STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 19: Owen Carney Jr. #99 of the Illinois Fighting Illini lines up against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 19, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Expectations are rising for the Illinois football team, as a group of eight players is being recognized as some of the best at their position.
The Illini had some acknowledgment of talent going into last season, but things didn’t pan out the way many had hoped. But entering the 2021 campaign, Illinois is poised to have a bounce-back year.