Ahead of Saturday's matchup between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Illinois Fighting Illini, Gophers Nation caught up with Doug Bucshon of Orange and Blue News to discuss the Fighting Illini.
Illinois took a step back this year from last year some sort of step back was expected by most but are you surprised at how this season has played out?
Yes, I’m surprised to some degree. It’s been a disappointing season so far for the team and the fans. Even with heavy losses to graduation and the NFL Draft, most preseason expectations were for the momentum from 2022 to carry over and for the Illini to contend once again in the Big Ten West.
I forecasted Illinois to return to another bowl game, and while that’s still possible it seems unlikely with the team sitting at 3-5 heading into the game at Minnesota. Maybe more disappointing than the record is the way they’ve lost. Illinois has looked out of sorts at times and let games slip away because of self-inflicted wounds.
