After the expansion of the Big Ten, the road to success for the Illinois baseball team became much bumpier.
Despite these challenges, there is still a way in which the Illini can compete with this tougher competition.
The additions of Oregon, USC, and UCLA, and the consistent competitive play of programs like Iowa and Nebraska, mean the Illini have their work cut out for them when it comes to recruiting and negotiating in the transfer portal.
Luckily for Illinois, there are key attributes to their program that they can lean on to gain in this arms race with their opposition.
In terms of recruiting, Illinois can focus on being the state's clear flagship university and using that to appeal to the massive amount of talent they have within the state, something some of the other schools, like Oregon, USC, and UCLA, have a much tougher time doing.
Centering around the idea that Illinois is home to kids who live in the state does a lot to entice those recruits. This is especially crucial given the massive amount of talent there is locally.
Moreover, having a long-tenured coach in Dan Hartleb shows stability and continuity within the ball club. A seasoned coach shows recruits that the person in charge is competent, respected, and reliable, all of which are great qualities in a leader.
This variable can be hard to find in some of the other programs. Teams like Nebraska and USC have newer coaches, which can have their ups and downs as opposed to the steadiness of a seasoned one.
One of the more important chips for the Illini is their ability to turn transfer portal talent into consistent producers. Players like Drake Westcott and Jacob Schroeder, both of whom had prominent roles on Illinois teams, started their careers elsewhere and were able to flourish in this program.
Illinois staking its claim as a school that can spot hidden talent and develop it really helps them compete for transfers against other schools who may have more notoriety or fame.
Players who had once felt underappreciated at their old school find a new level of care and attentiveness at Illinois which goes a long way in the decision to transfer.
While the conference will undoubtedly only become tougher, Illinois has some incredible characteristics to help them go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Big Ten.