Looking ahead to 2025

[SoCal Illini]

I’m excited for the USC game. The illini have a decent amount of history playing the Trojans. Everything from a memorable illini upset to getting crushed (mostly the latter). Once in the rose bowl.

I’m calling my shot and will say that is the ‘upset’ next year. 2025’s version of Michigan. Heard it here first.

 

[Central IL Illini]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

 

[Illiniam1984]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

 

[the national]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

 

[Username]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

I think both U of I and Luke are lesser versions of themselves without the other.

 

[foby]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

We are a "Playoff Contender Type" as long as we keep him and others, and add a few.

 

[Central IL Illini]

We are a "Playoff Contender Type" as long as we keep him and others, and add a few.

Maybe but just last year we saw guys like Riley Leonard and Will Howard leave good programs for a better shot at chasing a playoff berth. I hope I’m wrong but in todays landscape it would almost be surprising if he didn’t at least enter the portal.

I would think he’s not quite at the level of having teams like Ohio State and Notre Dame chasing him but I don’t think Howard and Leonard were all that much better than him last year either.

 

[foby]

Maybe but just last year we saw guys like Riley Leonard and Will Howard leave good programs for a better shot at chasing a playoff berth. I hope I’m wrong but in todays landscape it would almost be surprising if he didn’t at least enter the portal.

I would think he’s not quite at the level of having teams like Ohio State and Notre Dame chasing him but I don’t think Howard and Leonard were all that much better than him last year either.

Again, if we retain and add, then we ARE that playoff chasing program. If we pay the man his money, I really don't see a need for him to even go looking. Key is getting our NIL pool up, but winning is fun, so I can see having significant increases in that.

 

[Toews]

Something to consider is Riley Leonard and Will Howard were already in the portal by this point last year (unofficially at least). The expanded playoff and truncated portal season makes it harder to portal unless you portal early. Every day that passes it's more and more likely he stays. The teams that need a qb, including the good ones, are going to be far down the road with either the guys in the portal already or the guys they've tampered with. Obviously Luke could be one of the latter but it's not as easy to portal as a qb this year unless you got a spot you know you're going to.

 

[mhuml32]

No it's already way too late as it is (as Bret has said). Planning for hotels and events needs to be done way in advance things fill up quick especially in college towns with somewhat small infrastructure. You're competing with conferences and even weddings for hotel spots. It's different for pro sports where you have big cities. In college towns it's a lot more difficult.

The NFL flexes game times and even days with as little as six days notice. You can't convince me that big cities and a bigger business can pull that off but having five months notices isn't enough time for college teams.


If it was me, I would start with a week of daily leaks of the upcoming Friday games. Can help drum up interest for a day that isn't necessarily known for CFB and gives folks advanced notice of those unique game times. Then I would have the next week with some leaks about upcoming marquee matchups and unique matchups related to the absorption of old Pac-10 teams. Culminate that with a full schedule show - broadcast it on FS1 with a follow-up show breaking down the schedules. Line all of it up following the completion of spring practices - can build in interviews you complete during each spring practice visit where players get an early peek at the schedule and give their insights.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

Something to consider is Riley Leonard and Will Howard were already in the portal by this point last year (unofficially at least). The expanded playoff and truncated portal season makes it harder to portal unless you portal early. Every day that passes it's more and more likely he stays. The teams that need a qb, including the good ones, are going to be far down the road with either the guys in the portal already or the guys they've tampered with. Obviously Luke could be one of the latter but it's not as easy to portal as a qb this year unless you got a spot you know you're going to.

of the 1000 things in my life to “worry” about , Luke leaving the Illini is like 999 on the list

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

The NFL flexes game times and even days with as little as six days notice. You can't convince me that big cities and a bigger business can pull that off but having five months notices isn't enough time for college teams.


If it was me, I would start with a week of daily leaks of the upcoming Friday games. Can help drum up interest for a day that isn't necessarily known for CFB and gives folks advanced notice of those unique game times. Then I would have the next week with some leaks about upcoming marquee matchups and unique matchups related to the absorption of old Pac-10 teams. Culminate that with a full schedule show - broadcast it on FS1 with a follow-up show breaking down the schedules. Line all of it up following the completion of spring practices - can build in interviews you complete during each spring practice visit where players get an early peek at the schedule and give their insights.

 

[Ander1345]

I look at it this way....

There will always be some big name players lured away from us or who choose to go elsewhere even when we have them all but locked up. It will always feel a little frustrating but remember...

Bret does this coaching thing for hours, every day and even in the off-season. He and the staff view hour's upon hour's of film and have guys in mind who are plan B, C, and D, etc etc.

We have 9 wins and a chance to win 10.... no one thought we would be where we are this season. Just have to have faith and trust the process. There will be players who bust, surprise, and just leave. But we'll always be fans of the program.

 

[robertgoulet]

How confident are we that Luke will be back? I had honestly been a little worried and his quotes from the interview the other day didn't really inspire a lot of confidence. Are we sure a playoff contender type that could be a QB away won't throw some money at him and give him an opportunity on a bigger stage?

I like Luke but he's not a special game-changer QB. Those schools at the "bag drop for a missing piece so we can get to the playoffs" level have multiple Luke-alikes on their rosters already. Maybe not with the experience but absolutely the talent.

