The calendar has flipped to July, which means undivided attention and focus can be paid to the upcoming 2024 college football season.
Conference media days are now only days away. It will be our first legitimate look at the sport’s new landscape after this offseason’s significant realignment. Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington will attend a Big Ten media day schedule that now includes 18 teams, while Texas and Oklahoma will make their first appearances as SEC competitors. It will be a harsh dose of reality that will only grow stronger when the season kicks off in late August.
Related: One Big Ten game to watch each week of the 2024 football season
While there is still some more movement to come on the class of 2025 recruiting trail, right now it is all-systems-go toward the fast-approaching season.
Our preview work here at Badgers Wire will continue throughout the month with in-depth looks at every Big Ten team and position group. It will provide a comprehensive look at what Wisconsin will face both in 2024 and beyond.
Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini
Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs
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That preview work continues today with a look at the 2024 Illinois Fighting Illini:
Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts to a call during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coach: Bret Bielema (ranked No. 9 in Big Ten)
Offensive Coordinator: Barry Lunney Jr. (ranked No. 16 in Big Ten)
Defensive Coordinator: Aaron Henry (ranked No. 14 in Big Ten)
Oct 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Brandon Peters (18) hands the ball off to running back Chase Brown (2) in the second half against the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The 2022 Illinois Fighting Illini were one of the best teams in the Big Ten that season, despite what their 5-4 conference record shows. It was one scoring drive against top-ranked Michigan away from representing the Big Ten West in the conference title game — a rematch against a Michigan team it matched up well against.
That is all said to explain that once stars Chase Brown, Sydney Brown and Devon Witherspoon left for the NFL the team took a gigantic step back. That will only be heightened in 2024 without star DL Jer’Zhan Newton.
2022 was a peak year for a program that needs all the stars to align in order to compete in the new Big Ten landscape. Its 5-7 record from 2023 should only slide further with the schedule increasing in difficulty after the elimination of the Big Ten West.
Sep 2, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; New Mexico Lobos running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (5) celebrates his touchdown with teammate offensive lineman J.C. Davis (75) during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Transfers In: 12
Transfers Out: 20
Illinois’ offseason did include a commitment from former New Mexico OT J.C. Davis — one of the best transfer tackles of the cycle. It also landed OG Kevin Wigenton II, remaking the entire left side of its offensive line.
Other than that, the program enters the season with homegrown players at most positions. The most important players to the 2024 team’s success are those who returned from the 2023 team.
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 21: Luke Altmyer #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini throws the ball to Tanner Arkin #85 of the Illinois Fighting Illini for a touchdown against C.J. Goetz #98 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Win Total: 5.5
Pick: UNDER (5-7, with wins over Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State, Northwestern)
Illinois is stuck toward the bottom of the Big Ten. It should take care of business against inferior competition, but struggle to capture any big upsets. The 2024 schedule is especially brutal in that regard. The team faces Penn State, Michigan and Oregon — three of the top five teams in the conference.
Bowl eligibility would be a big win.
Oct 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets linebacker Tarique Barnes (8) on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois success or lack thereof will depend on its defense returning to its 2022 level when it was one of the best units in the sport. Former Ole Miss transfer QB Luke Altmyer will also need to take a step forward from a promising 2023 campaign.
Overall, the 2024 Illini won’t be at the bottom of the Big Ten — the defense should be too good to allow that to happen. But the team also lacks the top-end NFL talent that led the 2022 team. So the team is somewhat stuck entering 2024 unless an unforeseen improvement is made.
Other things to monitor: the program has an inexperienced DC in Aaron Henry after former DC Ryan Walters took the head coach job at Purdue before the 2023 season. Bielema will need strong seasons from Henry and OC Barry Lunney to finish with a winning record.
Nov 4, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Kaden Feagin (3) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Tip Reiman (89) during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Misses bowl game (5-7)
The new Big Ten structure hurts programs like Illinois more than anybody else. An 8-5 record against a Big Ten West schedule was realistic during the program’s good years. Now, just inching to bowl eligibility is a major win.
The Illini should be better than Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State and some of the Big Ten’s other bottom teams. But it’s far from the conference’s top competition.
Wisconsin does not play Illinois in 2024 so Badgers fans should look more at the overall program outlook. Bielema is an established coach, but he has a lot on his hands at a program like Illinois in today’s age of the sport.
Bielema effectively ended the Paul Chryst era back in 2022. That afternoon is far in the past with the perceived caliber of these two teams entering 2024.
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Publish date : 2024-07-09 08:40:00
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