2025 was a year to remember for Illinois sports, with many great memories being made.
However, just like everyone this time of year, each Illini team will have its own resolutions as they move into 2026.
Illinois Football New Year's Resolution: Fix Defensive Issues
One of the biggest issues Bret Bielema and his staff will look to fix in the new year is the defense. A lack of competent scheming, star players, and a mountain of injuries led to the team finishing below expectations.
Growth from defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and a revamped defensive unit through the transfer portal and highly touted recruits will go a long way to improve these issues in the new year.
Illinois Women’s Soccer New Year's Resolution: Sustain and Build Upon Last Year’s Success
The Katie Hultin era got off to a bang with the program making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. Historically, the team has tended to go through highs of winning followed by long droughts of losing.
Illini soccer should look to head into 2026 aiming to buck that trend and raise expectations. Making the tournament was a great starting point, but conference championships and NCAA tournament game wins would go a long way in establishing a winning culture.
Illinois Volleyball New Year's Resolution: Rise Above Mediocrity
The team has finished around or below .500 in conference play for much of this decade. Despite an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024, fans expect better for the program.
Although the Big Ten is an incredibly tough conference to play in, a change in team leadership or player personnel could help the Illini get over the hump they have been facing for quite some time now.
Illinois Men’s Basketball New Year's Resolution: Find Team Consistency
This season has felt like somewhat of a roller coaster with the injuries and inconsistent play the team has experienced thus far. Add in highly skilled players not getting the playing time others would like to see, and this year has felt like an incredibly exciting, chaotic mess.
The men’s team should look to finally kick the injury bug to the curb and start to consistently play as a more cohesive unit, which should be likely given the time they have had to grow together as a group.
Illinois Women’s Basketball New Year's Resolution: Mature Througout Conference Play
Shauna Green's crew has an average age of 19.9, being led by multiple high-producing freshmen and sophomores. While their inexperience has not let them down yet, their competition is sure to get much tougher in a loaded Big Ten.
Maturing as players will be necessary if the Illini want to continue the incredible success they have seen thus far this season. Fortunately for the Illini, they look primed to grow into their roles.
Illinois Baseball New Year's Resolutions: Stronger Pitching Production
In recent years, the Illini pitching has been one of its weakest links, even during their Big Ten Title season in 2024. In order to get back to their winning ways, more reliable arms will be needed, especially strong starters.
New transfers will look to provide the spark to rekindle the flames of past success, and the offense should be able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their production will not have to be at an elite level every game for the team to have a chance to win.