Illinois State

[tetoncat]

ISU is going to be a handfull. Their running back, receiver, and linebackers are very good. i watched the uc davis game and was impressed with them.

Are they similar to Yale. Physical lines, decent QB but throw primarily to 1 WR, Big physical back ges 25-30 carries.

[kwcat]

ISU is going to be a handfull. Their running back, receiver, and linebackers are very good. i watched the uc davis game and was impressed with them.

Are they similar to Yale. Physical lines, decent QB but throw primarily to 1 WR, Big physical back ges 25-30 carries.

One back, Dawson, had 34 carries. Eight different receivers had catches three had multiple cashes and number two had the largest amount of catches for 97 yards. I believe in the last game.
Lines are big and physical. Linebacker and safety play is good and physical.

[TomCat88]

ISU is going to be a handfull. Their running back, receiver, and linebackers are very good. i watched the uc davis game and was impressed with them.

Are they similar to Yale. Physical lines, decent QB but throw primarily to 1 WR, Big physical back ges 25-30 carries.

I think so. Haven't really dug into it too much but that's what it sounds like. Everyone talked about Pitsenberger, but that receiver for Yale was very good.

[SLC_Cat]

Looks like their Director of Athletic Performance for football was at Montana previously. I'm thinking he came to Montana with Stitt as he was at Colorado Mines in 2015.

https://goredbirds.com/staff-directory/ ... olson/3545

[Counter Assault]

Their offensive line is HUGE. Seems like the biggest line we will see. All listed in the 310-325 range, with one at 345!

[catsrback76]

Playing in the natty last year will keep everyone grounded...losing by 3 last year really irked the young men, so I don't see them squandering this moment. I think that is the piece not enough people are factoring in. Almost everyone on the team was in frisco last year. They were good enough to win, and they know it. I see them coming out super focused and ensuring we get the win.

My biggest concern is the 2 week layoff with Christmas and New Years thrown into the mix. Vigen led teams seem to come out of “bye weeks” flat. Not sure why or how. Rather than being refreshed and renewed they seem flat. I predict another flat start…but if we can handle that and focus from the 2nd quarter onward, we should win. If we get down and give up easy scores early, it could be a long day.

[GoldstoneCat]

Playing in the natty last year will keep everyone grounded...losing by 3 last year really irked the young men, so I don't see them squandering this moment. I think that is the piece not enough people are factoring in. Almost everyone on the team was in frisco last year. They were good enough to win, and they know it. I see them coming out super focused and ensuring we get the win.

My biggest concern is the 2 week layoff with Christmas and New Years thrown into the mix. Vigen led teams seem to come out of “bye weeks” flat. Not sure why or how. Rather than being refreshed and renewed they seem flat. I predict another flat start…but if we can handle that and focus from the 2nd quarter onward, we should win. If we get down and give up easy scores early, it could be a long day.

I don't disagree, but I'm hoping there were lessons learned last year managing the 2- week gap, the portal sharks around the program, the noise, etc. Coming out of Thanksgiving against Yale does not help one's confidence but again, this team just went through that and survived it, so hopefully lessons were learned.

[FTG_1984]

Make no mistake - Illinois St will arrive in Nashville expecting to win this game 100% without doubt. They will have very little fear of the Cats in general, who in their MVFC minds are just another overhyped Big Sky Conference team (like the pandas from years past).

They are MVFC-supremacists, and it's difficult to fault them for that since the MVFC has been in like 15 straight FCS title games now.

They will arrive on gameday & believe they are physically & mentally tougher than the Cats. I do not believe this to be true, but this will be their mentality. We shall see on the field on Jan 5 how much truth there is to that.

The Cats will need to PLAY TOUGH & PHYSICAL & SMART for 4 quarters to win this game. No Vigen "bye week" doldrums. That killed us last year in the title to start that game against NDSU (although to be fair our OC at the time took another job two weeks before that game & screwed the entire team & staff with his preparation on the offensive side). We can't be spotting anyone 14 or 21 to start any title game. I like how Vigen & Stirbek came out on O against the pandas in Brawl 2.0 last week.

Every Bobcat player, coach, & fan should be preparing themselves over the next two weeks for this game. This game will be won by the team, coaches, & fanbases that WILLS it the most. It is going to be an ABSOLUTE BATTLE

[KMPC1]

Fully agree. After watching and rewatching their latest outing at Villanova, am convinced this is a tight one and tough to call.

