Illini Football 2026

RabidDawgClassic said:

True… but 2 and 3 have allowed a never-ran like Illinois to move up in the pack while the traditional powers are drifting back toward the middle. The playing field isn’t quite level yet, but it’s more level than it ever has been.

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There are a lot of programs getting drowned beneath the waves of NIL wealth (Purdue, Mississippi State, Boston College, K-State) that would very strongly disagree with this.

And knowing Bielema's strengths as a long term player and culture developer, it's not that difficult to imagine him being just as successful here or maybe even more so under the old system.

The rules aren't really what drove the change. Above all else Bret Bielema has gotten Illinois Football out of its own way, which we fans know was always THE problem. Our only real enemy was ourselves.