With spring practice officially underway in the Big Ten, we’re taking a look at each Big Ten program, using recent performance, win-loss trends, coaching, and current and future personnel as indicators. The series will cover the West Division. First on the list, at a fitting time, is Illinois.
2015 record: 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten)
Three-year record: 15-22
Coaching situation: Fluid. New Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman announced former NFL head coach Lovie Smith would take over the program in a news release Monday morning. Whitman decided to wipe the slate relatively clean this weekend on his first official day in office.