It is time for the election, so let us take a look at how the Illinois football team has fared during the election cycle.
2020 Election (0-2)
Illinois, led by head coach Lovie Smith, heads into the 2020 election with an 0-2 record albeit in the middle of an unprecedented time in sports. Hopefully, things start turning around, but history shows things get rough around election time for the Illini.
2016 Election (3-9)
After firing two head coaches and hiring Lovie as the leader of the program, Illinois went on to have a 3-9 record in the first season under the former head coach of the Chicago Bears. This would be the starting point of a program that has shown subtle improvements over the past few seasons.
2012 Election (2-10)
Illinois was again coming off firing a head coach. New athletic director Mike Thomas decided to blaze his own path and fired then head coach Ron Zook who had taken Illinois to back-to-back bowl appearances and was just in the Rose Bowl five seasons prior.
In steps Tim Beckman. In 2012, Beckman finished his first campaign going just 2-10. Only three seasons later, he would too be fired due to the mishandling of player’s injuries.
2008 Election (5-7)
In 2007, Illinois made a Cinderella run to the Rose Bowl. Things were pretty magical. The 2008 season came along and we came back down to Earth. The Illini fell to 5-7 with the offense not clicking the same without Rashard Mendenhall.
2004 Election (3-8)
Illinois was a Sugar Bowl participant in 2001, so the program looked to be heading in the right direction. After talent departed in 2002, the Illini went downhill fast. Illinois was 1-11 in 2003 and then followed that up with an election year of 3-8. Ron Turner would be fired after the season and replaced with Zook.
2000 Election (5-6)
You will have to continue down to find the last time Illinois actually had a winning record during an election year. The 2000 campaign was sandwiched in between magical 8-4 and 10-2 seasons. Turner, in his fourth year, finished the season with a record of 5-6.
1996 Election (2-9)
It is kind of funny how coaching changes seem to happen right around election years. Illinois was a solid program in the early 1990s but then took a big dip in the mid-1990s. Lou Tepper’s final season with the program was in 1996 when he went just 2-9. He would be replaced with Turn the following season.
1992 Election (6-5-1)
The first winning record for the Illinois football team during an election year came in 1992. John Mackovic had just been replaced with Tepper. In the first year under Tepper, the Illini went 6-5-1 and made it to the Holiday Bowl.
1988 Election (6-5-1)
Coaching changes continued to be a trend in the 1980s when Illinois hired Mackovic to lead the program. Mike White had been replaced after going 3-7-1 the year before. Mackovic go the Illini back on track with a 6-5-1 record and an All-American Bowl appearance in 1988.
1984 Election (7-4)
The 1984 season featured Illinois with a solid program. White had the program running well and was coming off a 10-2 season and a Rose Bowl appearance the year before. He followed that up with a 7-4 record in 1984.
1980 Election (3-7-1)
Another coaching change led to White taking over in 1980. Illinois, coming off a 2-8-1 campaign in 1979, needed a boost and White was the man for the job. Things didn’t start well, though. He only had a 3-7-1 record during the 1980 campaign.
1976 Election (5-6)
Illinois hit a bit of a dry spell in the 1970s. This included zero bowl appearances and struggling coaches. After a 5-6 season in 1975, Bob Blackman needed to have a good year in 1976. That didn’t happen and Illinois once again fell to 5-6. He was replaced by Gary Moeller the next season.