When the college football season debuted in late August and Missouri defeated Illinois 40-34 in St. Louis, nobody thought too much of it. The game seemed just another season opener, albeit a Border battle that prove more interesting in years to come.
Nonetheless, here we are on December’s doorstep and Missouri is ranked No. 1 in the country, Illinois is No. 15 and both are basking the in the glow of glorious seasons.
Mizzou is within one win of playing for a national championship and Illinois is either headed to a BCS bowl game or a prime bowl encounter in Florida.
In both cases, the Tigers and Illini have pleasantly surprised fans who couldn’t have expected either team to enjoy this type of success. Be honest, now.
And south in Carbondale, the Salukis have reached the semifinals for the 1-A playoffs, making it a Shootout Saturday around here.
It’s rare in December when college football overshadows college basketball in St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois, but the the case this Dec. 1.
By the end of the month, or around the Illini-Mizzou basketball game on Dec. 22, I’ll wonder if we will be saying the same thing.
The smart money says a resounding yes.
All I can tell you is stay tuned and don’t trade in your football program for a basketball one until after the national championship.