Trailing No. 10 Penn State 28-24 entering the fourth quarter, I — and many long-suffering Illinois fans — found myself believing in the potential for one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. What followed in the fourth quarter can only be classified as an absolute heartbreak as the Illini were outscored 35-0 in the closing frame.
All was not lost, however. There were numerous reasons for optimism following the defeat to the Nittany Lions, and Illini fans should still be able to hope for improvement in 2018.
A Coherent Offensive Game Plan
After years under Garrick McGee, Illinois has lacked an offensive identity.