GO CATS GO!!!!

Make no mistake - Illinois St will arrive in Nashville expecting to win this game 100% without doubt. They will have very little fear of the Cats in general, who in their MVFC minds are just another overhyped Big Sky Conference team (like the pandas from years past).

They are MVFC-supremacists, and it's difficult to fault them for that since the MVFC has been in like 15 straight FCS title games now.

They will arrive on gameday & believe they are physically & mentally tougher than the Cats. I do not believe this to be true, but this will be their mentality. We shall see on the field on Jan 5 how much truth there is to that.

The Cats will need to PLAY TOUGH & PHYSICAL & SMART for 4 quarters to win this game. No Vigen "bye week" doldrums. That killed us last year in the title to start that game against NDSU (although to be fair our OC at the time took another job two weeks before that game & screwed the entire team & staff with his preparation on the offensive side). We can't be spotting anyone 14 or 21 to start any title game. I like how Vigen & Stirbek came out on O against the pandas in Brawl 2.0 last week.

Every Bobcat player, coach, & fan should be preparing themselves over the next two weeks for this game. This game will be won by the team, coaches, & fanbases that WILLS it the most. It is going to be an ABSOLUTE BATTLE

[catatac]

Make no mistake - Illinois St will arrive in Nashville expecting to win this game 100% without doubt. They will have very little fear of the Cats in general, who in their MVFC minds are just another overhyped Big Sky Conference team (like the pandas from years past).

They are MVFC-supremacists, and it's difficult to fault them for that since the MVFC has been in like 15 straight FCS title games now.

They will arrive on gameday & believe they are physically & mentally tougher than the Cats. I do not believe this to be true, but this will be their mentality. We shall see on the field on Jan 5 how much truth there is to that.

The Cats will need to PLAY TOUGH & PHYSICAL & SMART for 4 quarters to win this game. No Vigen "bye week" doldrums. That killed us last year in the title to start that game against NDSU (although to be fair our OC at the time took another job two weeks before that game & screwed the entire team & staff with his preparation on the offensive side). We can't be spotting anyone 14 or 21 to start any title game. I like how Vigen & Stirbek came out on O against the pandas in Brawl 2.0 last week.

Every Bobcat player, coach, & fan should be preparing themselves over the next two weeks for this game. This game will be won by the team, coaches, & fanbases that WILLS it the most. It is going to be an ABSOLUTE BATTLE

I'd prefer we just beat them like 37 to 7, as a not very good team was able to do to them this year. Zero chance I'm expecting that at all though.

[tetoncat]

The week break may be a disadvantage to ISU. They have been on a roll.

[technoCat]

The week break may be a disadvantage to ISU. They have been on a roll.

This is a great point no one has brought up that I've seen. They have been in a rhythm and being on the road limits the amount of distractions.

[RyeCat]

The week break may be a disadvantage to ISU. They have been on a roll.

This is a great point no one has brought up that I've seen. They have been in a rhythm and being on the road limits the amount of distractions.

These nitwits are asking the SnapBack Sports guys for attention. I hope they get it because it seems to be the kiss of death.

[TomCat88]

Their offensive line is HUGE. Seems like the biggest line we will see. All listed in the 310-325 range, with one at 345!

Has MSU played any big OLs this year?

[RICO CAT]

I would assume Oregon was as big or bigger. Hopefully we are quicker.

[RICO CAT]

https://youtube.com/shorts/ayJt0LC-00k? ... 1x40Invm0v

Illinois State 2025 ass kicking tour

[ringthebells]

I think you guys win going away, but don't sleep on Rittenhouse. That guy will steal your lunch and make out with your girlfriend before you even realize he is in the area. His accuracy is hit or miss, but his legs are dangerous.

[BlueAndGoldNation]

Illinois State football gets record $2.5 million gift from former quarterback | WGLT https://share.google/szoiCfiodabMZpoQH

Looks like they just got some NIL money donated to them.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Illinois State will be good and we’re going to win by 14.

[TomCat88]

I would assume Oregon was as big or bigger. Hopefully we are quicker.

Yeah, Oregon was as big or bigger. I don't think you even need to look it up.

I think the two biggest OLs out of the FCS teams were:
SDSU was 300-305-310-315-320
Yale 313-300-310-310-285

Held SDSU under 300 (4.6 ypp) yards and 17 points (in regulation)
Held Yale to 351 (4.7 ypp) and 13 points.