Illinois Football: Latest 'Stand-out' Bowl Game Projection

Illinois Football Projected to Face SEC Opponent

Illinois Football is 4-1 entering their BYE week. and remains in positive spirits for the outlook of the 2024 season, despite suffering their first loss at the hands of Penn State.

The 21-7 loss was marred by a poor end to the first half for the Illini. A bad snap from Center Josh Kreutz prevented Illinois from punching the ball in on the 2-yard line. The error furthermore led to a turnover on downs and another late touchdown for Penn State. A loss is a loss. However, the Illini were competitive until late facing a highly talented top-10 team on the road, in front of 107,000 fans.

The vibe surrounding Illini Nation seemingly remains to be a positive buzz. Recent bowl projections prove many within the national media still hold the Illini in high regard as well.

A Bowl Projection That Stands Out

According to CBS Sports, Illinois Football is projected to head south to Orlando, to face off with Texas A&M in the Citrus Bowl.

Mike Elko’s talented squad is currently the top-ranked team in the SEC, following a 2-0 start in conference play. The Aggies took down the Razorbacks of Aransas on Saturday, boosting their overall record to 4-1. Much like the Illini, Texas A&M is exceeding various projections prior to the 2024 season.

In other news, 247sports’ bowl projections have Illinois playing the Duke Blue Devils in the Mayo Bowl.