At First Glance: Week 4 Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) passes the ball against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Subscriber Content Week Four: Illinois Fighting Illini Date & Time: Saturday, September 20 – Kickoff time is TBA Venue: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN TV: TBA Illini at a Glance Head Coach: Bret Bielema Entering his fifth season as Illinois head coach Record at Illinois: 28-22 (18-18 in Big Ten) Overall Record: 125-80 Last Season: 10-3 Illini Returning Leaders Passing: Luke Altmyer – 211 of 347 (60.8%) for 2717 yards with 22 TDs and 6 INTs Rushing: Aidan Laughery – 97 carries for 589 yards (6.07 yards per carry) with four TDs Receiving: Hank Beatty – 20 receptions for 294 yards (14.7 yards per reception) with one TD Tackles: Matthew Bailey – DB – 94 tackles with 44 solo and 50 assisted Illini Preseason Predictions Win Total: 8.5 (+124 to over/-152 to under) Playoff Odds: +520 to make playoff/-800 to miss playoff To Win Big Ten: +3300 S&P+: 19th (28th offense/20th defense) 247Sports: 14th CBS Sports: 12th ESPN: 11th Impact Newcomers for the Illini James Thompson – DL from Wisconsin Curt Neal – DL from Wisconsin Hudson Clement – WR from West Virginia Justin Bowick – WR from Ball State Biggest Questions Facing the Illini Illinois lost leading receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin to the NFL. The duo combined for 1,019 receptions and more than 1,600 yards plus 14 touchdowns. Did Illinois adequately replace the departed stars to give Altmyer enough weapons in the passing game? Are the Illini able to handle the pressure that comes from expectations as a “sleeper CFP team” after going 10-3 in 2024? Illinois played two regular season games in 2024 against teams that ended up ranked. They were handled 21-7 by Penn State and shellacked 38-9 by Oregon. Are the Illini ready to compete with and defeat ranked teams? Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Josh McCray (6) celebrates winning the MVP after the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Program Preview Much was made about the special season that 2024 was for the Indiana Hoosiers. Deservedly so. The Hoosiers have never had a season like the one they are coming off of. Just one state over, Bret Bielema led Illinois to a special season of their own. The Illini went 10-3, winning ten games for the first time since 2001 and just the fifth time in program history. The veteran Big Ten head coach was hired away from Arkansas prior to the 2021 season and went 5-7 in his first season before jumping up to 8-5 in 2022, losing the ReliaQuest Bowl. 2023 was a step back as they went just 5-7 but 2024 saw the Illini win multiple close games, close with three straight regular season wins and then best South Carolina in a very entertaining Citrus Bowl to finish the campaign ranked 16th nationally. They have generated buzz as a team that could be 2025-2026’s version of Indiana (i.e. taking advantage of a softer than normal schedule to surprisingly make the College Football Playoff). There are multiple things wrong that narrative but the most glaring differentiator is that Illinois just went 10-3 and they now return 18 starters. That would hardly make them a “Cinderella story”. Illinois enters the campaign ranked and expected to win at least eight games and two of the past three seasons have been eight wins or more. Bret Bielema has turned this into a very solid program after a near-decade of wondering through the woods under Tim Beckman, Bill Cubit and Lovie Smith. Offensive Preview Illinois averaged 28.3 points per game in 2024, tied with Florida and just ahead of Boston College and Virginia Tech nationally. Those are not numbers that scream elite offense but given the slower tempo that Illinois tends to play at, it’s certainly not bad. If a person asks you describe a Bret Bielema offense off the top of your head, you’d like respond that he believes in a ground and pound attack like he ran at Wisconsin. In reality, Illinois runs a modern offense with a lot of 12-personnel. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney is entering his fourth season and he's a terrific fit for returning quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Ole Miss transfer is now 23 years old and entering his third season as the starter in Champaign. Continuity and consistency at quarterback and offensive coordinator is a big plus for the Illini. Another major positive: they return all five offensive linemen that started the final eight games of the 2024 season. There’s a whole lot to like for the Illini. There are some concerns though and the primary question mark is wide receiver. Pat Bryant and Zekhari Franklin were terrific playmakers in 2024 and the leading returning wideout only had 20 receptions last season. Illinois will be relying on