The Illinois Fighting Illini have now finished the 2021 regular season with a 5-7 record, and as of the publication of this article, they’re still technically eligible to be selected for a bowl game based on APR. All in all, it’s not a bad accomplishment for first-year head coach Bret Bielema, and it sets his tenure off on the right foot.
As I watched the 2021 season unfold from Week 0 to the finale against the Northwestern Wildcats, I noticed this team gradually improve in different areas as the season went along. It may sound odd, but that’s not something we’re accustomed to associating with Illinois football teams.