Well, friends, we have once again reached the end of our stupid journey together. Michigan football plays on, as do the titular Opponents, but per tradition there is no Thanksgiving Opponent Watch, so this week marks the end of the regular season. If the winds are kind and the Gods are merciful, we may come together in a couple of weeks. If not, take care of yourselves. As always, you can find me at @pontifex on Twitter until Twitter dies in a few weeks, after which you can just open your doors and shout my name loudly in the general direction of Nashville. About Last Week It’s sometimes easy to forget that the players we cheer for — and against — every week are real people. Maybe its because they are such astounding athletes that seem almost superhuman compared to us mere mortals. Maybe it’s because we typically only see them either on television or in front of enormous crowds, with their every movement at the center of attention for millions of people. Maybe it’s because we use sports as an outlet from the problems of the real world, where the stakes for our own lives can feel so real and urgent in the moment but without the downside of any real stakes. Devin Chandler was a junior wide receiver from Arlington, Tennessee. He transferred to Virginia from Wisconsin last year. Lavel Davis Jr. was a junior wide receiver from Dorchester, South Carolina. He had 16 catches for 371 yards this season after working his way back from a torn ACL. D’Sean Perry was a junior linebacker from Miami, Florida. He had 7 tackles this season. He was a studio art major. Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the players lost at the University of Virginia. Wahoowa, gentlemen. The Road Ahead Illinois (7-3, 4-3 B1G) Last week: Lost to Purdue, 31-24 Recap: It wasn’t that Illinois was necessarily the best team in the Big Ten West, nor that they were somehow the most deserving team in the Big Ten West. But their rise seemed to save us from the stupid uncertainty of a Big Ten West scrum. It was like the succession process in the hereditary monarchies of old, where, sure, you knew the king’s bumbling idiot of a “that boy ain’t right” fail-son will probably be a terrible ruler, and would probably get your kingdom’s ass kicked in a couple of wars, but at least you KNEW who the next king was going to be. Now we get aaaaall of the failingest fail-sons from all corners of the realm fighting over the crown in a two week fat guy Jello wrestling match to see who gets to be the sacrificial lamb to Michigan or Ohio State in Indianapolis. We have to care about Northwestern/Purdue and Iowa/Minnesota and Illinois/Northwestern and Purdue/Indiana. Iowa/Nebraska, rather than being a “y’all check this shit out” sicko novelty, has actual implications in the actual college football world. Thanks, Bert. We were denied this mediocre certainty because Illinois’s vaunted defense surrendered 379 yards at 5.2 yards per play, 25 first downs, and 31 points — all season-worst numbers — to Purdue. They also racked up 121 penalty yards, including five pass interference calls and four personal fouls. Worst of all, Chase Brown had his ankle rolled under with under 30 seconds left in their game. Now, Illinois probably has to beat Michigan to have a chance at winning the West. This team is as frightening as: Kroger brand Michigan. Fear Level = 6.5 Michigan should worry about: Illinois’ rushing defense might be in the Goldilocks zone; just good enough to prevent Michigan from winning the game with its usual “smash smash smashy smash smash” approach, but just vulnerable enough that Michigan might try anyway. Michigan can sleep soundly about: Chase Brown was already declining statistically, and now he’s hurt. Even if he is able to play, it seems unlikely that he will be able to shoulder his usual 30 carries at anywhere near his early season production. When they play Michigan: Cold. Very, very cold. This week: @ Michigan, noon, ABC (Illinois +17.5) [AFTER THE JUMP: Yep. Them.]