Under the direction of Bret Bielema, the Illinois football team has started the 2022 campaign 3-1.
Overall, I am pretty happy with what I have seen out of the Illini so far. The offense is starting to click, and the Illinois defense is playing some of the best football I have seen in decades.
The 3-1 start for the Orange and Blue is actually the best beginning to a season in a long time. You have to go back to the 2015 campaign to find the last time we started 3-1. That was the year the program had some turmoil, fired Tim Beckman, and had Bill Cubit as the head coach.
There are only positive vibes with the current Illini squad, though. I can honestly say that this is the most optimistic I have been for the Illini since, probably, the Rose Bowl season after we took down No. 1 Ohio State. Yes, it has been that long.
Bielema is a big reason why I am optimistic about the current team and heading into the future. I know he has been the butt of a few jokes in the past. Whenever he is mentioned on social media, someone always chimes in with the picture of him shirtless drinking some type of beverage. But even with all of that negative commentary, I truly believe Bielema is the right person for the job right now. He has us pointed in the right direction.
Bret Bielema has one of the best 16-game starts in Illinois football history.
Illinois has looked better than I have seen them look in the recent past. With the only loss coming to Indiana in heartbreaking fashion, I think this team is poised to make a run at a bowl game in 2022.
The Illini starting 3-1 has also improved Bielema’s overall record through his first 16 games to 8-8. That doesn’t sound like a great feat, but if you look back at the history of Illinois football, you will find it to be one of the best starts for a coach.
Bielema is tied with Ray Eliot for No. 3 all-time in best starts by an Illinois head coach since 1913. Eilot was also 8-8 back in 1942-43. The only two coaches who are ahead of Bielema are John Mackovic and the legendary Robert Zuppke.
Top 5 best starts (through 16 games) in the history of the Illinois football program.
— Writing Illini (@WritingIlliniFS) September 29, 2022
1. Robert Zuppke (1913-15) – 13-2-1
2. John Mackovic (1988-89) – 9-6-1
3. Bret Bielema (2021-22) – 8-8
4. Ray Eliot (1942-43) – 8-8
5. Lou Tepper (1992-93) – 7-8-1#Illini #Illinois #Football
Mackovic’s first two seasons were in 1988-89, and he would go 9-6-1 in his first 16 games. You have to go back to 1913 through 1915 to find Zuppke’s first 16 games. The legendary coach would go 13-2-1 during this stretch.
Some other notable names on the list from recent years include; Lovie Smith 5-11, Tim Beckman 5-11, and Ron Zook 4-12.
Illinois football finally has a stable program again. It has been a long time since I could say those words. Bielema has been a big reason for the stabilization. The future of this team is bright, and I can’t wait to see what it holds.