In a 45-7 loss at Wisconsin, the Illini suffered a fate — so common, so expected — that is baked into the pysche of the football program. Losing badly in Madison is routine for the Illini. Watching the Badgers out-scheme and physically manhandle the Illini is par-the-course. Since 1993, the Illini have only won one once in Madison. More recently, the Badgers, in Madison, beat the Illini 48-3 in 2016 and 49-20 in 2018.
The Reality Dealt was much worse than the Reality Expected
Illini fans were realistic enough going into this game to understand that there was minimal hope for victory.