Let’s talk about Saturday’s big Illinois-Indiana basketball game.
Oops, make that football game.
Matter of fact, No. 9 Illinois (+6½) at No. 19 Indiana (6:30 p.m., NBC 5, Peacock, 890-AM) is the schools’ first football meeting with each ranked in the Top 25 since — wait for it — 1950. How long ago was that? Dick Butkus was playing hide-and-go-seek with his fellow 7-year-olds in the alleys of Roseland, that’s how long.
That makes this kind of a huge deal.
In prime time, Memorial Stadium — Bloomington version — will be a frenzied scene. This is the sort of thing that happens when a team skyrockets to the College Football Playoff, as the Hoosiers did in 2024.
“It’s cool to see a fan base getting ignited like that,” Illini coach Bret Bielema told reporters this week. “It must be the same thing we’re seeing here. I think that’s one thing about [the Big Ten], fans can get feisty with one another. But I think there’s a mutual respect, especially at Indiana and Illinois — not the truest of the blue bloods — now that they’re both playing well.”
The Illini — clear underdogs, interesting given their lofty ranking — are chasing double-digit wins for what would be the first time in school history. Both teams are 3-0, though the Hoosiers have yet to face an opponent with any oomph. The winner, in either case, will face heavy expectations on the playoff front.
So, who has the better team? The Illini are more proven in that they brought back most of a 10-win roster. But the Hoosiers have eye-opening talent and a coach, Curt Cignetti, who has worked the transfer portal as well as anyone in the business.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, an NFL-style pocket passer, has thrown for nine touchdowns, with zero interceptions, so far. Receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarrott already have seven TD catches between them. Three running backs have 200 or more rushing yards, though one of them, Lee Beebe Jr., is out for the rest of the season with an injury.
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer, smaller in stature and arm strength than Mendoza, has eight passing TDs, zero interceptions and a pair of lively legs. His scrambling could become a major factor as the game progresses and the Hoosiers ramp up pressure as required. Watch for big-play receiver and punt returner Hank Beatty, who seems to put his stamp on every game.
The best defensive player on either team is the Illini’s Gabe Jacas, who brings 3½ sacks and two forced fumbles to the dance. His A-game is needed here. Possibly unable to go, though, is banged-up cornerback Xavier Scott, an all-conference player who played more snaps (792) than any other Big Ten corner last season. His absence would be hard to overcome.
Combined, these well-run teams have forced 11 turnovers and given the ball away only once.
“They’re very much like us,” Cignetti said of the Illini.
Playoff talk already?
“Last year’s in the books,” Cignetti said. “It’s a new year. Illinois is a good football team. We’re a good football team.”
Sounds like we’re in store for a good basketball game. Oops, make that football game. Hoosiers, 26-24.
OTHER WEEK 4 PICKS
All games are Saturday.
Purdue (+24½) at No. 24 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC 5, Peacock, 780-AM): Some are rolling their eyes at the Irish being ranked despite their 0-2 record, but the truth is this team is better than 24th-best in the country. Watch the Irish bust out a can of whoop-whoop against the Boilermakers, then raise the Shillelagh Trophy to the heavens and shout, “We’re at least No. 23!” Irish, 38-7.
No. 22 Auburn (+6½) at No. 11 Oklahoma (2:30 p.m., ABC 7): It’s hard to beat the subplot of former five-star QB Jackson Arnold returning to the scene of his benching last season. Arnold was a Sooner then, but he’s a Tiger now and performing beautifully so far. New Sooners QB John Mateer, meanwhile, is one of the betting favorites for the Heisman Trophy. So charming and wonderful, that transfer portal. Sooners in an entertaining one, 27-20.
Northern Illinois (+21½) at Mississippi State (3:15 p.m., SEC Network): The Huskies don’t have much in the way of an offense, but they do have an early-season history of making heavily favored hosts sweat. That’s got to be worth something, right? Bulldogs, 31-10.
Florida (+8½) at No. 4 Miami (6:30 p.m., ABC 7): The Gators lost to South Florida by two. The Hurricanes beat South Florida by 37. You know what that means. Gators win! No, not really, but it’ll be close. ’Canes, 31-24.
My favorite favorite: No. 16 Utah (-3) vs. No. 17 Texas Tech (11 a.m., Fox 32): The Red Raiders are a trendy Big 12 title pick — and maybe they have the offense to make a run at it — but I’m more impressed by the solidity of the Utes, who’ve already won two true road games (at UCLA and at Wyoming) in curb-stomping fashion. The real Big 12 title contenders stand up.
My favorite underdog: Nebraska (+2½) vs. No. 21 Michigan (2:30 p.m., CBS 2, Paramount+): The Huskers have fallen short on so many important Saturdays in recent years, it feels a bit reckless to go with them. Thing is, they’re winning this game. You’ll see. (Gulp.)
Last week: 7-1 straight-up, 6-2 against the spread.
Season to date: 11-9, 9-11.