2024 Know Your Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini

With Week 0 of the College Football Season beginning today, we will take a look at Northwestern’s final regular season opponent: the Illinois Fighting Illini. Coming off a disappointing 5-7 season, the Illini are looking to bounce back. With a good showing in the transfer portal, the Wildcats’ rivals are looking for revenge from a season ago.

The Basics

Returning Production: 62% overall (58% offense, 65% defense); 65th in FBS

2023 Record: 5-7

Head Coach: Bret Bielema

Preseason AP Poll Ranking: Unranked

The Stats

The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly and ESPN. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them here.

2024 SP+ Overall: 66th

2024 SP+ Offense: 90th

2024 SP+ Defense: 44th

2024 SP+ Special Teams: 77th

2023 Capsule

The Illinois Fighting Illini had a forgettable season in 2023. Starting off the season 1-0 after a two-point win over Toledo, the Illini would lose four of their next five. After a 2-4 start, they finished the season going 3-3 in their final six games. The overall losing record doesn’t tell the whole story though.

All of Illinois’ first four losses were by double digits. However, their final three losses of the season were much closer. Their loss to Wisconsin was four points, and their losses to Iowa and Northwestern were both two points. Their wins the entire season were also always one score games, with their highest margin of victory being six.

Illinois only reached 30+ points in three of their games in 2023. Those games being the first of the season against Toledo, and then their overtime win against Indiana in their third-to-last game, along with their loss in the final regular season game to Northwestern. However, their quarterback in the last three games of the season, with two of them being games in which the Illini scored over 40 points, is no longer on the team.

For most of the season, Luke Altmyer was the starting quarterback for Illinois. However, it wasn’t just Altmyer at quarterback for the Illini last season. Ball State transfer John Paddock also had his fair share of game time and ended up being the more efficient player over the course of the season. Paddock however is now in the NFL, and Altmyer is going to be the starter for Illinois this upcoming season.

Offensive Overview

In their 2023 campaign, the Fighting Illini scored 24.5 points per game. The offense averaged 391 total yards per game, with 264.6 pass yards per game and 126.4 rush yards per game. Coming back on offense for Illinois is quarterback Luke Altmyer. Last season, Altmyer threw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, had a completion percentage of 64.8%, and threw for 1,883 yards. He also carried the ball 94 times for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

The Illini’s third receiver from a season ago is also back. Senior Pat Bryant is coming off a 43-catch, 560-yard, and seven touchdown junior season. The top two receivers for Altmyer, though, Isaiah Williams and Casey Washington, are both no longer with the team. They do have a new face in the receiver room in transfer from Ole Miss, Zakhari Franklin. Franklin, who is entering his sixth year, was a 1,000-yard receiver in his fourth year at UTSA before transferring to Ole Miss for 2023. However, last season wasn’t good for Franklin, as an injury early in fall camp led to him falling out of the rotation and barely seeing the field. Franklin is now hoping to reemerge as a star and be the go-to target for this Illini offense. Illinois also sees running back Kaden Faegin returning for his sophomore season following a two touchdown, 438-yard freshman campaign.

Despite the familiar faces returning at the skill positions, the potential of this offense all comes down to the men up front. Last season, the Fighting Illini allowed 40 sacks, putting them in the bottom-20 in sacks allowed. The Illini are losing 64 starts from their starting tackles from 2023 heading to the NFL, but the future of this offensive line isn’t too bad. They have many returning pieces, including center Josh Kreutz who has continued to develop. They also have some good transfers in to help bolster the line thanks to coach Bielema; the main piece being former New Mexico offensive J.C. Davis. Lastly for this line, incoming freshman Andrew Dennis might make an impact right away as a big-time recruit for this program.

Defensive Overview

On the defensive side of the ball, Illinois gave up 29.4 points per game. They also had 24 sacks, putting them right in the middle of the pack in all of the FBS. Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois’ sack leader last season with 7.5, is on to the NFL. The second and third sack leaders for the Illini defense are still with the team: redshirt senior Seth Coleman who had six sacks last season and junior Gabe Jacas who had four.

The top defensive backs for Illinois in 2023 are also back. Miles Scott is bringing his two interceptions (both were pick-sixes) and his 63 total tackles with him into his redshirt junior season. Also returning is junior Xavier Scott, who had two interceptions as well to go along with 11 pass deflections and 57 total tackles. Tyler Strain also comes back for the Illini, and is expected to make a huge jump as he enters his redshirt junior year. This secondary also adds 2023 All-Big 12 honorable mention Terrance Brooks from Texas through the transfer portal.

The Illini also see their interior linebackers from a season ago returning. Dylan Rosiek, who led the team with 82 total tackles and four forced fumbles. The other inside linebacker, Kenenna Odeluga, had two forced fumbles of his own last season. With much of their defensive players coming back, the Illini are set up to have strong defensive showings week-to-week.