Michigan could be another building block in the Bret Bielema era of Illinois football

I don’t want to remember what Illinois football was like before Bret Bielema took over the program.

On the same note, I also don’t want to forget the past. I believe the struggles of the Illini pre-Bielema make what is happening with the program today even more special.

There are different levels of success with programs. Before Bielema, Illinois was in a dark place. I would say we were a bottom feeder that no one took seriously. We were down there with Vanderbilt and UConn looking up at all of the mediocre teams, let alone the top teams in the college game.

Bielema, who wasn’t regarded as an elite coach by any means, came to Illinois, and it has been a perfect marriage. The Illini needed a quality college coach, and Bielema needed a lifeline to show that he wasn’t the same coach we saw at Wisconsin or Arkansas, or at least he was a more mature version of the good x’s and o’s game-caller.

Through the first three seasons, Bielema has upgraded Illinois’ status. A 5-7 season in year one was respectable, but it didn’t do much. In year two going 8-4 was a big leap. That moved Illinois up a level.

2021 Bottom Feeder >>> 2022 Respectable

Going from five wins to an eight-win campaign gets you an upgrade in my book. Illinois hadn’t had an eight-win campaign since the 2007 season, so this was huge for the program.

I believe that the 2022 season upgraded Illinois from a bottom feeder to a respectable program. You can’t be a bottom-feeder and notch eight wins. But one eight-win campaign doesn’t get you a higher tier than respectable either.

2022 Respectable >>> 2023 Respectable

Illinois entered the 2023 campaign with high hopes of building on the success of 2022. That didn’t happen, though. A big talent shift, and Bielema was left with a ton of new talent.

At one point in 2023, Illinois was 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten. We also had multiple double-digit losses. If the season ended there, I would have dropped us down to bottom feeder again, but Bielema helped Illinois rebound and finish strong at 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten. We were close to snagging seven or eight wins that season too. This strong finish kept Illinois at a respectable level.

2023 Respectable >>> 2024 Good

Through six games of the 2024 Illinois football season, I think the program has earned an upgrade in status. When I say the team is respectable, it means we are going to compete in games regardless of wins or losses. This team isn’t going to go 2-10 and get the doors blown off weekly.

That isn’t the current state of the Illinois football program, though. The Illini are a much better team than that now. I think an upgrade to good is required. We are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Illinois has won two games in overtime, which we used to normally lose. And we are 2-1 against top 25 programs.

Bret Bielema and the Illinois football team could see another level boost if victorious against Michigan

Coming into the 2024 campaign, I had high hopes for the Illini. We had some key talent coming back, and Bielema did a great job in the offseason securing some big-time transfer portal players.

Starting 5-1 is huge for the program. We aren’t just a respectable team anymore. This is a good program that is a threat to win big games. The matchup against Michigan on Saturday could take us to another level, though.

Potential Upgrade: 2024 Good >>> 2024 Contender

Michigan is another ranked opponent, giving Illinois four ranked games in the first seven contests of the season. In years past, I would say that is a death sentence for the program. This season, it could put Illinois on a level that is rarely seen.

A win over Michigan would immediately upgrade the Illini when it comes to status. Right now, I have us as a good team that can win big games. By beating Michigan, Illinois would be 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten. This would include three wins over top 25 programs too.

In addition to that, Illinois would remain toward the top of the Big Ten. We are in the mix with teams like Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State.

Illinois has five games left after the Michigan contest. Next week will be tough at Oregon. The final four games of the season are Minnesota, Michigan State, at Rutgers, and at Northwestern. All four programs are in the bottom half of the Big Ten.

With that being said, a win over Michigan has massive ramifications. It would mean Illinois is in the hunt for a Big Ten crown, we lock in a bowl game, and we are squarely in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff. I think that would definitely earn an upgrade from a good program to a contender in my book.