CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 31: Coran Taylor #7 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks to pass the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Last season was a struggle for the Illinois football program, and much of the past decade has felt the same.
Putting together a winning program is what the Illini fanbase has been yearning for since the 2000s when they made the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl. While new head coach Bret Bielema is trying to build the team by recruiting better talent, he is also realizing the current roster is already filled with some skilled athletes.