So, most Illinois football fans over the age of 30 remember some pretty good seasons for the program.
Do you know how we remember certain Illini seasons? Because they were so few and far between. The special moments of 2001 and 2007 will live on for a long time. Well, hopefully, those two campaigns will dwindle into a distant memory, as the current regime will bring us more and more big-time seasons in years to come.
As it stands right now, Illinois hasn’t had those future great seasons. We have only had those 2001 and 2007 campaigns. You know what, I will even throw in the eight-win campaign from a couple of years ago, the 2022 season. Those three years were great for the Orange and Blue, but there is one ugly trend with those Illinois teams.
The year after a great season, Illinois tends to just flame out and not carry the momentum.
2022 was the most recent season. The Illini had a magical eight-win campaign where we made a bowl game and were somewhat the darlings of the college football world. The following season, 5-7.
In 2007, Illinois upset No. 1 Ohio State en route to a nine-win season and a Rose Bowl appearance. Instead of carrying that momentum in 2008, we flailed to a 5-7 record.
And then there is the 2001 season. This was one of the best Illinois teams I have ever seen. We won the Big Ten and made it to the Sugar Bowl. That is a great season for any program. The following year in 2002, Illinois crumbled, going, you guessed it, 5-7.
There is one big trend Illinois is going to break when it comes to the season following a great campaign
It was so frustrating after all three of those great seasons to see Illinois lay an egg the following year. We hit such great heights only to fall so far back into mediocrity.
That is why winning in 2025 is a must. Illinois is preseason No. 4 according to the Big Ten media, and those expectations are on the money. This program is one of the best in the Big Ten, and we need to show it in each game.
I believe the Illini will come out and not stink the place up, too. There is one massive trend that this Illinois team bucks compared to the other three letdown seasons in the past.
Experience and the same faces.
That 2001 season was special, but Illinois lost a key piece at quarterback. Kurt Kittner wasn’t behind center anymore, replaced by Jon Beutjer. And his issues were covered up by the fact Illinois had three or four NFL-caliber wide receivers, and a defense that put multiple players into the NFL as well.
Illinois’ run to the Rose Bowl in 2007 was pretty incredible, but that team was decimated heading into 2008. The fact we got to five wins was a bit surprising. Losing Rashard Mendenhall and J Leman, among others, hurt Illinois’ chances of building on the momentum.
In 2022, it was much of the same. Illinois won eight games, and then the team was picked apart by the NFL. Tommy DeVito and Chase Brown left for the next level, and that hurt our chances of sustained success.
The difference with the 2025 Illini compared to those three squads is that we have the talent returning. Sure, Illinois lost our top two wide receivers, but that shouldn’t hinder this program from not just bucking the trend of going 5-7 after a good year, but going and snagging 10 or more wins in back-to-back seasons.
Illinois’ starting quarterback, running backs, tight ends, entire offensive line, linebackers, and nearly everyone in the secondary is back this season. The defensive line might be improved after replacing our three starters. And if the offseason additions pan out, Illinois’ wide receiver corps should be pretty solid as well.
Expectations are high for 2025. There is no reason Illinois shouldn’t contend for a College Football Playoff spot. Look for that 5-7 trend to start turning into a double-digit win trend. Illinois football is here to stay.