I'm all dried out and recovered from Catfish Days and that means that football season is right around the corner.
I was waiting to do this until the schedules got released and hopefully can get some interaction from the ICE/Small School guys that are still on the board. There are still some question marks with Lisle still being listed on a few teams schedules, but this is the best we got for now. I think the tiers of the ICE make for some very interesting matchups. Not so much in the sense that there will be great games between two powers, but I do think that there will be quite a few critical matchups for teams to keep their playoff hopes alive or clinch a spot. The possibility of taking a forfeit in an open week left by Lisle absolutely kills me (I know a few others don't share this believe, but to each their own). However, it is what it is, and I think that two teams could make the playoffs based on the gimme week.
Listed in alphabetical order:
Braidwood (Reed-Custer) - I personally did not think they would have fell off as bad as they did once the Dream Team left. That flash in the pan is long gone and the Comets are back to where they were in previous years. They have a new coach in town who comes from a prestigious program, but I don't think that is enough to change a culture of a town. They have a manageable out of conference slate, and taking the forfeit from the Lisle week is a smart move (as much as I hate it). El Paso and Harvard could be winnable games, but last year it didn't play out that way. Their Super Bowl this year is on the road in week 7 against Herscher. Last year was a close lose and their schedule bodes well to prepare for that game. It is sandwiched in between a tough slate, but they will know deep down that if they are 3-3 going into that game they automatically clinch with a bye week in week 9. This could all be null and void if they don't start off 3-0 which they do have the potential to do, but I do not see actually happening.
Floor - 1-8
Ceiling - 5-4
Actual Prediction - 2-7
ICE Finish - 7th
Coal City - I don't think there will be too many surprises with the Coalers. Coming off a semifinal run last year with a decent amount returning will help them secure their spot as number 2 in the ICE with ease and hopefully another deep playoff run. Pontiac and Bloom will be great tune-up weeks, Richmond Burton could pose a slight challenge, but I still like the CC to beat them fairly well. With no shocker here their Super Bowl will be week 9 at Wilmington with a possible undefeated record on the line for both teams and I will go ahead and say for sure the ICE title on the line (2004 flashback anyone).
Floor - 7-2
Ceiling - 9-0
AP - 8-1
ICE - 2nd
Herscher - With maybe the exception of Bishop Mac, Herscher beat the teams they were supposed to last year. The teams that were supposed to lose to beat them pretty well. In this regard, I still do not know what to think of their record from 2024. OOC slate is good for them. Canton will be a win. They kept Lisle for the bye week forfeit. Bishop Mac at home in week 2 will be their Super Bowl this year. It's a local rival, it should be winnable although not a promised win, and it will probably be the game that makes or breaks their playoff clinching.
Floor - 2-7
Ceiling - 5-4
AP - 4-5
ICE - 5th
Manteno - The Panthers bounced back nicely after a string of down years. I see them as usually being in the middle tier ICE, especially with the current state of the conference. They might have my favorite OOC schedule of the conference. Although Sandwich and Plano aren't the toughest opponents, Sandwich should be good enough to gauge the season. I also love seeing the old I-8 matchups linger around. Going to Gibson City in week 7 is an awesome matchup IMO. They are a tough 1A school and the game should not be overlooked. Their Super Bowl will be week 8 at Peotone. The R50 Rumble is always fun and it probably bears the most weight on the playoff seeding for both teams.
Floor - 4-5
Ceiling - 7-2
AP - 7-2
ICE - 3rd
Peotone - I am going to nickname the Tone, Middle of the Pack Peotone. The are always right there with playoff berths, but can never seem to make the jump to the top of the conference. OOC provides 2 wins. Although Granite City is much larger, they are really bad. Marengo is more of a 50/50 game, but I think the Blue Devils should beat them fairly easily. I am a little disappointed that the Tone kept Lisle, although that could not have been entirely their choice. I think their Super Bowl will be at home in week 8 for the R50 Rumble. If not for bragging rights, as I just stated above, the winner of this game will have an extra win for their playoff seeding.