 

[IlliniInBuckeyeState]

I like Luke but he's not a special game-changer QB. Those schools at the "bag drop for a missing piece so we can get to the playoffs" level have multiple Luke-alikes on their rosters already. Maybe not with the experience but absolutely the talent.

He isn't a perfect QB, but he is absolutely a game-changing QB. His multiple game-winning drives in the final minute of games has proven this. It's a quality that many QBs simply lack.

To your point, I hope other programs undervalue Luke's experience and clutch-play skillset because that just helps our ability to retain him.

 

[Illiniaaron]

He isn't a perfect QB, but he is absolutely a game-changing QB. His multiple game-winning drives in the final minute of games has proven this. It's a quality that many QBs simply lack.

To your point, I hope other programs undervalue Luke's experience and clutch-play skillset because that just helps our ability to retain him.

His stats don't blow anyone away but he certainly stepped up at the end of games this year and made plays when it counted.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

His stats don't blow anyone away but he certainly stepped up at the end of games this year and made plays when it counted.

JUST WIN BABY

it was pretty much the same story with DeVito

 

[lstewart53x3]

I like Luke but he's not a special game-changer QB. Those schools at the "bag drop for a missing piece so we can get to the playoffs" level have multiple Luke-alikes on their rosters already. Maybe not with the experience but absolutely the talent.

How many wins does Michigan have with Luke this year? 10? Likely putting them into the CFP.

 

[blackdog]

His stats don't blow anyone away but he certainly stepped up at the end of games this year and made plays when it counted.

He also was playing pretty hurt at the end of the year. His play early on is more indicative of his talent level when he was dropping dimes all over the field.

 

[IlliniFanTX]

I look at it this way....

There will always be some big name players lured away from us or who choose to go elsewhere even when we have them all but locked up. It will always feel a little frustrating but remember...

Bret does this coaching thing for hours, every day and even in the off-season. He and the staff view hour's upon hour's of film and have guys in mind who are plan B, C, and D, etc etc.

We have 9 wins and a chance to win 10.... no one thought we would be where we are this season. Just have to have faith and trust the process. There will be players who bust, surprise, and just leave. But we'll always be fans of the program.

Never a bad strategy....

 

[BZuppke]

This needs to be pinned on the thread. Strangely, the Illini have only gone to a bowl game the year following an 8+ win season twice going back to 1950 (happened in consecutive years under Mackovic):

1) 2022 (ReliaQuest Bowl) -- 8-5 -> 2023 -- 5-7
2) 2007 (Rose Bowl) -- 9-4 -> 2008 -- 5-7
3) 2001 (Sugar Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 2002 -- 5-7
4) 1999 (MicronPC Bowl) -- 8-4 -> 2000 -- 5-6
5)1990 (Hall of Fame Bowl) -- 8-4 -> 1991 -- 6-6 (Hancock Bowl)
6) 1989 (Citrus Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 1990 -- 8-4 (Hall of Fame Bowl)
7) 1983 (Rose Bowl) -- 10-2 -> 1984 -- 7-4 (No bowl but would have in current climate)
8) 1963 (Rose Bowl) -- 8-1-1 -> 1964 -- 6-3 (No bowl but would have in current climate)
9) 1951 (Rose Bowl) -- 9-0-1 -> 1952 -- 4-5

Given our history, going to a bowl game next season would actually be an accomplishment. I think Coach B is going to buck the trend going back 30 years and start building consecutive bowl appearances.

I’m a history major and love this stuff. But it really has no bearing on what is happening now.

 

[Oracle21]

Luke will see if he has any big offers in the spring that would pay him more than Illinois. He can afford to wait, look what Coleman Hawkins got by being the absolute last guy available.

Spring transfer window will tell a lot. The Dec window will be closed before Illinois even plays in their bowl

 

[SoCal Illini]

Seemed like this season Illinois always tried to establish the run. Then when Luke got the chance he was clutch. The numbers don’t blow anyone away, but they’re still very good. I think next year will be similar with the stable of running backs that hopefully return, but will they have times where they air it out more? Not sure. But he is the best passer since kittner, and should be even better next year.

I think the younger receivers will step up next year, and if running game lives up to it’s potential and they have one or more legit TEs (rusk), could be very tough to stop offensively. O line needs to improve. Weren’t bad, but were the weakest unit in ‘24.

 

[Battle89]

I like Luke but he's not a special game-changer QB. Those schools at the "bag drop for a missing piece so we can get to the playoffs" level have multiple Luke-alikes on their rosters already. Maybe not with the experience but absolutely the talent.

+1 for use of "Luke-alikes"

 

[Toews]

Luke will see if he has any big offers in the spring that would pay him more than Illinois. He can afford to wait, look what Coleman Hawkins got by being the absolute last guy available.

Spring transfer window will tell a lot. The Dec window will be closed before Illinois even plays in their bowl

You're right that the winter window is cramped. But the only way I see him transferring in the spring would be if there were an injury somewhere. Very few big teams will be looking for a qb that late I can't even think of any big teams who have grabbed their starting qb in the spring. Almost every top team (which is who he would leave for) is set at that position by early January.