CBS Sports betting writer also picked the Illini at 5-7, but set an optimistic tone. He also set the over/under at 5.5 wins, expecting victories against Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan, Purdue, Minnesota and Michigan State.

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“I’ve seen some articles written with extremely low expectations for the Illini, and while I understand the concerns about a defense that lost some key pieces, they won with their offense last season,” Fornelli wrote. “They could have one of the best offensive lines in the league, which should help them continue to score points. The primary obstacle is the schedule.”

The New York Times college football writer picked the Illini to finish 5-7 overall and 3-6 in Big Ten, a pretty standard prediction for the Illini. They sit in that nebulous and muddy middle of the Big Ten. So much so that Mandel took space to write about 10 of the 18 teams in the Big Ten preview. Illinois didn’t get an entry.

Illinois football: 3 most important games in 2024 season

ESPN also didn’t have much to say about Illinois in its Big Ten preview, picking the Illini 13th of 18, pointing out that the program’s minus-8 turnover margin ranked 123rd nationally in 2023.

Earlier this month, the longtime columnist from the Illini hometown News-Gazette assessed the Illini in a story headlined: “What’s in store for Bielema in Year Four?” An excerpt:

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“(Bret) Bielema is in his 16th year as a head coach. He has a system he believes in. But if it worked or not with the Illinois team at hand won’t be known until the completion of the season. Finish 8-4 and it is a ‘Yes.’ Go 6-6 and it’s a ‘Maybe.’ Finish under .500 and out of a bowl for the third time in four years and it’s a ‘No.’ “

The stats-driven football site says the numbers plant Illinois firmly in the middle, but on the high end. The Illini are 49th in the power ranks, 32nd in strength of schedule. PFF, however, projects Illinois with seven wins.

“After a very successful 2022 season in which the Fighting Illini finished 8-5, the team came crashing down with a 5-7 record in 2023. And that, unfortunately, now means that Illinois has finished with a losing record in 11 of the last 12 seasons. … If Bret Bielema’s squad is to bounce back, it’ll likely be due to its defense. … the Fighting Illini’s front seven projects to be the team’s strength.”

Illinois football predictions: Game-by-game picks based on ESPN matchup predictor

More optimism! The online college football site picks the Illini with six wins, which would make them bowl-eligible. The key to that? Get the defense working again.

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“The 2022 Illinois defense was a brick wall to deal with,” CFN wrote. “It allowed fewer than 100 yards six times and won five of them. In all six games the Illini allowed fewer than 3 yards per carry, and allowed more in the other seven. Last season? The D allowed fewer than 100 yards just three times — and won all three games. More disruption, more attitude, more consistency — Illinois needs to be feared again.”

Illinois football 2024 schedule

This is the Illinois football 2024 schedule, with TV info; all times are CT.

Date Opponent Time, TV
Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Illinois 8 p.m., BTN
Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. Kansas 6 p.m., FS1
Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Central Michigan 11 a.m., Peacock
Friday, Sept. 20 at Nebraska* 7 p.m., FOX
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Penn State* TBA
Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Purdue* TBA
Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Michigan* TBA
Saturday, Oct. 26 at Oregon* TBA
Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Minnesota* TBA
Saturday, Nov. 9 BYE
Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. Michigan State* TBA
Saturday, Nov. 23 at Rutgers* TBA
Saturday, Nov. 30 at Northwestern* TBA
Saturday, Dec. 7 Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis)** 7 p.m., CBS
* Big Ten game** If applicable



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Cash App parent company agrees to $45 million settlement with Illinois, 44 other states

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Cash App parent company agrees to  million settlement with Illinois, 44 other states


Illinois will get $1.1 million of a $45 million, 45-state settlement with money transfer app Cash App’s parent company, which was accused of misleading customers about the app’s security.

Block Inc. will face $55 million in civil penalties and also have to pay customers nationwide somewhere from $75 million to $120 million as part of the settlement, which includes the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In a statement, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the settlement holds the company accountable and requires it to “change its harmful practices.”

“Block told Cash App users their money was safe and falsely implied that the app worked like a bank, with the same protections,” Raoul said. “Block was aware that fraud on its platform was rising sharply and failed to warn users, strengthen protections or provide real help to users when things went wrong.”

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A company spokesperson confirmed the settlement and said the company has made “significant investments in consumer protection, customer service, and compliance.”

“We share the commitment of the attorneys general to addressing industry challenges and continue to invest in operations and technology to promote a safe and healthy financial ecosystem,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Sun-Times Wednesday night.

The lawsuit accused the company of not preventing fraud, and even of having systems that made it easier to commit that fraud. Minimal identity verification allowed someone to create fake or multiple accounts, and the company had no phone support line. Instead, customers who had been defrauded often were provided by those fraudsters with fake online customer support phone numbers, the suit alleged.

As part of the agreement, the company must offer at least 13.5 hours of human-staffed phone lines per day as part of 24-hour support, as well as reimburse customers for fraudulent transactions, stop marketing the app as safe and educate users about the dangers of fraud.



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Illinois girl, 8, dies after being struck by lightning

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Illinois girl, 8, dies after being struck by lightning


An 8-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while outside in the backyard of her home in LaSalle County over the Fourth of July weekend.

Girl killed by lightning strike

What we know:

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The LaSalle County Coroner’s office said it was called to emergency department at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa on the evening of July 3 after the child was brought in following the lightning strike.

A forensic autopsy was conducted on Sunday. Preliminary findings determined the girl died from injuries caused by the lightning strike.

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What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet released the child’s identity.

The incident remains under investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Source: The information in this report came from the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.

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Lake Geneva boat accident, 3 kids drowned; Illinois school district responds

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Lake Geneva boat accident, 3 kids drowned; Illinois school district responds


We’re learning more about the victims in Friday’s tragedy on Geneva Lake.

Three kids, ages 10, seven, and six, were killed after they were trapped in the sinking boat during the severe storms.

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Officials won’t comment on their identities, but FOX6 learned at least two of them were students at the Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200) in Wheaton, Illinois.

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The district released a statement, saying:

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“On behalf of Community Unit School District 200, our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the children who died in a tragic boating incident in Lake Geneva on July 3. We ask that you join us in supporting these families during this difficult time, and keep them in your thoughts as we all cope with this incredible loss.”

Lake Geneva Police Chief statement

What we know:

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The City of Lake Geneva Police Department is opening up on the incident and the property destruction caused by the storms.

The police chief says, in part:

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“In moments of tragedy, we often see the very best in people, and that has certainly been true here. While there is still healing ahead, I hope everyone knows how grateful we are for the outpouring of support shown over these past several days. It has been humbling to witness and a reminder that no one faces hardship alone when a community stands together.”

Chief Ed Gritzner, City of Lake Geneva Police Department

The backstory:

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Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a “sudden and severe” storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.

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The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank. 

Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts. 

Emergency response on Geneva Lake after storms lead to calls for water rescue on July 3, 2026.

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Who was on the boat?

The latest:

The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy. 

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The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.

The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.

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What happened on Geneva Lake?

Dig deeper:

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Law enforcement said the boat operator had “extensive boating experience” and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink. 

The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.

What’s next:

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.

The Source: Information in this post comes from the City of Lake Geneva Police Department and Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200), along with prior 

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