Floor - 5-4
Ceiling - 7-2
AP - 6-3
ICE - 4th
Streator - I am waiting for the year that the Bulldogs break through an actually contend in the ICE. Props to them for scheduling Dixon in place of Lisle, but that could be the decision that keeps them from the playoffs. Their other two OOC games are both toss ups IMO. Eisenhower is not a good team, but they do play in a pretty solid conference so their horrible record yearly may be an illusion. Ottawa is not good either, but they have Streator's number. The Streator at Ottawa game in week 2 is the Super Bowl. Just due to bragging rights an proximity. I don't see Streator having any chance of making the playoffs.
Floor - 0-9
Ceiling - 4-5
AP - 2-7
ICE - 6th
Wilmington - Wildcats are king of the conference MOST years, and I think this year will be the same. OOC schedule is awesome. Would have loved to see a different pickup than Thornton, but I get why that may not have been possible. The Morris matchup at Morris in Week 1 is long overdue. Morris doesn't have much to gain from this, but Wilmington has everything to gain. Being on the road hurts Wilmo here, but I don't think it's a boat race. The I-8 Sandwich revival is fun too. Super Bowl will be Week 9 at home with the Coalers. Should be electric.
Floor - 7-2
Ceiling - 9-0
AP - 8-1
ICE - 1st
I see 4 teams (CC, Teno, Tone, Wilmo) all as locks for playoffs. I could see RC or Herscher somehow squeaking in if all things go their way in the OOC games, they each have beaten Streator, and they are 3-4 and 4-3 when they play each other. That could be the most fun game of the season, and could be a game I go to just to watch two random teams. I do not think that will be the case, but it is possible.
Any thoughts on the future of the conference? I believe someone mentioned on the old board that Braidwood wanted out and that was news to me. I personally never heard that. Will Lisle bounce back? What can the schools do to ensure a competitive conference. I personally think the travel for a few outlier schools (Lisle, Streator) is a bit much. Maybe not for football on a Friday, but those Tuesday night basketball games have to be brutal. Is it feasible to create a football only conference? The problem with that I believe would be finding other same size schools willing to part with their current conferences but wish to remain in their conference for all other sports. I'm just looking for thoughts.
That's the way I see it. Discuss it, debate it, call me an idiot, but we are getting close and I'm starting to get the itch.
I was waiting to do this until the schedules got released and hopefully can get some interaction from the ICE/Small School guys that are still on the board. There are still some question marks with Lisle still being listed on a few teams schedules, but this is the best we got for now. I think the tiers of the ICE make for some very interesting matchups. Not so much in the sense that there will be great games between two powers, but I do think that there will be quite a few critical matchups for teams to keep their playoff hopes alive or clinch a spot. The possibility of taking a forfeit in an open week left by Lisle absolutely kills me (I know a few others don't share this believe, but to each their own). However, it is what it is, and I think that two teams could make the playoffs based on the gimme week.
Listed in alphabetical order:
Braidwood (Reed-Custer) - I personally did not think they would have fell off as bad as they did once the Dream Team left. That flash in the pan is long gone and the Comets are back to where they were in previous years. They have a new coach in town who comes from a prestigious program, but I don't think that is enough to change a culture of a town. They have a manageable out of conference slate, and taking the forfeit from the Lisle week is a smart move (as much as I hate it). El Paso and Harvard could be winnable games, but last year it didn't play out that way. Their Super Bowl this year is on the road in week 7 against Herscher. Last year was a close lose and their schedule bodes well to prepare for that game. It is sandwiched in between a tough slate, but they will know deep down that if they are 3-3 going into that game they automatically clinch with a bye week in week 9. This could all be null and void if they don't start off 3-0 which they do have the potential to do, but I do not see actually happening.
Floor - 1-8
Ceiling - 5-4
Actual Prediction - 2-7
ICE Finish - 7th
Coal City - I don't think there will be too many surprises with the Coalers. Coming off a semifinal run last year with a decent amount returning will help them secure their spot as number 2 in the ICE with ease and hopefully another deep playoff run. Pontiac and Bloom will be great tune-up weeks, Richmond Burton could pose a slight challenge, but I still like the CC to beat them fairly well. With no shocker here their Super Bowl will be week 9 at Wilmington with a possible undefeated record on the line for both teams and I will go ahead and say for sure the ICE title on the line (2004 flashback anyone).
