2026 MATRIXWEEK 9138 FBS TEAMS56 GAMESCOLLEGE FOOTBALL DECODEDMODEL + MARKET + CONTEXT
GameDay Matrix
I
Big Ten · Fighting Illini · 4-3

Illinois

Ratings fitted through Week 8. Results through October 25.

Preseason roster reference: A veteran transfer quarterback and modest portal gain help, but only seven starters return and the defensive coordinator changes.

MPR #38Projected Wins #69Big Ten MPR #12Ratings through Week 8 · Outlook October 25
Matrix Power Rating8.7National #38
Projected Wins6.34National #69
Schedule Strength#27National SOS rank
Projected Offense25.4Remaining-schedule average
Projected Defense26.6Remaining-schedule average
Point Differential-1.2Projected per game
Week 8 Model Update

Model Response

Moved Up

The Week 8 review is complete. This panel shows the rating change and its football context.

Week-over-Week MPR7.22 → 8.74+1.51 MPR
Rank#42 → #38+4 spots
Projected Wins5.30 → 6.34Week 9 refresh
SEASON STRENGTH UPDATE

Beat Oregon 21–10. The opponent-adjusted season fit moves power +1.5 points; unit inputs are retained.

External Headlines

Latest Illinois news.

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Outcome Range

Season Distribution

Completed results through October 25 are fixed. Remaining-game probabilities use the ratings fitted through Week 8.

Current Season OutlookResults through October 25
4
5
6
7
8
9
The gold bar is the current mode (6 wins). Each remaining game is treated independently; shared rating uncertainty is not included. Bars below 0.05% are omitted.
Season Market Reference · 2026-08-08
Current Forecast / Preseason Quote

The August 8 quote is retained for comparison. This gap is not a current betting recommendation and does not define team strength.

Preseason Posted Total7.5
Preseason Effective Market7.16
Current Win-Total Gap-0.82
Quote StatusReference only
Game by Game

2026 Schedule Matrix

Upcoming games use season-strength ratings after Week 8. Completed results retain their original pregame Matrix forecast.

DateOpponentWin %Score / ResultMarginTotalConfidenceType
SEP 3UABHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status42–23Final · Pregame Matrix 43–14+29.8Margin56.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 12DukeHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status27–31Final · Pregame Matrix 32–26-4.0Final Margin57.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 19Southern IllinoisHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status48–10Final · Pregame Matrix 36–17+19.1Margin53.3TotalFINALFCS/Other ProxyOpponent
SEP 26Ohio StateAway · Big TenFINALGame Status19–42Final · Pregame Matrix 13–38-25.3Margin51.6TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 3PurdueHome · Big TenFINALGame Status17–24Final · Pregame Matrix 34–20+14.5Margin54.0TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 10Michigan StateAway · Big TenFINALGame Status38–37Final · Pregame Matrix 30–24+6.0Margin53.4TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 24OregonHome · Big TenFINALGame Status21–10Final · Pregame Matrix 19–35-15.5Margin54.3TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 31MarylandAway · Big Ten61%Win %28–24Current projection+4.3Margin51.7TotalMediumFBSOpponent
NOV 6NebraskaHome · Big Ten45%Win %25–27Current projection-2.0Margin52.8TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 13UCLAAway · Big Ten40%Win %26–30Current projection-3.9Margin55.4TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 21IowaHome · Big Ten44%Win %24–26Current projection-2.1Margin50.6TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 28NorthwesternAway · Big Ten44%Win %23–26Current projection-2.4Margin49.2TotalLowFBSOpponent
Upcoming games use current ratings. Completed games preserve their original forecast and final result.
← All Teams

Week 8 closeout is complete. Season-win market comparisons retain the August 8 quote vintage; they are reference comparisons. Season-win distributions condition on played results and use independent remaining-game probabilities.

Active net power 8.74 = OFF 31.42 − DEF 22.90 + ST 0.53 + legacy residual -0.20 + season adjustment -0.11. Sigma 2.30.