A Message to Illinois and Indiana Fans: Take a Breath and Count Your Blessings

If you’ve been paying any attention this week, you’ve already seen all the headlines: The winner of Illinois-Indiana going to the College Football Playoff? Game of the week for the first time … ever? Judgment is coming. (So dramatic.)

Don’t open a new tab. We’ll save you the energy. Everyone is saying the same thing: two basketball schools meeting in the biggest football game of all time between the programs. A College Football Playoff play-in game for a pair of (former?) Big Ten bottom-feeders.

To be clear, we here at Illinois on SI have also said all of these things, and they are all entirely true.

What Illinois-Indiana means for the Illini

Aug 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema before a game with the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

From the Illinois perspective, this game is almost a must-win. In reality, the Illini can afford a loss to the Hoosiers, given that every contest remaining on their slate – aside from an Oct. 11 date with No. 1 Ohio State – is winnable.

No shortage of playmakers here. 10 different touchdown scorers. pic.twitter.com/kSKIiQIYoC
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) September 17, 2025

Still, although that’s the rational thought process, let’s be real: If Illinois falls on Saturday, its recently enlarged football fanbase may dwindle and its Week 5 home matchup against USC (which, mind you, will almost certainly be more ranked-on-ranked action) may feature a number of empty seats at Gies Memorial Stadium for a contest that is already sold out.

So in terms of the CFP race, the Illini may not be in absolute dire need of a W on Saturday night, but in the eyes of the Illini faithful, there is not a game on the 2025 schedule (or in the past 15-plus years) that carries more weight.

What Illinois-Indiana means for the Hoosiers

Indiana is facing a win-or-no-CFP situation. Road contests at No. 6 Oregon and No. 2 Penn State await Curt Cignetti’s club – both of which will be incredibly tough upsets to pull off. A loss to Illinois would require Indiana to win at least one of those games – and, even then, the Hoosiers would be sweating it out in early December.

And the elephant in the room: Indiana hasn’t beat a ranked team since … the 2020 season opener (when IU won 36-35 at Penn State in overtime).

Yes, what the Hoosiers did last year was undoubtedly impressive and should not be glossed over. But their two outings against ranked teams resulted in a point differential of minus-33. (In their defense, both losses came against the two teams that made the national championship.)

Illinois on Saturday will be make-or-break for Indiana. It’s now or never. The Hoosiers either prove themselves and make a massive statement on national television, or they get written off by the entire college football world again – and an argument could be made that it even tarnishes the legacy of their 2024 season.

Night mode: activated. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/LRecwYNXiS
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) September 18, 2025

Indiana fans, who tend to stick around a bit longer even when things turn downhill (take notes, Illini Nation), may not be running for the hills after a loss on Saturday night, but probably will start turning the page to basketball season.

But, let’s all take a big step backwards. Maybe two or three, actually.

Hello, Illini fans

Illinois fans, you’re up first. You all know this information, but let’s give it some thought and let it sink in: The Illini went 10-3 last year and won a bowl game.

The program hadn’t won a bowl game since 2011. The last 10-win season came in 2001. For some additional perspective, there have been four seasons with double-digit losses since then.

In other words: it is not College Football Playoff or bust. We get it. You hate Indiana. But the season isn’t over if the Illini drop this one. As previously mentioned, Illinois still can make the CFP with a loss. More importantly, the Illini can have a spectacular, momentum-building season without a CFP berth.

Welcome to the party, Hoosier Nation

Indiana Footbal — Nov 9, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers fans in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

As for you Indiana fans, we also recognize you despise Illinois. But, hello? In Cignetti’s first season, he shattered the program record with 11 wins (IU had never had a season of double-digit wins) and pushed the Hoosiers to the CFP.

We get it. You get a taste of victory and you want more. It’s not a bad thing to have an insatiable appetite for victory. (Hopefully you apply it to all aspects of your life.) But how greedy can you be? Like Rome, Alabama and Ohio State weren't built in a day. You, too, can have a successful season that builds upon 2024, even without a spot in the CFP.

The solution: Bask in the glory

Illinois Footbal — Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Fans rush the field after victory by the Illinois Fighting Illini over the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Go ahead: Sit back, kick your feet up and enjoy. Grab some chips and salsa, invite friends over to the house, toss something on the grill. Whatever your heart desires.

But do not – we repeat, do not – write off your squad in the event of a loss. Sorry, perhaps that wasn’t aggressive enough. DON’T YOU DARE kick your team to the curb if it falls Saturday night.

Both Bret Bielema and Cignetti have built something impressive and unseen in decades in their respective cities. The ability of a sport – especially football on a college campus and its surrounding community – to create energy, excitement and camraderie among a large group of people is a beautiful thing. One loss (even to one of your most bitter rivals) should not jeopardize that. Don’t let it.