No picture of contentment at Illinois

"We think about being the best we can be," Wilson said. "We don't want to cut ourselves short and just say we're going to go to a bowl. We feel like we're going to go to a great bowl and win."

While the Illini aren't picked in preseason media polls as a conference champion, expectations are high in Champaign. But in the past, the Illini have failed to follow up success with more success.

The Illini haven't played in consecutive bowl games since they played in five straight from 1988-92.

Shannon Ryan