Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini win over Northwestern

4. I am so proud of this team

With an overall record of 2-5 and a Big Ten record of 1-3, coming off a 24-0 loss to Wisconsin, I wouldn’t have been shocked if the Illinois football players packed it up and didn’t give it their all the rest of the year.

I mean, things were looking pretty bleak at that point in the season. The offense wasn’t moving the ball, and the team just wasn’t playing well. But the Illini didn’t give up. The players were fully bought into the Bret Bielema era of Illinois football.

A huge win over No. 7 Penn State on the road sent a bolt of energy through this program. Illinois would go on to win three of the final five games for the 2021 campaign. Two of those contests were against top 20 programs, and the third game was on Saturday against Illinois’ biggest rival in Northwestern.

Even through a coaching change and players adjusting to new positions, the Illini didn’t have too many departures. Most players stuck with the team and fought tooth and nail for this program. I wouldn’t have blamed anyone for leaving the program, but most players didn’t depart. They stuck with us.

Illinois wasn’t likely to make a bowl game regardless of the outcome of the Northwestern game. Despite not having a game at the end of the rainbow, Illinois players still came out on Saturday and didn’t just win, they put a whoopin’ on the Wildcats by a score of 47-14.

The 2021 season is over, which makes me extremely sad. I get a little misty-eyed thinking about it. But, man, I am more proud of this 5-7 team than I have with any team in recent memory. The future is so stinkin’ bright for the Orange and Blue.