Floor - 7-2
Ceiling - 9-0
AP - 8-1
ICE - 2nd
Herscher - With maybe the exception of Bishop Mac, Herscher beat the teams they were supposed to last year. The teams that were supposed to lose to beat them pretty well. In this regard, I still do not know what to think of their record from 2024. OOC slate is good for them. Canton will be a win. They kept Lisle for the bye week forfeit. Bishop Mac at home in week 2 will be their Super Bowl this year. It's a local rival, it should be winnable although not a promised win, and it will probably be the game that makes or breaks their playoff clinching.
Floor - 2-7
Ceiling - 5-4
AP - 4-5
ICE - 5th
Manteno - The Panthers bounced back nicely after a string of down years. I see them as usually being in the middle tier ICE, especially with the current state of the conference. They might have my favorite OOC schedule of the conference. Although Sandwich and Plano aren't the toughest opponents, Sandwich should be good enough to gauge the season. I also love seeing the old I-8 matchups linger around. Going to Gibson City in week 7 is an awesome matchup IMO. They are a tough 1A school and the game should not be overlooked. Their Super Bowl will be week 8 at Peotone. The R50 Rumble is always fun and it probably bears the most weight on the playoff seeding for both teams.
Floor - 4-5
Ceiling - 7-2
AP - 7-2
ICE - 3rd
Peotone - I am going to nickname the Tone, Middle of the Pack Peotone. The are always right there with playoff berths, but can never seem to make the jump to the top of the conference. OOC provides 2 wins. Although Granite City is much larger, they are really bad. Marengo is more of a 50/50 game, but I think the Blue Devils should beat them fairly easily. I am a little disappointed that the Tone kept Lisle, although that could not have been entirely their choice. I think their Super Bowl will be at home in week 8 for the R50 Rumble. If not for bragging rights, as I just stated above, the winner of this game will have an extra win for their playoff seeding.
Floor - 5-4
Ceiling - 7-2
AP - 6-3
ICE - 4th
Streator - I am waiting for the year that the Bulldogs break through an actually contend in the ICE. Props to them for scheduling Dixon in place of Lisle, but that could be the decision that keeps them from the playoffs. Their other two OOC games are both toss ups IMO. Eisenhower is not a good team, but they do play in a pretty solid conference so their horrible record yearly may be an illusion. Ottawa is not good either, but they have Streator's number. The Streator at Ottawa game in week 2 is the Super Bowl. Just due to bragging rights an proximity. I don't see Streator having any chance of making the playoffs.
Floor - 0-9
Ceiling - 4-5
AP - 2-7
ICE - 6th
Wilmington - Wildcats are king of the conference MOST years, and I think this year will be the same. OOC schedule is awesome. Would have loved to see a different pickup than Thornton, but I get why that may not have been possible. The Morris matchup at Morris in Week 1 is long overdue. Morris doesn't have much to gain from this, but Wilmington has everything to gain. Being on the road hurts Wilmo here, but I don't think it's a boat race. The I-8 Sandwich revival is fun too. Super Bowl will be Week 9 at home with the Coalers. Should be electric.
Floor - 7-2
Ceiling - 9-0
AP - 8-1
ICE - 1st
I see 4 teams (CC, Teno, Tone, Wilmo) all as locks for playoffs. I could see RC or Herscher somehow squeaking in if all things go their way in the OOC games, they each have beaten Streator, and they are 3-4 and 4-3 when they play each other. That could be the most fun game of the season, and could be a game I go to just to watch two random teams. I do not think that will be the case, but it is possible.
Any thoughts on the future of the conference? I believe someone mentioned on the old board that Braidwood wanted out and that was news to me. I personally never heard that. Will Lisle bounce back? What can the schools do to ensure a competitive conference. I personally think the travel for a few outlier schools (Lisle, Streator) is a bit much. Maybe not for football on a Friday, but those Tuesday night basketball games have to be brutal. Is it feasible to create a football only conference? The problem with that I believe would be finding other same size schools willing to part with their current conferences but wish to remain in their conference for all other sports. I'm just looking for thoughts.
That's the way I see it. Discuss it, debate it, call me an idiot, but we are getting close and I'm starting to get the itch.
