Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular

Cover photo Joe Pickrell, IlliniGuys

November 17, 2025

It was a heck of a weekend, at least for long-time Illini fans. Wins in both men’s basketball and football made a November weekend totally enjoyable. The fact that the Illini football team’s November game results are still important (with a 7-3 record to boot) made it even sweeter.

Heat Check #1 – First World Problems for Illini Fans

As a long-time Illini fan, I am amazed at the concern expressed by some Illini fans that the basketball team and football team “only” won games by 19 and 18 points respectively.

Under the Illini trio of Josh Whitman (Illini AD), Brad Underwood and Bret Bielema, Illinois has returned to national relevance. Next time you hear someone complaining about style points for an Illini win go back to some of the scores of Illini teams back in the teens (2013 - 19).

In that era, the Illini were losing November games, not winning them. The football team was getting killed in November. Instead of winning games, those Illini teams helped more talented and better coached B1G teams string together wins at the expense of the Illini teams and fans.

It was not fun for Illini fans.

The Illini basketball teams and football teams were under performing across the board. They were poorly coached, and talent acquisition was challenged at best. Those days are done.

Enjoy the weekends when both teams win. As time rolls forward, no one will remember much, beyond the W next to the result.

Worrying about style points and size of victory point gaps are truly first world problems. Worry about these things but also take a moment to appreciate what Illini fans no longer have to worry about.

Finally. For the first time since the late 80s, Illini fans have first world problems.

I like it!

Hail Mary #1 – Three Teams “Eliminated” from CFP Contention Last Week

In the B1G, the 2-loss-or-less teams are stuck at five in number and the 3 teams with 3 losses must be kicking themselves for the game they could’ve won but did not.

Alabama was upset by Oklahoma and the rush to the CFP gets a bit crazier. To show the larger picture, I’ve added 3-loss teams, but it is yet to be seen in any 3-loss team will be selected to the CFP.

Due to conference sizes, many of the contenders haven’t faced each other and they won’t play against each other either. There are a few games versus contenders within each conference, but not to the extent the television broadcasters or fans would like. For those who don’t like the “mega” conferences, this is certainly an argument for divisions. I still think 2 conferences (SEC and B1G) each with 4 divisions with 6 teams in each division is the way to go.

College football still gets a “super conference” and yet it’s not so exclusive that it eliminates most of college football from truly competing for a title. I shouldn’t have to figure this out for everyone.

If you go to a single 24-team super conference, fans of the long-time successful programs will need emotional counseling as the competitive nature of such a league would mean 9-3 might be a really good record and these fans start hyperventilating after a single loss.

Keep it to two 24-team super conferences and all is good.

Now back to this year’s CFP, it looks like Oregon has the toughest “sprint to the finish” of any team in the B1G or SEC. This ending of the season should keep the team sharp, assuming they win both games. The B1G has one contender game with USC travelling to Oregon with Lincoln Riley looking to silence doubters about his coaching.

In the SEC, this is a dud week. The only contending game is Missouri at Oklahoma. The rest of the contenders should cruise to victories.