This was a GREAT year at Illinois.
It wasn't about the fact that Illinois won 9 for the first time since the 2007 Rose Bowl season ... it was more about getting everything out of the year. A great last 20 minutes against Kansas, an extremely well played game (especially second half and OT) at Nebraska, the avoidance of total disaster against Purdue (and another gut check OT win), controlling Michigan in a street fight type game with few passing yards, and the miracle at Rutgers (which was an all-timer for Illini fans), this season couldn't have gone almost any better.
It was a season about offense. Excellent QB play and a great 1-2 WR punch with Bryant & Franklin. A RB by committee that legit improved as the year went on. A final three games where Illinois put up 38 - 38 - 38 (including the incredible 4 straight TDs to beat Rutgers in brutal conditions). Aggressive play calling when it was a must. A team that decided it was going to win with the ball in the QB's hands most weeks.
It was a season where the defense was opportunistic. I personally think the defensive play calling needs work - we MUST become more aggressive on 3rd down and 6 plus - but the players were disciplined and well coached game in and game out. They generated a whole lot more TOs than the offense gave up. I am not sold on the long term of this defensive style, but it was consistently good enough in 2024. I hope, as with last year, the defensive coaches take the opportunity to get better.
Illinois is likely to play Alabama or Ole Miss in a bowl game. Alabama or Ole Miss!!! That's completely insane for a team that came in to the year with a Vegas O/U of 5.5.
Onto a quality bowl and a 2025 season where the schedule really does set up to continue the momentum. Time to get it done.
And Ryan Day sucks. If tOSU had real guts, they'd can him and hire Urb for the playoffs. Can still have the season they want, but it's not happening with Day.
It wasn't about the fact that Illinois won 9 for the first time since the 2007 Rose Bowl season ... it was more about getting everything out of the year. A great last 20 minutes against Kansas, an extremely well played game (especially second half and OT) at Nebraska, the avoidance of total disaster against Purdue (and another gut check OT win), controlling Michigan in a street fight type game with few passing yards, and the miracle at Rutgers (which was an all-timer for Illini fans), this season couldn't have gone almost any better.
It was a season about offense. Excellent QB play and a great 1-2 WR punch with Bryant & Franklin. A RB by committee that legit improved as the year went on. A final three games where Illinois put up 38 - 38 - 38 (including the incredible 4 straight TDs to beat Rutgers in brutal conditions). Aggressive play calling when it was a must. A team that decided it was going to win with the ball in the QB's hands most weeks.
It was a season where the defense was opportunistic. I personally think the defensive play calling needs work - we MUST become more aggressive on 3rd down and 6 plus - but the players were disciplined and well coached game in and game out. They generated a whole lot more TOs than the offense gave up. I am not sold on the long term of this defensive style, but it was consistently good enough in 2024. I hope, as with last year, the defensive coaches take the opportunity to get better.
Illinois is likely to play Alabama or Ole Miss in a bowl game. Alabama or Ole Miss!!! That's completely insane for a team that came in to the year with a Vegas O/U of 5.5.
Onto a quality bowl and a 2025 season where the schedule really does set up to continue the momentum. Time to get it done.
And Ryan Day sucks. If tOSU had real guts, they'd can him and hire Urb for the playoffs. Can still have the season they want, but it's not happening with Day.
