(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Luke Altmyer, RB Aidan Laughery, TE Tanner Arkin, OC Josh Kreutz, OG Brandon Henderson, OG Josh Gesky, OT JC Davis, OT Melvin Priestly, LB Alec Bryant, LB Gabe Jacas, LB James Kreutz, LB Kenenna Odeluga, LB Dylan Rosiek, CB Torrie Cox Jr., CB Xavier Scott, NB Jaheim Clarke, FS Miles Scott, SS Matthew Bailey, KR/PR Hank Beatty, and PK David Olano.
Key Players Departing:
WR Pat Bryant, WR Zachari Franklin, DE Dennis Briggs Jr., NT TeRah Edwards, LB Seth Coleman, LB Ryan Meed, CB Tyler Strain, CB Zachary Tobe, KR Kenari Wilcher, and PT Hugh Robertson.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DT James Thompson Jr. (Wisconsin transfer), and LB Grant Beerman (West Chester, Ohio),
3 Star Recruits: OT Ayden Knapik (Idaho transfer), WR Brayden Trimble (Mt. Zion, Illinois), EDGE Tomiwa Durojaiye (FSU transfer), WR Justin Bowick (Ball State transfer), EDGE Leon Lowery Jr. (Wisconsin transfer), EDGE Cameron Brooks (Flossmoor, Illinois), DS Andre Lovett (Blue Island, Illinois), and DL Isaiah White (Indianapolis, Indiana).
2024 Results:
G01 EASTERN ILLINOIS W 45-0
G02 #19 KANSAS W 23-17
G03 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W 30-9
G04 @#22 Nebraska W/OT 31-24
G05 @ #9 Penn State L 7-21
G06 PURDUE W/OT 50-49
G07 #24 MICHIGAN W 21-7
G08 @ #1 Oregon L 9-38
G09 MINNESOTA L 17-25
G10 MICHIGAN STATE W 38-16
G11 @ Rutgers W 38-31
G12 vs. Northwestern W 38-28
BOWL vs. #15 South Carolina W 21-17
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 10-3 (5TH in Big Ten)
Home: 6-1
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 2-0
B10: 6-3
Non-B10: 4-0
Head Coach: Bret Bielema
Illinois: 28-22
Bowls: 5-6
Career: 125-80
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Luke Altmyer (211-347, 2717 yards, 60.8%, 7.8 avg., 22 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Aidan Laughery (96 car., 589 yards, 6.1 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Hank Beatty (20 rec., 294 yards, 14.7 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Josh McCray (11)
Sacks: Gabe Jacas (8)
Tackles: Matthew Bailey (94)
Tackles For Loss: Gabe Jacas (13)
Interceptions: Xavier Scott (4)
Pass Deflections: Matthew Bailey (7)
Forced Fumbles: Gabe Jacas (3)
Kick Returns: Hank Beatty (2 ret., 37 yards, 18.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Hank Beatty (22 ret., 310 yards, 14.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: David Olano (17-20 fg-fga., 85%, 38-39 xp/xpa., 89 pts.)
Punting: Fabrizio Pinton (8 punts, 326 yards, 40.8 avg., 2 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 9 Luke Altmyer (RS SR/TR)
RB: 21 Aidan Laughery (RS JR)
WR: 8 Malik Elzy (JR)
WR: 13 Hudson Clement (RS JR/TR)
WR: 27 Collin Dixon (RS SO)
TE: 85 Tanner Arkin (RS SR/TR)
LT: 74 JC Davis (SR/TR)
LG: 73 Josh Gesky (RS SR)
OC: 64 Josh Kreutz (RS SR)
RG: 75 Brandon Henderson (JR)
RT: 58 Melvin Priestly (SR/TR)
KR: 80 Hank Beatty (SR)
PK: 24 David Olano (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 90 James Thompson Jr. (RS SR/TR)
NT: 99 Curt Neal (RS JR/TR)
DE: 11 Alex Bray (JR)
LB: 17 Gabe Jacas (SR)
LB: 41 James Kreutz (RS JR)
LB: 28 Dylan Rosiek (RS SR)
LB: 9 Leon Lowery Jr. (RS SR/TR)
CB: 5 Torrie Cox Jr. (RS SR/TR)
CB: 22 Kaleb Patterson (RS JR/TR)
FS: 10 Miles Scott (RS SR)
SS: 7 Matthew Bailey (RS JR)
PR: 80 Hank Beatty (SR)
PT: 40 Keelan Crimmins (SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/30 WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS | Illinois won (21-7) the only prior meeting in 2007.
09/06 @ Duke Blue Devils | The series is tied 1-1. The Fighting Illini won (28-24) the last meeting in 1965, and they lost (13-15) the inaugural meeting in 1958.
09/13 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Illinois leads the series 4-2. The Fighting Illini lost (10-34) the last meeting in 2016, and they won (24-7) the prior meeting in 2012.
09/20 @ #17 Indiana Hoosiers | Illinois leads the series 46-25-2. The Fighting Illini won (48-45) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (20-23) the prior meeting in 2022.
09/27 USC TROJANS | Illinois trails the series 2-11. The Fighting Illini lost (17-49) the last meeting in 2007, and they lost (3-55) the prior meeting in 1996.
10/04 @ Purdue Boilermakers | Illinois trails the series 46-48-6. The Fighting Illini are 3-7 since 2015, and their last series loss (19-44) was in 2023.
10/11 #1 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | Illinois trails the series 30-68-4. The Fighting Illini lost (14-52) the last meeting in 2017, and they lost (3-28) the prior meeting in 2015.
10/25 @ Washington Huskies | Illinois trails the series 4-7. The Fighting Illini lost (19-44) the last meeting in 2014, and they lost (24-34) the prior meeting in 2013.
11/01 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS | Illinois leads the series 6-3. The Fighting Illini are 5-2 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series loss (14-20) was in 2021.
11/15 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Illinois trails the series 1-2. The Fighting Illini won (27-24) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (17-20) the prior meeting in 2021.
11/22 @ Wisconsin Badgers | Illinois trails the series 39-45-7. The Fighting Illini are 2-7 since 2015, and they lost (21-25) the last meeting in 2023.
11/29 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS | Illinois leads the series 58-55-5. The Fighting Illini are 3-7 since 2015, and their last series loss (43-45) was in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 4-1
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 7-2
Non-B10: 3-0
Overall: 10-2 (7th in B10 – Bowl Eligible)
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