Heading into 2024, many college football fans didn’t believe in this Illinois squad. CBS Sports only forecasted an over/under win total of 5.5 wins. With a Week 6 bye, the Illini sit at 4-1 and 1-1 in the conference, poised to beat the odds early.
Nearly halfway through the season, fans pretty much know what to expect the rest of the way. There can still be surprises, but as Illinois works toward its first bowl game since 2022, let’s grade how everyone has been.
Pass Attack (A-): Overall, this has been the best unit on the team this year. Junior quarterback Luke Altmyer is more poised this year and looks like someone who came from the SEC. With 1,047 yards passing and a 70% completion rate, the passing game has been steady, but he has plenty of help.
The senior receiving duo of Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin has been as advertised and then some. Each adds something different to the offense. For Bryant, it’s route running and the ability to find the endzone. Through five weeks, he has been tied for No. 4 in the nation in touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per reception.
On the other side, Franklin gives Altmyer the sticky hands. He will surely find separation on short and intermediate routes and haul in everything near him. Other guys have stepped up, but those two already have 634 yards and are Altmyer’s go-to targets.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Run Game (D+): It’s been… well it’s been bad. In three Power 5 games, the Illini have averaged 2.3, 4.3 and 1.1 yards per carry. That’s just downright abysmal against real competition.
The middle of the offensive line has been terrible, allowing pressures and defenders into the backfield. The run game was never going to be Chase Brown caliber, but it’s hard to get going when you get touched in the backfield almost every play.
Offensive Play Calling (C+): Barry Lunney Jr. has a weird infatuation with running the ball when it doesn’t work. Sure, to be an elite program, you have to pass and run successfully, but Illinois isn’t elite.
In all three Power 5 matchups, Illinois has more rushing attempts than passing attempts. Readers may find that hard to believe after re-checking the stats from the first two grades above, but it’s true.
Overall, Lunney has been more creative this season than his last two seasons, but he’s got to work with what he’s got. And what he doesn’t have is the players for a good rushing attack. Five to six more pass attempts per game may be all they need, but play to your strengths and this grade will shoot up.
Pass Defense (B+): The Illini are no longer missing NFL talents Devon Witherspoon, Quan Martin and Sydney Brown. There are some absolute studs in the 2024 secondary, and they have looked amazing.
Former No. 3 overall recruit Drew Allar only managed 135 yards against the Illini. The other four quarterbacks Illinois faced threw at least one interception. It’s been impressive all around, showing the ability to force turnovers and keep top 10 teams in check.
I don’t see any reason for regression throughout the season. They have depth and dawgs patrolling the field and should be regarded atop the Big Ten by season’s end.
Run Defense (F): For some reason, Kansas stopped running the ball when they visited Champaign. The Jayhawks averaged 5.6 yards per carry on Sept. 7, and nobody would’ve stormed the field that night if they had kept pounding the rock.
While they don’t miss their former defensive backs, this defense really needs their former stars in the trenches. In their recent loss to Penn State, it felt surprising when a run didn’t pick up five yards.
They are smaller and less athletic than the top teams they will play, like Penn State, No. 6 Oregon and No. 10 Michigan. They will have to figure out a new scheme or get some new rotations going if they want it to improve. However, there may be nothing they’ll be able to do about it this year.
Defensive Play Calling (B): Aaron Henry has voided many of the preseason worries. He was outmatched in his first season calling plays, but Bret Bielema stuck with him. That move has paid off, and Henry has shown big improvements.
That comes even with his lack of talent on the defensive line. He’s a master motivator, with pumped-up players all over the field. His pass schemes have been beautiful, and I trust the defense not to choke any games due to Henry.
Special Teams (B-): As a slightly above-average group, this unit hasn’t lost Illinois any games this year. Sixteen out of 16 extra points is a requirement at this point, and 8/10 field goals are solid. I’d love sophomore kicker David Olano to be able to kick further, but that’s unlikely.
Junior punter Hugh Robertson has been above average himself. He doesn’t have a boot, but when he is near midfield, there’s a pretty good chance he can down it around the 10.
Through six weeks, this team has surprised many; But the rest of the schedule is no cupcake. At least two ranked matchups and three more road games stand in their way. Still, it would be shocking to miss a bowl game at this point, and that’s a great start.
@benfader7
