After a promising season, Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema and his team are turning heads. They are coming off the fifth 10-win season in program history, and most of their starters are returning.
Illinois finished the year ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, which ranks the best college football teams in the nation. Multiple news outlets have placed the Illini high in their spring rankings, including ESPN, The Athletic and CBS.
With spirits high after last season and a loaded roster, the Illini are carrying heavy expectations on their shoulders. Before getting into this fall, here’s a look back at the historic 2024 season.
One for the record books
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Illinois started the 2024 season red-hot. It went 4-0 and took down two ranked opponents in the process. A win over then-No. 22 Nebraska showed the nation that Illinois was a threat. Then-junior quarterback Luke Altmyer threw 10 touchdowns and no interceptions during the four-game span.
A resounding victory over then-No. 24 Michigan in October marked another high point of the year. It was the team’s first win against Michigan since 2009 and the third ranked win of the season. To make it even more special, the game took place on the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium’s dedication.
The next two games were less than ideal for Illinois. It fell to then-No. 1 Oregon and Minnesota, both in demoralizing fashion. The losses all but guaranteed that the Illini would fall short of the College Football Playoff.
However, Illinois bounced back quickly, putting Michigan State in the dirt. It went on to dramatically beat Rutgers after then-senior Pat Bryant’s game-winning touchdown. To finish the season, the Illini got the victory over their in-state rival, the Northwestern Wildcats, to end the season 9-3.
An impressive season resulted in a bowl game against a highly ranked South Carolina team. The Illini were invited to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, where they took down the Gamecocks 21-17 on New Year’s Eve. The game gave Illinois its 10th win, making the season one of the best in team history.
Returning players
As college football has evolved in recent years, the transfer portal has become increasingly prevalent. There’s no telling which player might decide to move to another team or take a big payday elsewhere. Fear of the transfer portal, and what they might lose, hovered over Illinois fans as the offseason loomed.
However, what happened was nearly the opposite of what many expected. Throughout the spring, Illini players announced their intent to stay with the team. Illinois has 16 starters returning, including multiple starting offensive linemen, top defensive players and key pieces on the offense.
Perhaps the most important of all, though, is Altmyer, who announced his senior season return during a men’s basketball game in December.
The portal giveth, the portal taketh away
Illinois went to work in the transfer portal, filling in holes from the few leaving players. It added junior wide receiver Hudson Clement, who had over 1,000 yards in two seasons at West Virginia.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Illini scooped up former Wisconsin defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. He comes with 41 games of experience under his belt. The senior helps fill the hole made by former defensive lineman TeRah Edwards and former linebacker Seth Coleman.
But it isn’t all good news in the portal. Longtime Illini running back Josh McCray entered the transfer portal and left for Georgia. The 6-foot-1 back put up 609 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was crucial to the Citrus Bowl win and earned the MVP.
Sights set high
Illinois still stands to be one of the most experienced teams in the country, and its schedule is easier than last season’s. It has returned a multitude of starters and added more talent from the transfer portal. Best of all, the Illini held onto one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
The stars may be aligning for Illinois next season. The media seems to be high on the team, and fans certainly have high hopes after last season. Whether or not the Illini meet those standards remains to be seen, but there is plenty to be excited about as the season approaches.
