Long story to get there, but I'm not convinced we hand the next coach as great of a situation as we would like to believe. Sure, we have some experience in 2020 and on paper 2020 looks ok, but I'm a little concerned with the 2021 class in either case and the sustainability moving forward.
2021 is a big class & it won't be able to hide behind the over-debated average recruit rating or 247 composite ranking of the last couple classes. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, if you are taking a smaller class you absolutely cherry pick and take the higher ranked guys, which raises the average number. So if Lovie & Illinois Football doesn't make some waves this year, you have Lovie recruiting as a lame duck/hot seat coach or you switch staffs and have the new staff behind chasing the 2021 class and trying to convince kids they can do this better than an ex-NFL coach. Either way 2021 season probably is not a huge impact on 2021 recruiting class.
If 2021 class bombs, which seems to be a likely outcome if this year doesn't go well, it could end up looking like the Cubit Class that we all give Lovie a pass on (except
@ChiefGritty of course) to the next coach. I do think the next coach is in better shape, 2020 likely still looks good with bunches of seniors, with a bit more higher end talent across the roster coming back in 2021, & the QB situation has to be better than what Lovie inherited...but a coach change also opens you up to a bunch of transfers. I just think this perceived depth and improved roster for the next coach is a pretty fragile thing when you consider we are still behind on 2020, 2019 was a small class & the importance of 2021 recruiting in what could be an ugly mess if this goes south.