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I recently unveiled the 13 college football teams that have a chance of winning the national title. It’s time we break down each of those squads. Let’s talk about the Illinois Fighting Illini, who come in at No. 12.

Offense

Of the 25 programs included in the final AP poll last season, only one returns its entire starting offensive line. Any guesses? Herein lies my belief that the Illini are legitimate title contenders; these guys have been through wars together. 13 of the last 19 Illinois football games were decided by one possession. This is a battle-tested band of brothers.

The whole operation hinges on Luke Altmeyer. Is he the former four-star recruit that tallied 16 total touchdowns before throwing his second interception a year ago? Is he the dude that completed less than half of his attempts in Autzen Stadium? I tend to believe that the former is a more accurate representation. Altmeyer is a really mature kid, and I love that he turned down the cash that was waiting for him in the portal. He wanted another run with his boys.

Unfortunately for Luke, the pass-catching options are wildly unspectacular. If Illinois wins the national championship, this would be among the weakest wide receiver rooms to ever get the job done. West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement is a nice addition, but he’s literally the only human being on the roster that has recorded more than 20 receptions in a season at the collegiate level. With Josh McCray bolting for Athens, the stable of running backs is also rather pedestrian. This dearth of intimidating weapons could very well be the downfall.

Defense

Every single starter on this side of the ball is heading into at least their fourth campaign. I like that a lot. My expert analysis is that 22-year-olds usually have the edge over teenagers.

Bret Bielema - in what kind of felt like an attempt to stick it to his former place of work - successfully poached a trio of guys from a consistently-solid Wisconsin defense. All three will be immediate contributors in this front seven, which struggled to contain the run in 2024. Kansas, Purdue, Oregon, and Rutgers each went over 185 yards on the ground against the Illini; that won’t be acceptable this season.

Meanwhile, I think the secondary has a chance to be really good. Xavier Scott is a top-three cornerback in the Big Ten, and both Torrie Cox Jr. and Kaleb Patterson are itching to break out. Their hands will certainly be full when No. 4 in Scarlet and Gray arrives in Champaign; otherwise, this is a schedule that should allow them to shine.

Season Outlook

Pre-Bowl Record Prediction: 11-2

Selection Sunday Fan Mood: The first person on this broadcast to compare us to 2024 Indiana will be receiving a strongly-worded Twitter DM. We’re different. We’re real.

Pressroom

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