CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois spokesman Kent Brown annoucned Tuesday afternoon the school would accept a bowl bid if offered. The Illini finished the regular season 5-7 after Saturday's 24-14 loss to Northwestern and did not meet the six wins required to be bowl eligible, but with 40 bowl games and not enough six-win teams at least two but as many as five berths will be open.
The remaining bowl bids for 5-7 teams will be handed out based on Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. Missouri, also 5-7 on the year, announced Monday it would not accept a bowl bid.