West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement (51 receptions for 741 yards with five touchdowns in 2024 but 11 for 166 with two TDs came in the bowl win over Memphis) and Justin Bowick from Ball State as portal additions. Returners like Malik Elzy (a high-ceiling junior from Chicago), Collin Dixon and Hank Beatty are expected to progress and step up. Even in a best-case scenario, it is hard to imagine they can fully replace the production of Bryant and Franklin. Top running back Josh McCray transferred to Georgia, leaving a hole in the backfield. Illinois does have options with Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin expected to split the load as lead backs. Both of those players have a history of struggling with staying healthy (Feagin is coming off of a hip injury, a big concern for a 250-pound back) so that could end up a problematic position for the Illini but you’d expect they’d still be quite fresh when they travel to Bloomington in week four. A 247Sports insider for the Illini was quoted as saying, “I think they’ll run the ball better this season with this offensive line”. That makes sense given the question mark at wide receiver and the strength and size of the line but Barry Lunney trusts Luke Altmyer and Altmyer has a ton of confidence in his ability so they’ll still be chucking the ball around a decent amount. “I believe I’m at the top,” Altmyer said when asked about his status heading into 2025. “I think I’ve done all the right things to be there. I feel like I’m the most confident dude in America.” IU’s defense will square off against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State prior to this game on September 20. Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Aidan Laughery (21) runs the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Defensive Preview Illinois returns defensive coordinator Aaron Henry for another season after a nice 2024 season in which they surrendered just 21.7 points per game. That included giving up only 21 to Penn State, 7 to Michigan, 16 to Michigan State and just 17 to South Carolina. I did not think this defense was particularly dominant though. They gave up 49 to Purdue in a wild one-point win, 31 to Rutgers and 28 to Northwestern. Those last two are not catastrophic, by any means, but that’s a fourth of the season in which the performances of the defense were nowhere near elite. They lose Seth Coleman and a few quality defensive linemen but there is a belief in Champaign that this unit can replicate the good performances and get rid of the negative outliers to have a terrific 2025 on defense. Let’s start at the back of the defense where nearly every starter returns to the secondary and linebacker corps. Matthew Bailey led the team in tackles and he’s an ultra-athletic modern safety that can make plays all over the field. Offenses have to know where Bailey is before every play. Fellow safety Xavier Scott is also back after leading the team with four interceptions. Outside linebacker and edge rusher Gabe Jacas is a potential first-round pick after this season and it was a big deal for the Illini to get him back for his final campaign. He had eight sacks last year and is an All-Big Ten quality performer. He’ll need more help though and that needs to come from the defensive line. Last season’s unit was not disruptive enough and they are hoping a trio of transfers can deliver: James Thompson (who needs to stay healthy), Curt Neal and Tomiwa Durojaiye. IU will probably be watching Illinois’ week two game at Duke to see how Darian Mensah attacks the Fighting Illini defense, a unit that figures to be one of the best ones IU plays all season. Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Jaheim Clarke (25) celebrates his fumble recovery against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the third quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Special Teams Preview David Olano is a very good place kicker and he returns for his junior season after hitting 17 of 20 kick and 38 of 39 extra points. He’ll be one of the top kickers in the Big Ten. The punting situation is slightly less clear but it appears Keelan Crimmins will start after transferring from Purdue. Crimmins got a ton of work for the Boilermakers in 2024 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after averaging 44.9 yards per punt. Slot receiver Hank Beatty is a quality returner and he figures to handle those duties again in 2025. e visible to your subscribers. 2025 FIRST GLANCE PREVIEWS Week One: Old Dominion Week Two: Kennesaw State Week Three: Indiana State Subscribe to get access Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Log in

At First Glance: Week 4 Illinois Fighting Illini

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At First Glance: Week 4 Illinois Fighting Illini

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